One of the oldest cities in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Canandaigua has a long history as a major crossroads. Its name derives from a Seneca word meaning "The Chosen Spot", and its position at the northern end of Canandaigua Lake certainly justifies the moniker. With a well-preserved historic downtown, a magnificent 19th-century mansion with gardens, a modern and very trendy wine and culinary center, and (of course) the always-excellent boating on the lake, Canandaigua today has just as much to offer a visitor as it did in its heyday... if not more.

Sonnenberg Mansion and gardens

Understand

Before European settlement, the principal village of the Senecas was located on a hill just north of Canandaigua Lake. It was called, in various transliterations, "Ga-nun-da-gwa", "Ganondagan", or "Kanandarque".

By the time the Treaty of Canandaigua was signed in 1794, the area had begun to be settled by white men. Canandaigua became the county seat of Ontario County, which at the time encompassed the entirety of New York west of Seneca Lake. From then until the Erie Canal opened in 1823, Canandaigua was the largest and most important community in Western New York.

Once the Canal opened, Canandaigua was surpassed in prominence by Buffalo and Rochester. But it continued to grow and in 1913 incorporated as a city.

Get in

1 Canandaigua Airport (FAA LID: D38) is just northwest of the city limits, off Brickyard Road. It's small, with no commercial flights, but there are some services available, including a Hertz car rental counter. If you need commercial airline service, fly into Rochester. The same goes for Amtrak train service.

As befits a town that was once the center of activity in Western New York, there are a number of highway routes that intersect in Canandaigua. Long distance travelers will likely use the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90), which runs east-west about six miles north of the city. From the east, take Exit 43 for State Route 21; from the west, use Exit 44 and take State Route 332. Route 21 also comes in from the south, west of the Lake, connecting to Naples. State Route 5 and U.S. Route 20 (or just "5 and 20" to locals) run concurrently along the western and southern edge of the city, providing a more scenic east-west connection than the Thruway.

Get around

Canandaigua is a remarkably simple city to get around. The street grid is angled off north-south a bit, with the main drag, Route 332, heading NNW from the lake shore toward Farmington. The city's historic downtown retail strip is along the very wide 332, with secondary roads branching off. There's plenty of parking right on Main Street. Routes 5 and 20 intersect 332 a short distance north of the lake, leading to a more modern commercial strip to the east; that's where the major big-box retailers and strip malls are. Running right along the lake shore (and where you end up if you take Main Street past 5 and 20) is, appropriately enough, Lake Shore Drive; it's a scenic boulevard that provides access to lakefront attractions. Almost everything you need, as a traveler, will be within a short distance of these three roads.

If you need to rent a car, Enterprise (on Route 332) and Hertz (at the Airport) have locations just outside the city.

See

The conservatory at Sonnenberg Gardens

• 1 Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum, 295 N Main St (at Granger Street), ☏ +1 585 394-1472, fax: +1 585 394-6958. early Jun - late Oct: Tu W Su 1PM-5PM, Th-Sa 11AM-5PM (Sleigh rides: Jan-Mar, Su 1PM-3PM, weather permitting). A classic example of Federal-style architecture, the Granger Homestead housed four generations of the family starting in 1816. Now the 13,000-square-foot mansion (and its several outbuildings, as well as the estate grounds) are open for touring. The antique carriages are the centerpiece of the collection, but the entire estate provides a window into 19th-century life in Western New York. In the winter time, enjoy rides in an authentic one-horse open sleigh, so long as the snow is deep enough! Adults $6, seniors $5, students $2 (Sleigh rides: Adults $8, children $5). 
• 2 Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park, 151 Charlotte St (Main St to Howell St), ☏ +1 585 394-4922, fax: +1 585 394-2192. 1 May - 31 Oct: Daily 9:30AM–4:30PM; open until 5:30PM Memorial Day - Labor Day. Sonnenberg Gardens is a can't-miss attraction for Canandaigua visitors. The main building is an 1887 mansion built by Mary Clark and Frederick Farris Thompson as a summer retreat. The gardens were originally designed in the early 20th century; all nine have been restored to their former glory. The mansion is open for touring (check to see if guided tours are available), and the gardens are a great place for a relaxing afternoon stroll. Also on the grounds (with no admission required) are the Finger Lakes Wine Center (see listing below), the High Noon Café, and a lovely gift shop. Adults $12; seniors $10; military, college students, and ages 13-17 $6; ages 4-12 $1; under 4 free. 

