Summer on the Finger Lakes: A Journey Back to My Childhood | Adi Berry, Sojourney Travel
Since before I can even remember, I’ve spent my summers on the lake, waking up to the irresistible aroma of breakfast served by my Memaw. Our mornings always began with a family favorite called Grandpas—essentially fried dough coated in powdered sugar or cinnamon and brown sugar. This was just one of the many cherished traditions that I experienced spending my childhood summers at Lamoka Lake in upstate New York.
After breakfast, my brother and I would race to throw on our swimsuits and head outside. But, as was our ritual, we had to wait at least 30 minutes before diving into the water—a rule we never questioned, just faithfully followed. Those 30 minutes, often spent fishing with my grandpa, fostered my lifelong love for sitting on a dock and casting my line, letting the world drift away.
Thinking about my time in New York floods me with memories: countless cannonballs, learning to ski and kneeboard on the lake, and magical evenings on our pontoon boat riding around in themed outfits that the whole lake was in on, watching the sunset with my family. I also remember the hilarity of my grandma’s “Fear Factor” challenges, where my brother Parker, our cousins, and even the neighbor kids would compete in outrageous tasks—like biking to the store for green beans, eating spicy peppers, and racing paddle boats to a beautiful forested island in search of hidden treasure, but of course we had to take advantage of the rope swing and take a quick splash in the lake!
When we weren’t on the water we were in Corning, New York which is where my mom grew up! Corning is filled with culture and experiences but also is rooted in family history! My great grandparents worked over 40 years in the Corning Museum of Glass, which now showcases over 50,000 pieces of glass in many varieties! Aniello’s is a mom and pop pizza joint where my mom worked in high school and is where you will find the world's best chicken wing pizza, anti-pasta salad, and homemade bread! A day at the world's largest glass museum followed by the pizza shop five minutes down the road, is one of my favorite and frequently repeated days!
Having spent every summer of my life on the Finger Lakes, you can imagine my disappointment when I didn’t have a trip lined up to visit there for several summers. But in June 2024, after about eight years of being away from the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, my childhood home away from home, I finally returned to Waneta Lake with my mom, grandparents, cousins, my brother and his wife, and my boyfriend Tre. If I didn’t already love the Finger Lakes, this trip solidified my affection for upstate New York. Returning to a place so dear to my heart, with my fourth-grade crush by my side, was an absolute dream.
I absolutely loved showing Tre all our hidden gems and giving him a full-blown Upstate tour—one of the highlights of my life. Starting with the Corning Museum of Glass and Aniello’s I took Tre day by day through my childhood thrills! Together, we experienced rainbows, snuggled by the fire, visited Niagara Falls, indulged in soft-serve ice creams and custards, unique to the north and, most importantly, spent quality time with the people I love most. We also created new memories, like exploring Finger Lakes wineries, trying out new restaurants, and enjoying family time with board games, puzzles, paddle boarding, canoeing, and even video games.
If you’re looking for a vacation in one of the most beautiful places in the world (in my opinion) and want a destination that brings your family closer together, while visiting historic towns steeped in history, the arts, incredible wineries with breathtaking views of the lakes, incredible restaurants with traditional dishes to cutting edge gastronomical delights, I highly recommend visiting the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York and discovering everything it has to offer beyond the city. Get with me today to start planning your trip or reach out to someone on our advisor team.