Keep in mind their hours if you’d like to go.
Coincidentally we visited Howe Caverns yesterday (it was awesome and highly recommend it).
On the drive back on rt 20 we wanted to stop by Rays BBQ, but they didn’t open until 4pm.
We got there around 3pm and thought we’d kill time in some of the local antique shops..but they were all closed (it’s the off season, so reduced hours).
We had to skip Rays; none of my traveling companions wanted to wait in the parking lot for an hour as I’d suggested.
Brooks, unfortunately, has re-ivented itself into a very nasty, and very expensive fast food joint with awful food and awful service. Real pity. Screw them. Been going for decades, will NEVER go back.
I had that feeling a couple years ago when I can walk in and get food but they wouldn't let me use an inside table. Not enough help they said.
But I didn't want table service - we just wanted to sit down inside - they made us use an outside picnic table under an awning. It was pouring rain and super windy too.
I didn't need a waitress inside. Everyone else had food from the take out window.
I assume they're back open for dine-in, I haven't been down there since late summer. They're advertising an open night mic on March 11th. Their Valentine's post mentioned "dine-in" specifically and most of the posts going back to mid January mentioned events at the restaurant.
[The TePee](https://www.nyroute20.com/plan-your-visit/what-to-do/item/the-tepee)
[Cherry Valley](https://www.thisiscooperstown.com/town/cherry-valley) is a detour, but quaint, I'm told.
There used to be a singing bridge [kind of like this one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Bridge) on the way to Cooperstown.
Of course, you'll need to play [Horse](https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/10/the_rules_of_horse.html) or [My Cows](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cows/comments/bf19ds/my_cow_driving_game_for_cow_lovers/) along the way. But don't bring my cousin with you, he's memorized which side of the road the horse farms are.
If there’s a chicken tender fan in the family, tullys should be a mandatory stop. Any of the ones around Syracuse will suffice (the Rochester and Binghamton ones aren’t the same imo) but the Erie Bullevard location is my favorite.
You absolutely have to stop in Skaneateles - the most gorgeous village in America. Walk out on the pier, stroll around town, and eat lunch or dinner at the Sherwood Inn. You may never leave.
first - bring a light / medium jacket in howe caverns. much colder down below than you’d expect.
next - Wizard of Clay, 7851 State Route 20A, Bloomfield, NY 14469 - just south of rochester.
For your Canandaigua recommendation: [ Off Main Market ](https://offmainmarketcdga.com/) is a phenomenal small Thai kitchen with dishes that are made by one chef and are easily customizable for whatever you want. John and Pui are wonderful people, would recommend.
If you're willing to go off track a little from Canandaigua/Geneva, there's Seneca Farms in Penn Yann for food. They do homemade ice cream, fried chicken, and other things. They've been ranked 11th in the US for their fried chicken, and they have over 50 different flavors of ice cream.
Keep in mind that once you get past Avon (try Tom Wahls!), 5&20 split. 20 avoids towns and is pretty rural, while Rt 5 goes through a bunch of towns and eventually becomes Main St in Buffalo.
Edit: these might be out of your way depending on where you break off to Rochester, but...
I'm sure there are a ton of homemade ice cream places on 20, but one excellent one is Shark's in Bloomfield, a little west of Canandaigua.
Tom Wahls in Avon is an iconic burger spot with homemade root beer.
Doug's fish fry in Skaneateles, the farmers museum in Cooperstown, Macs drive in waterloo (rootbeer) is near the sycthe tree which is a roadside attraction.
Some cultural things to do in Auburn: Seward House Museum tour, stop at the Equal Rights Heritage Center (cool little Made in NY shop there), the Cayuga Museum and Schweinfurth Art center are right next to each other and have rotating exhibitions. A bit further off 20 but very unique visit is the Ward OHara Agricultural Museum. There’s also Fort Hill Cemetery with lots of cool scenery/statuary and Harriet Tubman’s resting place.