Do

Ontario County Courthouse, Canandaigua Historic District

• 1 Canandaigua Lady (Steamboat Landing), 205 Lakeshore Dr, ☏ +1 585 396-7350. This authentic paddlewheel steamboat is popular for banquets and other charter excursions, but it also offers public rides during the boating season. Due to the shape of the Finger lakes, the east and west shores are always in sight, which makes it a great way to ogle the many expensive lakeside cottages lining the water. It can get a bit breezy on the lake, so consider bringing a jacket even in the summer. Lunch cruise (2 hr): Adults $33/under 12 $20; Afternoon cruise (90 min): Adults $18/under 12 $13; Dinner cruise (2 hr): Adults $50/under 12 $21. 
• 2 Constellation Brands - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC), 3355 Marvin Sands Dr (Take Routes 5 & 20 east to State Route 364, follow signs), ☏ +1 585 394-4400. The biggest performing arts venue in the Finger Lakes region, the CMAC hosts both national touring acts and local performing groups throughout the summer. It's a semi-enclosed amphitheater with lots of seating under the roof and even more seating on the lawn behind it. Ticket prices vary; parking $10/car. 
• 3 New York Kitchen, 800 S Main St (Take Main St all the way to the pier), ☏ +1 585 394-7070, fax: +1 585 394-3037, info@nywcc.com. Folks from out of state may not think of New York as a hub for agriculture and food production, but the non-profit New York Kitchen is out to change that. Food and beverages from throughout the state are featured here in a variety of settings. The tasting room, gift boutique, and café are open daily, while the hands-on kitchen, educational theater and private dining room host frequent special events. All of them feature the best New York has to offer; in fact, the Tasting Room is the only one in the state allowed to serve wine, beer, and spirits in the same place! Anyone interested in cooking, dining, or drinking should check it out. 
• Roseland Wake Park, 250 Eastern Blvd, ☏ +1 585 393-WAKE (9253). Jun-Aug: M-F 11AM-8PM, Sa Su 10AM-8PM; Sep: W-F 2PM-7PM, Sa Su 10AM-7PM; Oct: weather permitting. Sharing Muar Lake with Roseland Waterpark, the Wake Park is run by the same owners but has a completely separate admission. It's the first cable wake park in the Northeast. What does that mean? Instead of wakeboarding behind a speedboat, they've got a cable system that pulls riders on a giant loop around the lake, up to nine at a time! It's best if you've wakeboarded before; for first-timers, they have a learn-to-ride program every weekend day that guarantees you get up and running in two hours ($49). $35-45. (updated Jul 2015)
• 4 Roseland Waterpark, 250 Eastern Blvd, ☏ +1 585 396-2000. Late Jun - Labor Day: open daily at 11AM, closing time varies. Named after a long-lost lake-shore amusement park, the largest waterpark in the Finger Lakes has six slides, a lazy river, a water playground, and a giant wave pool. If those don't strike your fancy, buy a bucket of water balloons and have a battle, or rent a paddleboat from the marina. Adults $28, under 48" $22, after 3PM $19, ages 60+ $9. 
• Onanda Park, 4965 County Road 16 (8 miles south of city on West Lake Rd). An 87-acre park in the southern part of the Town of Canandaigua, this former YMCA camp still features the old-fashioned amenities your parents might remember. Swimming, fishing, hiking, boating—everything summer is made of. (updated Sep 2016)

Events

• 5 Pageant of Steam. Early to mid-August. The Pageant of Steam is an amazing display of old and antique farm equipment, most of it in working condition with lots of demonstrations. There is also a big flea market. 

Buy

Downtown Canandaigua has dozens of independent retail shops that continue to thrive even with the big-box strip malls just around the corner on 5 and 20. Just about everything from furniture to fashions, from bicycles to baked goods, can be found along Main Street or nearby side streets.

