1: Canandaigua Lake 

The town of Canandaigua harbors the Finger Lakes’ quintessential resort district, a linear playground with a sandy beach and picturesque parks that wrap around the lake’s northern tip. It’s the place where townsfolk and tourists alike picnic in the shade of willow trees, watch July 4 fireworks, and stroll the City Pier to behold dozens of quirky and colorful 1800s boathouses that are Canandaigua’s version of San Francisco’s painted ladies. A short walk away, the New York Kitchen showcases the state’s culinary scene with classes, wine tastings and a restaurant whose outdoor deck supplies a perfect perch to wine, dine and boat watch.

Flip-flops meet high-class accommodations at The Lake House, where the ambiance is relaxed elegance and the amenities include a spa and lakefront pool. At the Hotel Canandaigua, The Bird Cage is an outdoor bar with an actual bird cage big enough for you to sit inside and pose for photos. It’s adjacent to The Canandaigua Lady, a steamboat whose narrated excursions will take you past dreamy houses on the lake’s western shore and Skenoh Island, which has rare limestone rocks that locals call “water biscuits.” For inland sightseeing, Sonenberg Gardens & Mansion is a state park on a sprawling Victorian-era estate with themed landscaping and a magnificent Queen Anne abode.

2: Keuka Lake

Thanks to its two branches, Keuka is the only Y-shaped Finger Lake and one of the few lakes anywhere that flows both north and south. Hammondsport anchors the base of the Y and is home to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum, whose collections cover vessels from canoes to custom yachts, and the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, which chronicles a local boy who became a famed motorcyclist and aviation industry pioneer. Penn Yan, a village at the end of Keuka’s longer branch, is supposedly named for its Pennsylvania and New England Yankee settlers. Its Keuka Candy Emporium specializes in retro sweets, and Seneca Farms is the village favorite for fried chicken and homemade ice cream.

From the tasting rooms of Keuka’s family-owned wineries, you’ll drink in Impressionist painting-worthy views of the rambling vineyards and water that define the Finger Lakes’ terroir. For oenophiles, the Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is practically a place of pilgrimage because its founder launched the region’s “Vinifera Revolution” — and world-class Rieslings — by successfully cultivating European grapes. Nearby Heron Hill Winery, another vinifera pioneer, produces wines from sustainably grown grapes and has a jaw-dropping tasting room.

3: Seneca Lake

Fondly nicknamed the middle finger, Seneca is the largest Finger Lake and almost evenly flanked by the 10 other lakes. It also boasts the longest wine trail, a 70-plus-mile-long driving tour that encircles the lake and leads to dozens of wineries. Belhurst Castle & Winery delivers royal treatment with luxurious lodging, estate wines and fine dining. Glenora Wine Cellars is a Seneca Lake institution with an inn and regional cuisine restaurant, while Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards is famous for Red Cat, a sweet, easy-to-sip hot tub wine.

On Seneca Lake’s north side, the waterfront Finger Lakes Welcome Center in Geneva sells locally produced foods and beverages and hosts wine tastings. Downtown Geneva is a hotspot for chef-driven meals and wine and cocktail bars. On weekend evenings in warm weather, Linden Street is closed to traffic andturned into a vibrant live music venue. On the lake’s opposite side, the village of Watkins Glen is the doorstep to Watkins Glen State Park, a natural wonder with a legendary gorge, hiking trails and 19 waterfalls, one of which generates rainbows on sunny days.

4: Cayuga Lake

Because of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, a marshy habitat for waterfowl and migrating birds, and the little town of Seneca Falls (where the Women’s Rights National Historical Park salutes Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s role in holding the first women’s suffrage conference there in 1848), Cayuga Lake’s north end is steeped in nature and history. But its southern tip, which Ithaca dominates, is quite different. The classic college town exudes a hip, urban vibe and combines cultural and foodie attractions like Moosewood, an iconic vegetarian restaurant, with a splendid gift from the glaciers — ubiquitous waterfalls that spawned the saying, “Ithaca is Gorges.”

Dotting Cayuga’s shoreline and countryside are a smorgasbord of establishments reflecting the bounty of the Finger Lakes. At Montezuma Winery, sample Blueberry Honey Wine, Bee Vodka and Maple Liqueur. Head to the Finger Lakes Cider House at Good Life Farm for artisan ciders and farm-to-table soups, sandwiches and charcuterie. Do a farmstead cheese tasting in the barn at the Muranda Cheese Company. And check out Cayuga Lake Creamery’s small-batch ice creams and wine-inspired sorbets — think Sheldrake Point Vineyard Riesling Raspberry or Goosewatch Winery Strawberry Splendor — made in cooperation with local vintners.

5: Conesus Lake

Small, shallow and mostly residential, the westernmost Finger Lake is ideal for swimming, fishing and searching for its unusual terrapin-like Turtle Stones.

6: Hemlock Lake

The only Finger Lake lacking a Native American name is known for old growth forests and the remote quality of its undeveloped shoreline.

7: Canadice Lake

The smallest Finger Lake provides a pristine habitat for bald eagles and waterfowl. Like neighboring Hemlock Lake, it’s a Rochester, New York, water reservoir and has boating restrictions.

8: Honeoye Lake

Cottages line the shores of this peaceful little lake. It’s popular for fishing and has public boat launches.

9: Owasco Lake

It’s a prime spot for water sports and recreation. Nearby Auburn is considered “History’s Hometown” because inhabitants have included the eminent Underground Railroad conductor, Harriet Tubman, and William Seward, mastermind of the nation’s 1867 purchase of Alaska.

10: Skaneateles Lake

The lake is renowned for its beautiful blue water, and the lovely lakeside town of Skaneateles hosts its Antique & Classic Boat Show every July.

11: Otisco Lake

The region’s easternmost lake may be small, but it’s got a mighty reputation for tiger muskie and walleye fishing. Tip: Round out yourFinger Lakes visit with a stop at nearby Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, a century-old family farm that captures the down-to-earth character, fruitful landscape and welcoming nature of the region.