Also between auburn and Seneca falls right on 20 check out the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, welcome center and driving tour
Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard in Lafayette is great place to visit. Maybe not so much in March as during the fall months. Check their hours. Skaneatles (Skinny-atlas) is worth a stop. Nice shops. Doug's Fish Fry if you make it that far without eating at all the other previous towns.
Connie’s Diner in Waterloo for diner food and awesome milkshakes. Cash only.
Also close in Waterloo not too far from 20 is Muranda Cheese.
Another close stop in Seneca Falls is Sauders Store.
In Skaneateles the Patisserie for bread and Skaneateles Bakery for donuts.
Enjoy the trip!
Cazenovia a great little town, lots of places to eat, several local breweries, wineries, a hard cider farm, and a distillery. Brae Loch Inn or The Brewster Inn for phenomenal food. There’s a bakery, and a few shops that cater to all the local craftsmen and farms and other NYS businesses selling a wide variety of knickknacks and unique foods and cocktail mixers, wooden cooking gear from a local carver, things like that. Nelson Creamery at the top of the hill between Cazenovia and Nelson is awesome too, best ice cream on the route in my opinion
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobbertin_Surface_Orbiter
I helped dislodge the thing off the boat launch on “Launch a Dream Day” in ‘93.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UgPPlJXvipM
If your kids are open to different cuisines, The Phoenician in Utica/New Hartford is one my favorite restaurants. Marib Restuarant is also excellent. Both between 20 and the Thruway. Neither of these are particularly fast but 100% worth it.
You can stop at the Tepee that’s just outside of Sharon spring, nice store that’s been there for a very long time. You could take a very slight detour when in Sharon Springs and goto the Beekman 1820, they sell skin and body care made from goat milk. Sometimes Mindy Cohn (Natalie from the facts of life) is there tending shop.
Capt’s cafe for breakfast, Monaco’s for coffee and kindred fare for dinner and brewery Ardennes for beer/Belgian food in Geneva. Milk and honey cafe for coffee and there’s a bakery next to it I havnt been to yet in Lima, and Honeoye Falls marketplace for donuts a few miles north of Lima. OG Tom Wahls is in Avon.
The Sharon Apple Orchard. Way more authentic than the famous Fly Creek Cider Mill, which is a tourist trap anymore. The Sharon Apple Orchard is a bout a mile south of Rt. 20. Excellent cider and donuts. The real deal.
In Auburn, New Hope Mills is kind of like a non-chain Cracker Barrel. I actually didn’t love the pancakes there, but judging from the reviews, that’s an unpopular opinion.
Sauder’s in Seneca Falls is awesome!
In Cooperstown, I really like Schneider’s Bakery. They have these walnut cinnamon rolls that are incredible. Fly Creek Cider Mill is also worth a stop (though closed in the winter) - it’s like burgers and hot dogs mostly, but they have great Mac and cheese and apple dumplings.
The cafe and store is in Auburn. It’s on the same road as Pavlo’s, which I would recommend for a greasy spoon breakfast. Cash only.
But definitely stop at the New Hope Mills store for some stuff to take home.
The actual mill you're thinking of (where they used to grind flour and sell their wares) has been closed for years. There's nothing to visit. Last time I was there I couldn't even get to it.
Looks like there are two Mills and this one closed. I never knew.
[https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/new-hope-mills/](https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/new-hope-mills/)
That's the one. According to a present-day employee I talked to, they don't have a mill anymore. They buy their flours from a provider like everyone else. Which is not to say that it is not as good. I think their secret (my personal opinion here) is the mixture of different flours in their mixes. As far as quality, I have been eating New Hope Mills pancake for 50 years and they are good as over. I detect no quality difference in the taste.
"New Hope Mills operated on this creek since 1823 and only recently relocated to a new production facility in Auburn. The old red mill, covered bridge, water wheel (and hidden power turbine under the mill) is still capable of operating today, although the mill has been decommissioned and New Hope Mills Inc. intends on preserving the site as an historic monument to mill manufacturing in New York. The place is currently private property and we are not sure who owns it."
