Lake SKANEATELES History & Things To Do

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• The Lake
• The Village

Lake Skaneateles - Perfect Holiday Spot

The Lake

Lake Skaneateles located 23 miles outside of Syracuse in Onondaga County, is one of the six major Finger Lakes in New York. The lake sits in the heart of the Finger Lakes and was named by the Iroquois and means 'long lake'. The waters of the lake are pristine -- so clean that many local communities rely on it as their main unfiltered water source. The area around the lake is landscaped with protruding cliffs and serene pastures. The lake is 315 feet deep, 16 miles long and one and a half miles wide.

  

Skaneateles sits at the highest altitude of all of the Finger Lakes and stretches through the counties of Cortland, Cayuga and Onondaga. 

Locals and visitors enjoy scores of activities on the lake including fishing for a variety of species like pike, bass and trout. There are boat and jet ski rental agencies off its shores and excursions and cruises are also available. The lakefront Cliff Park is home to a lovely gazebo where concerts are held during the summer months. There is also a pier that juts out into the lake 500 feet. The pier is a great place for locals and visitors to drop their fishing lines and is also a prime location for photo opportunities.

 

The Village

The village of Skaneateles was founded in 1833, by Revolutionary War veterans who were awarded grants in exchange for their military service. The uniqueness of the village is seen in the architecture of its historic district where grain and dairy were the main stay for cultivation in 1830. By 1850, industry expanded to cloth and wool, brick, paper, bricks and iron, as well as the production of machinery, carriages, farm equipment, and sleighs. This was followed by industrial construction of sailboats, canoes and motor launches. 

The streets of the village are well kept and fringed with homes of the Neo-Renaissance Revival typical of the 19th Century. Many are historically linked to the Underground Railroad -- interconnected underground routes and residencies used during the 19th century to help slaves reach slave-free states. 

The town also has an assortment of shops and activities to keep visitors busy throughout their stay. There are hillside vineyards that host tours and wine tastings, great hiking trains for the young and old to experienced, museums and galleries, antique and specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants and bars to please everyone's taste and budget. 

Visitors have no problem finding places to stay along lakeside or in the village. Options include renting cottages and cabins, bed and breakfast facilities, five-star hotels and budget motels. Many hotels are located in or near the village center near restaurants and shops. Most offer free parking and Internet access. Historic accommodations include The Sherwood Inn and The Benjamin Porter House. They include private baths, internet and cable televisions and continental breakfast. There are also pet-friendly accommodations like the Skaneateles Suites and Wicher Garden. 

For budget conscious seafood lovers, Doug's Fish Fry serves up tasty shrimp, clams and fried fish, as well as grilled and steamed seafood. The restaurant's menu also includes hotdogs and chicken. The Sherwood Inn adds a touch of class to the fine dining experience and offers an array of menu choices. The Blue Water Grill serves wonderful ambience and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. 

Many who leave Skaneateles want to take a piece of this wonderful area with them. Wood maps of Lake Skaneateles are the perfect way to take everlasting memories back home. The layout of these maps involves intricate carvings that include the lake as well as additional favorite places and things. This wooden map will tell a story about your stay in a detailed and fascinating way - a way that will be cherished forever.

Have a Tampa Bay Adventure! Exciting Places to Visit|Wood Art for Your Home

Navigation:

• Ybor City
• Columbia Restaurant
• Tampa Theatre
• Sunshine Skyway
• Henry B Plant Museum

Tampa Bay is a town full of natural estuary and harbor located near the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. It consists of Hillsboro Bay, Mckay Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, Lower Tampa Bay and Old Tampa Bay. As a center economic center of western Florida, Tampa Bay has historic old districts, and high-rise office buildings connecting the old town to the new. Must visit places in Tampa Bay include Ybor City, Hillsborough River, and the charming Columbian Restaurant. 

Ybor City

Tampa Bay once houses the world largest cigar factory in the world, Ybor cigar factory. The city was after the cigar magnate Vicente Martinez Ybor. Ybor came into the city around the mid-1880s after his workers threaten to unionize at his Key West cigar plant. At the height of his business at least 4,000 people hand rolled more than 900,000 premium cigars in a month. Sadly, during the Great Depression and machinery brought the end of his legacy. Today, the place is listed under National Historic Landmark District. Ybor City now becomes a city center home to many galleries, restaurants, cafes, and shops. 

Columbia Restaurant

Within the unique town of Ybor City lies Columbia Restaurants, the country’s largest Spanish restaurant. a Cuban immigrant named Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. started the restaurant in 1905. From a small café corner, it now grew into a world-class Spanish restaurant that can seat 1,600 people. At night people often come to Columbia Restaurant to watch the flamenco dance show. In some nights they feature Jazz music to serenade their customers along with their architectural charm. 

Tampa Theatre

Constructed in 1926, Tampa Theatre has a façade built on multi cultural designs like Greek, Byzantine, and Italian Renaissance. On a regular basis, it plays classic films and selected foreign movies along with concerts and programs. Watching a classic movie in this theater will complete the experience of old movie houses. 

Sunshine Skyway

As not a destination itself, Sunshine Skyway is one man-made marvel worth to laid eyes with. Dubbed as “highway on stilts”, the 12-mile bridge contains several lanes to accommodate vehicles to enter Tampa Bay. The middle section is an engineering feat that features two suspended gigantic pylons. This allows on-going vessels to pass easily beneath. Engineers changed the design when a cargo ship rammed into the bridge which crumpled it. 

Henry B Plant Museum

Henry B Plant Museum is a Victorian palace that has a unique Moorish design feature. The museum showcases the history of the hotel which was once owned by railroad magnate Henry Plant. Founded in 1933, it features the Plant’s contribution to the economic development of Tampa. Each room display very delicately designed period furnishings, getting a glimpse of the luxurious lifestyle of Henry B. Plant. Walk in its grounds and explore luscious greeneries which a gardener kept well maintained. The rest of the museum is now part of Tampa University.

Are you looking for a souvenir from Tampa Bay for the avid boater in your life? Carved Lake Art has custom made topographical art like this 3D Nautical Wood Chart of Tampa Bay.