Best Seneca Lake Views: The Finger Lakes’ Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel

Seneca Lake is one of the long digits of the Finger Lakes in New York state and the town of Watkins Glen is its knuckle. Just a few steps beyond the boats bobbing in the marina at the base of Lake Seneca, the four-story Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel feels more like a cozy country inn that’s a travel destination in itself and not just an impersonal hotel in which to lay your head. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes, it’s a great base for exploring the region, which is known for its stunning natural beauty and for the many wineries that take advantage of the climate suitable for growing grapes.

I didn’t have to leave the hotel to get my first taste of the area wine. Sitting next to the fire pit on the hotel’s back patio, I sip on a glass of Boundary Breaks Riesling and take in the atmosphere and the view of the lake. Even though it’s midweek in September, there are families enjoying an early dinner alongside couples celebrating anniversaries or just enjoying what should be a quieter shoulder-season getaway. The expansive patio stretches the length of the building and calls to mind the impressive grand balconies of the Gilded Age and an era when hotels were the destination — and yet, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel is just a decade old.

Comfortable and Cozy Waterfront Stay

Historic photos line the hallway just off the lobby area and as it turns out Watkins Glen did have an early 20th century destination hotel called the Glen Springs Sanitarium, which drew people for the healing properties of its waters. Honestly, just getting a vacation is therapeutic enough for most people these days and a stay at the Harbor Hotel has its own curative abilities. My room is spacious and comfortable and feels more like home than I’m used to when I travel. Next to my king-size bed, I can relax in a chaise lounge next to the window, which overlooks Seneca Lake.

I’m a practical person, so as long as I have a good night’s sleep and a hot shower, I’m happy with my accommodations. However, you’d be surprised at the number of places I’ve stayed that fall short. Harbor Hotel gets an A+++. When it came time to getting ready for a Finger Lakes adventure the next morning, I came to appreciate the Harbor Hotel even more. Stepping into the large tiled walk-in shower, I turned the knob and I had instant warm water with great pressure. It was like being greeted with a firm handshake instead of the wimpy wrist-bent kind.

Later, I realized I wouldn’t have to fight for mirror space when applying my makeup because there was a vanity desk just outside the bathroom topped with a lighted mirror. Brilliant. Little touches like that that helped the Harbor Hotel earn the title of “Best Waterfront Hotel in the Nation” in 2016 as determined by readers of USAToday’s Readers Choice contest.

Eat and Drink at the Hotel

For those looking for an injection of caffeine in the morning, you don’t have to wait until you’re fully dressed and heading to the restaurant for breakfast. A coffee and tea station is set up each morning on each floor of the hotel, so you can stumble out in your bathrobe and take your beverage of choice back to your room until you’re ready to see people.

When you get downstairs to the Blue Pointe Grille, which opens at 6:30 a.m., you’ll be presented with classic American breakfast fare, plus a few stand-outs, including Blueberry Stuffed French Toast and a Breakfast Pizza topped with scrambled eggs, your choice of meat, carmelized onions and pepper jack cheese. Delicious. The restaurant is open all day for breakfast. lunch and dinner and a decent vegan menu is available, too.

After a full day of hiking to waterfalls and visiting the Finger Lakes wineries, breweries and distilleries around Seneca Lake, I couldn’t fathom going out on the town. The hotel patio beckoned once more. It was chill time — and that’s even what the Coldwater Bar calls its happy hour, which runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday. The firepit is roaring once more, families are eating an early dinner and a group of friends are toasting with Finger Lakes wine.

When you’re ready to venture out again, there’s so much more to explore within walking distance of the hotel, including downtown with shopping and dining options; Seneca Lake Pier, a jumping off point for lake cruises; and Watkins Glen State Park (Travel Tip: skip the $8 parking fee and stroll a half mile down Franklin Street to the park entrance. It’ll take about 12 minutes).