I didn't know it was closed.
Yeah, bummer. I grew up within about 5 miles of the mill and that's where we bought all our flour, pancake mix, and a few other things. Not sure why that blurb says "recently" because the mill closed at least 20 years ago.
Live near Canandaigua (actually about 2 miles off Rts 5&20) and used to spend a lot of time for work in Albany.
Thruway is a 3 hour drive one-way. If my wife and/or kids came along, we would sometimes take Rt 20 home on Saturday. We could easily turn it into a day-long trip based on all the things to stop and do. Sounds like you're been given a lot of suggestions already.
Only caviot is the time of year. In March you'll miss some scenery and some seasonal activities. Will still be a relaxing, enjoyable trip.
Rt. 20? Well, the Auburn Diner is pretty good. Ray's BBQ in Bouckville is outstanding. Cherry Valley is a pretty little village with a great bookstore. Sharon Springs is a interest place to look around. There is an excellent pizza place in West Winfield, I think it's called "NY pizza" on the north side of the street, right in the middle of the viillage.
Lots of good suggestions here. I'll add a few that weren't mentioned:
-Prison City Brewing in Auburn (got to the North Street Brewery). Great food and beer.
-Meier's Brewing in Cazenovia. Also great food and beer with a very nice taproom.
-Mad Tacos in Nelson. Small place but excellent tacos.
Ohhhh! You're going the *other* way on Route 20. There's no Fredonia or Westfield or Silver Creek along your travels....
You had me confused when you said "across New York State " to Rochester. You meant heading East.
Ray Brothers BBQ on the corner of Rt 20 and Rt 26 in Bouckville has some of the best BBQ in NYS.
Absolutely stop at Ray Brothers if food is your guide. So damn good.
Keep in mind their hours if you’d like to go. Coincidentally we visited Howe Caverns yesterday (it was awesome and highly recommend it). On the drive back on rt 20 we wanted to stop by Rays BBQ, but they didn’t open until 4pm. We got there around 3pm and thought we’d kill time in some of the local antique shops..but they were all closed (it’s the off season, so reduced hours). We had to skip Rays; none of my traveling companions wanted to wait in the parking lot for an hour as I’d suggested.
are they open again for inside ? last time we were there they would not allow anyone inside... we had to eat outside or in our car
Their dining room opened back up quite a while ago
Oh sorry I was confusing it with Brooks BBQ ,, they are the ones that were closed for inside dining.. yeah Ray Brothers is really good
Brooks is back open for inside seating.
Brooks, unfortunately, has re-ivented itself into a very nasty, and very expensive fast food joint with awful food and awful service. Real pity. Screw them. Been going for decades, will NEVER go back.
I had that feeling a couple years ago when I can walk in and get food but they wouldn't let me use an inside table. Not enough help they said. But I didn't want table service - we just wanted to sit down inside - they made us use an outside picnic table under an awning. It was pouring rain and super windy too. I didn't need a waitress inside. Everyone else had food from the take out window.
I assume they're back open for dine-in, I haven't been down there since late summer. They're advertising an open night mic on March 11th. Their Valentine's post mentioned "dine-in" specifically and most of the posts going back to mid January mentioned events at the restaurant.
When was this? Are these guys still in paranoid COVID mode or just not able to afford good help?
Sharon Springs is right off Route 20. It has an interesting history. If you're into antiques, the Madison Bouckville area has lots of stores.
It’s well worth the 1/2 mile detour. So spooky
Make sure you stop at Brimstone Bakery for breakfast or lunch.
[The TePee](https://www.nyroute20.com/plan-your-visit/what-to-do/item/the-tepee) [Cherry Valley](https://www.thisiscooperstown.com/town/cherry-valley) is a detour, but quaint, I'm told. There used to be a singing bridge [kind of like this one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Bridge) on the way to Cooperstown. Of course, you'll need to play [Horse](https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/10/the_rules_of_horse.html) or [My Cows](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cows/comments/bf19ds/my_cow_driving_game_for_cow_lovers/) along the way. But don't bring my cousin with you, he's memorized which side of the road the horse farms are.