• 1 Finger Lakes Wine Center (at Sonnenberg Gardens), ☏ +1 585 394-9016. May-Oct: daily 11AM-4PM. The Wine Center has an extensive selection of Finger Lakes wines for purchase—and a rotating subset of that selection available for tastings! 
• 2 Pulp Nouveau Comix, 92 S Main St, ☏ +1 585 394-8250, pulpnouveau@pulpnouveau.com. Tu Su 11AM-5PM, W 11AM-7PM, Th-Sa 11AM-6PM. Owned and operated by a true comic fan (and occasional creator), this comic shop also runs an annual comic convention at the Inn on the Lake. Look for it at the end of each October. 

Eat

First Congregational Church, Canandaigua Historic District

• 1 Rheinblick German Restaurant, 224 S. Main Street, ☏ +1 585 905-0950. 11:30AM-2PM for lunch and 4:30PM to close for dinner. Awesome German restaurant. Great Beer Garden type outdoor seating available! All import and German style beers. Good wine selection. Amazing food! 
• 2 Peppers Deli & Pasta, 101 E Lake Rd, ☏ +1 585 394-0780. Where locals eat. Homemade chips. 
• 3 New York Kitchen Café, 800 S Main St. W Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 11AM-8PM. New York Kitchen's café, with their great view of Canandaigua Lake, is a fun place to catch a meal. With 80% of the ingredients on the menu grown or produced in New York State, you'll be getting a literal taste of what New York has to offer. The menu comprises casual foods like pizza and sandwiches, as well as a few larger plates, but all created with the freshest possible ingredients. The prices are a bit higher as a result. $10-36. (updated Jul 2021)
• 4 Casa de Pasta, 125 Bemis St (parking lot off of Coy St), ☏ +1 585 394-3710. Tu-Su 5PM-9PM. "Casa de Pasta" is an appropriate name for this house converted to an Italian restaurant. The close quarters contribute to a lively atmosphere inside. The menu is unpretentious, though the daily specials can be somewhat more interesting. Either way, though, the house-made ingredients enliven even the simplest dish. There's no mistaking that the toothsome pasta and rich red sauce are made in-house. Desserts (from Sweet Expressions over on Main St) are intriguing variations on the familiar. Reservations recommended unless you can arrive right at opening. $18-28. (updated Jul 2021)
• 5 Rio Tomatlan, 106 Bemis St (end of Coy St), ☏ +1 585 394-9380, info@riotomatlan.com. Tu-Th 3PM-8PM, F Sa 11:30AM-8PM. A quirky Mexican bar and restaurant with well-regarded authenticity in its menu and atmosphere. $11-25. (updated Jul 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Finger Lakes Premier Properties - Canandaigua/Honeoye, 22 Lakeshore Dr, toll-free: +1-888-414-LAKE (5253). Finger Lakes Vacation Rentals (mini-weeks, full weeks, extended stays) and real estate. Specializing in lake front properties. 
• 2 1795 Acorn Inn, 4508 Route 64 South, Bristol Center, toll-free: +1-866-665-3747. AAA Four-Diamond Award bed and breakfast in the Bristol Valley surrounded by gardens and forest. Four guest rooms and one suite, all with private baths. Outdoor Jacuzzi. 
• The Lake House on Canandaigua, 770 S Main St, ☏ +1 585 394-7800, toll-free: +1-800-228-2801. Opened in 2020 in the former Inn on the Lake (a popular lakeside retreat for decades), The Lake House is a 125-unit resort right on the shore. They emphasize sustainability in their decor and amenities, lending the property an atmosphere of modernity mixed with classic style. Guests will enjoy four-poster beds, communal fire pits, and easy access to boating and swimming on the lake. On-site casual bar (The Sand Bar), upscale restaurant (Rose Tavern), and day spa (Willowbrook Spa). $200-500. (updated Jul 2021)

Go next

• Bristol Mountain, less than an hour south along Route 21, is the local destination for skiing come wintertime.

Routes through Canandaigua

Buffalo ← Alden ← Jct N S ← Jct N S ←	W  E	→ Geneva → Auburn
Buffalo ← Le Roy ←	W  E	→ Geneva → Auburn
Williamson ← Palmyra ← Jct W E ←	N  S	→ Naples → Andover