5 Places to Visit in the Finger Lakes (That Are Not Wineries)

The Finger Lakes region of New York is so much more than just wine country! From quaint downtown areas with wonderful local shops to waterfall chasing to a growing craft brewery scene, here are 5 Places to Visit in the Finger Lakes That Are Not Wineries...

The Corning Glass Museum tour, Watkins Glen State Park hike, & Farm Sanctuary tour were all provided courtesy of TBEX North America 2018. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I obviously have nothing against wineries. In fact, I think most of you all know by now that I love myself a good winery tour & tasting while traveling. ;) But I do think that when most people consider planning a trip to the Finger Lakes that they assume that they have to be wine lovers in order to enjoy the area. Today's travel post is to show you all that the Finger Lakes region of New York has so much more to offer than just great local wineries.

From quaint downtown areas with wonderful local shops to waterfall chasing to a growing craft brewery scene, the Finger Lakes is so much more than just wine country.  Now that isn't to say that you couldn't pop into a winery or two (or four!) for a tasting while in the area, but you most certainly do not have to be a wine aficionado to truly appreciate the Finger Lakes of New York.

Although I only scraped the tip of the iceberg during the few days that I visited the area, I am sharing 5 of my favorite must-visit places in the Finger Lakes (sans the wineries) with you all below...

Veggie Packed Butternut Squash Soup

A favorite fall soup gets a tasty vegetarian & vegan friendly update in this creamy Veggie Packed Butternut Squash Soup...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.

If you have been following along with me for a little while now, then you probably already know that fall is by far my favorite time of the year. I love it when the air gets a little crisper, the leaves on the trees start to turn vibrant shades of red, orange, & yellow, and I get to break out my favorite flannels & fall boots. But perhaps my most favorite thing about fall is the seasonal flavors that it brings with it- pumpkin spice, apples, autumn squash, chai tea, & warm, cozy bowls of creamy soup.

One of my favorite fall soups happens to be a good homemade butternut squash soup. I decided to take the traditional butternut squash soup recipe & give it a veggie packed, dairy-free update with a little help from some of my favorite Silk products that I picked up at my local Target the other week...

Apple Cheddar Pull-Apart Bread

Sweet apples, mild cheddar, warm spices, & a touch of maple sweetness come together perfectly in this easy to make Apple Cheddar Pull-Apart Bread...

I know that when most people think of their favorite fall flavors to pair with crisp apples that caramel and cinnamon & sugar probably come to mind first. But for me, I prefer the sweet & savory combination of apples with a good white cheddar cheese. In fact, fresh apple slices & creamy cheddar are a staple on my charcuterie boards during the fall months.

I decided to take this delicious combo and wrap it up into a warm & cozy pull-apart bread that would be perfect with a warm cup of chai tea on crisp fall afternoon or as part of a weekend brunch menu. Sweet apples, mild cheddar, & a touch of maple sweetness & warm spices come together perfectly in this easy to make treat...

Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake

With its rich & chocolaty cake layers frosted with a fresh raspberry buttercream, you certainly cannot go wrong with this crowd-pleasing Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake for your next party or celebration...

Let me start this post off by first offering an apology to any of my Instagram followers who may have seen the teaser photo I posted back in August for this insanely decadent cake. You all have been waiting almost two months for this recipe, and I didn't mean to make you all wait that long for this one. But you know, life & work & the kids starting back to school got in the way. But today the wait is finally over, my friends!

I actually whipped up this cake for my son's 20th birthday party in August. And yes, I did say TWENTY. I mean, how does that even happen anyways? When they say the years go by fast, they are not exaggerating, you all. One day you are planning a Blue's Clues themed party for their first birthday, and then the next thing you know they have officially left their teen years and are in their twenties. I can't even wrap my head around it sometimes.

Sip Your Way Through Pittsburgh with City Brew Tours

Discover Pittsburgh's favorite neighborhoods by sipping your way through the city with City Brew Tours...

This post was created in partnership with TripAdvisor. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

One of my favorite ways to explore a new city (or as in this particular case, different & new to me parts of a city I already love) is to book a culinary tour with a local tour group. I have hopped on winery tours & the occasional local foods tour, but brewery tours just may be my personal favorite. 

Local breweries have just recently started making a comeback from the days of Prohibition in many cities & areas of the country, popping up in once was industrial neighborhoods of towns & cities. They bring with them not only some tasty & creative local brews, but also have restored a revitalized sense of community & pride in these once forgotten parts of the city. 

Recently, myself & one of my girlfriends booked a brewery tour through TripAdvisor & hopped on with City Brew Tours in Pittsburgh to explore & get a small taste of the local brewery & microbrewery scene in a city that was once the heart of the steel industry of America...

Chai Tea Latte French Toast for One

This single serving Chai Tea Latte French Toast for One is sweet & spicy, yet comforting & creamy. A perfect breakfast idea for a crisp fall morning...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Oregon Chai®. The opinions and text are all mine.

My youngest has been back in school for a few weeks now, and we have finally settled into a good routine. The spontaneous craziness of summer break is behind us, and the chaotic business of the holiday season hasn't arrived just yet. As a work at home mama, this little lull between the start of the new school year and the hectic & busy whirlwind of the fall & winter holidays is my time to breathe in deep and exhale. My time to carve out a little time for myself and recharge.

Once I have sent my daughter off to school in the morning, I like to take a few moments to relax and get centered before diving head first into my blog work. One of my favorite ways to do just that is to whip up a quick & easy breakfast treat like this Chai Tea Latte French Toast for One. This single serving French toast recipe is sweet & spicy, yet comforting & creamy. A perfect breakfast idea for a crisp fall morning!

Slow Cooker Peach Habanero Short Ribs

These sweet & spicy Slow Cooker Peach Habanero Short Ribs are the perfect fall comfort food & would make a tasty addition to that game day menu...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series last summer, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of September & for my final recipe for this year's outdoor market season, I am sharing the recipe for these sweet & spicy Slow Cooker Peach Habanero Short Ribs with you all today. These hearty & saucy short ribs are the perfect comfort food for a crisp fall day. They would also make a tasty addition to your next game day menu! :)