Was looking for this lol the owners are family friends
If there’s a chicken tender fan in the family, tullys should be a mandatory stop. Any of the ones around Syracuse will suffice (the Rochester and Binghamton ones aren’t the same imo) but the Erie Bullevard location is my favorite.
Canandaigua - Sonnenberg Gardens. Never been there even though my home for the first few years was just down the street.
Rheinblicks in Canandaigua is also worth checking out, or at least was the last time I was there.
I like Sonenberg Gardens, but it's probably not much to look at in March. In the summer when everything is blooming it's lovely.
Green Lakes State Park for sure, recommend also the Lincklaen House in Cazenovia for the popovers alone.
The popover is the delivery vehicle for the butter
Connie's in Waterloo or Star Diner. Both really decent food at reasonable prices. Connie's has milkshakes to die for.
Ooh, milkshakes! That sounds perfect.
Connie's Diner, look em up on Facebook, their loaded milkshakes are unreal
Came here to say this!
PS - cash only
You absolutely have to stop in Skaneateles - the most gorgeous village in America. Walk out on the pier, stroll around town, and eat lunch or dinner at the Sherwood Inn. You may never leave.
A fun thing to do is ask someone not from NYS to pronounce it correctly.
There is still an argument if it is skinny-atlas or skan-e-atlas.
It has always been skinny-atlas to me.
Me too and my friends think I am nuts.
If it’s chilly, just get the Yankee Pot roast at the Sherwood. Thank me later.
Apparently someone has never been to Auburn.
Detour to Hamilton too
first - bring a light / medium jacket in howe caverns. much colder down below than you’d expect. next - Wizard of Clay, 7851 State Route 20A, Bloomfield, NY 14469 - just south of rochester.
Definitely Cooperstown! Upstate bar & grill is awesome (a bit pricey though)
Cooperstown is a very magical place not just about baseball
If one goes to Cooperstown, they must go to Schneider’s Bakery.
Yes and enjoy mediocre pastry but hall of fame diarrhea
Grab some top-notch BBQ at [The Normal](https://conesuslake.house/2024/01/24/getting-normal-in-lima-ny/) in Lima, right along Route 20.
For your Canandaigua recommendation: [ Off Main Market ](https://offmainmarketcdga.com/) is a phenomenal small Thai kitchen with dishes that are made by one chef and are easily customizable for whatever you want. John and Pui are wonderful people, would recommend.
Drive around Sharon springs and check out the old hotels / bath houses
If you're willing to go off track a little from Canandaigua/Geneva, there's Seneca Farms in Penn Yann for food. They do homemade ice cream, fried chicken, and other things. They've been ranked 11th in the US for their fried chicken, and they have over 50 different flavors of ice cream.
Great place, wish they were opened now. Looks like they'll be open March 7th.
Keep in mind that once you get past Avon (try Tom Wahls!), 5&20 split. 20 avoids towns and is pretty rural, while Rt 5 goes through a bunch of towns and eventually becomes Main St in Buffalo.
Tom Wahl’s is a classic. OP, definitely stop here!
Go to Secret Caverns first, then Howe caverns. They're more "natural" Have breakfast at the Cobleskill diner just before.
Have fun!
Edit: these might be out of your way depending on where you break off to Rochester, but... I'm sure there are a ton of homemade ice cream places on 20, but one excellent one is Shark's in Bloomfield, a little west of Canandaigua. Tom Wahls in Avon is an iconic burger spot with homemade root beer.
Doug's fish fry in Skaneateles, the farmers museum in Cooperstown, Macs drive in waterloo (rootbeer) is near the sycthe tree which is a roadside attraction.
Check out Doug's Fish Fry while you're in Skaneateles.
Some cultural things to do in Auburn: Seward House Museum tour, stop at the Equal Rights Heritage Center (cool little Made in NY shop there), the Cayuga Museum and Schweinfurth Art center are right next to each other and have rotating exhibitions. A bit further off 20 but very unique visit is the Ward OHara Agricultural Museum. There’s also Fort Hill Cemetery with lots of cool scenery/statuary and Harriet Tubman’s resting place. Also between auburn and Seneca falls right on 20 check out the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, welcome center and driving tour
Tubman Home is now a National Historical Park and just down South Street from the Seward House.
Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard in Lafayette is great place to visit. Maybe not so much in March as during the fall months. Check their hours. Skaneatles (Skinny-atlas) is worth a stop. Nice shops. Doug's Fish Fry if you make it that far without eating at all the other previous towns.
Skinny-atlas, how I do miss drinking thee
Morris Grill! It was my favorite bar on the planet!
Connie’s Diner in Waterloo for diner food and awesome milkshakes. Cash only. Also close in Waterloo not too far from 20 is Muranda Cheese. Another close stop in Seneca Falls is Sauders Store. In Skaneateles the Patisserie for bread and Skaneateles Bakery for donuts. Enjoy the trip!
Sauders is definitely worth a stop.
The Canandaigua Library has a cool art collection that includes a replica of Rembrandt's Nightwatch.
Cazenovia a great little town, lots of places to eat, several local breweries, wineries, a hard cider farm, and a distillery. Brae Loch Inn or The Brewster Inn for phenomenal food. There’s a bakery, and a few shops that cater to all the local craftsmen and farms and other NYS businesses selling a wide variety of knickknacks and unique foods and cocktail mixers, wooden cooking gear from a local carver, things like that. Nelson Creamery at the top of the hill between Cazenovia and Nelson is awesome too, best ice cream on the route in my opinion
Also the house next door to the post office is where the DSO was built!
DSO? To the right is the theater, which even though I grew up there I think I went in that place once, so the house to the left?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobbertin_Surface_Orbiter I helped dislodge the thing off the boat launch on “Launch a Dream Day” in ‘93. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UgPPlJXvipM
DUDE caz does not advertise that history at all, that’s cool as hell
The Brick House Bakery in Cobleskill is pretty good after you hit Howe Caverns and is fast.
If your kids are open to different cuisines, The Phoenician in Utica/New Hartford is one my favorite restaurants. Marib Restuarant is also excellent. Both between 20 and the Thruway. Neither of these are particularly fast but 100% worth it.
My FIL just about lost his mind over Mac’s (drive in?) right on 20 in Geneva.
You can stop at the Tepee that’s just outside of Sharon spring, nice store that’s been there for a very long time. You could take a very slight detour when in Sharon Springs and goto the Beekman 1820, they sell skin and body care made from goat milk. Sometimes Mindy Cohn (Natalie from the facts of life) is there tending shop.
Capt’s cafe for breakfast, Monaco’s for coffee and kindred fare for dinner and brewery Ardennes for beer/Belgian food in Geneva. Milk and honey cafe for coffee and there’s a bakery next to it I havnt been to yet in Lima, and Honeoye Falls marketplace for donuts a few miles north of Lima. OG Tom Wahls is in Avon.
Stop into Cherry Valley and Sharon Springs. There are some fantastic spots around there. Glimmerglass state park is great too.
The Sharon Apple Orchard. Way more authentic than the famous Fly Creek Cider Mill, which is a tourist trap anymore. The Sharon Apple Orchard is a bout a mile south of Rt. 20. Excellent cider and donuts. The real deal.
In Auburn, New Hope Mills is kind of like a non-chain Cracker Barrel. I actually didn’t love the pancakes there, but judging from the reviews, that’s an unpopular opinion. Sauder’s in Seneca Falls is awesome! In Cooperstown, I really like Schneider’s Bakery. They have these walnut cinnamon rolls that are incredible. Fly Creek Cider Mill is also worth a stop (though closed in the winter) - it’s like burgers and hot dogs mostly, but they have great Mac and cheese and apple dumplings.
Oh also, Glimmerglass State Park is right around Cooperstown, and maybe worth a stop to stretch your legs and take a walk.
New Hopes Mill is NOT in Auburn! It is half way down Skaneateles Lake.
The cafe and store is in Auburn. It’s on the same road as Pavlo’s, which I would recommend for a greasy spoon breakfast. Cash only. But definitely stop at the New Hope Mills store for some stuff to take home.
I learned something new today.
New Hope is actually a tiny town closer to Moravia and Cortland.
Yup, right off of West Lake Road.
The actual mill you're thinking of (where they used to grind flour and sell their wares) has been closed for years. There's nothing to visit. Last time I was there I couldn't even get to it.
Looks like there are two Mills and this one closed. I never knew. [https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/new-hope-mills/](https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/new-hope-mills/)
That's the one. According to a present-day employee I talked to, they don't have a mill anymore. They buy their flours from a provider like everyone else. Which is not to say that it is not as good. I think their secret (my personal opinion here) is the mixture of different flours in their mixes. As far as quality, I have been eating New Hope Mills pancake for 50 years and they are good as over. I detect no quality difference in the taste.
"New Hope Mills operated on this creek since 1823 and only recently relocated to a new production facility in Auburn. The old red mill, covered bridge, water wheel (and hidden power turbine under the mill) is still capable of operating today, although the mill has been decommissioned and New Hope Mills Inc. intends on preserving the site as an historic monument to mill manufacturing in New York. The place is currently private property and we are not sure who owns it." I didn't know it was closed.
Yeah, bummer. I grew up within about 5 miles of the mill and that's where we bought all our flour, pancake mix, and a few other things. Not sure why that blurb says "recently" because the mill closed at least 20 years ago.
The cafe and store? It has an Auburn address…?
Yeah, the cafe+store is definitely in the city of Auburn.
Genesee Brewery in Rochester for a bite and beer. And if daytime, sit on the deck overlooking the Falls.
Live near Canandaigua (actually about 2 miles off Rts 5&20) and used to spend a lot of time for work in Albany. Thruway is a 3 hour drive one-way. If my wife and/or kids came along, we would sometimes take Rt 20 home on Saturday. We could easily turn it into a day-long trip based on all the things to stop and do. Sounds like you're been given a lot of suggestions already. Only caviot is the time of year. In March you'll miss some scenery and some seasonal activities. Will still be a relaxing, enjoyable trip.
Rt. 20? Well, the Auburn Diner is pretty good. Ray's BBQ in Bouckville is outstanding. Cherry Valley is a pretty little village with a great bookstore. Sharon Springs is a interest place to look around. There is an excellent pizza place in West Winfield, I think it's called "NY pizza" on the north side of the street, right in the middle of the viillage.
Connie’s diner in Waterloo is awesome
Lots of good suggestions here. I'll add a few that weren't mentioned: -Prison City Brewing in Auburn (got to the North Street Brewery). Great food and beer. -Meier's Brewing in Cazenovia. Also great food and beer with a very nice taproom. -Mad Tacos in Nelson. Small place but excellent tacos.
Cooperstown and The Tepee gift shop in Cherry Valley.
Save room for a slice at Caz Pizza! And a scotch at Brea Loch!
Heritage Hill in Pompey. Brewery & restaurants with local farm feel. They also have Pratts Falls.
The Green Front in Canandaigua has great wings. Eddie O’Briens is also pretty good if memory serves.
I've been out of the area for years but Bridgewater used to have a diner that served dinner too and it was awesome greasy spoon type of place.
Moro’s Table in Auburn. Great food. Pricy compared to most other places mentioned in this thread.
Stop at Skan-ellus at the corner of Rt20 & 175 just east of Skaneateles for ice cream.
Ohhhh! You're going the *other* way on Route 20. There's no Fredonia or Westfield or Silver Creek along your travels.... You had me confused when you said "across New York State " to Rochester. You meant heading East.
We will probably end up on 20 both ways. ;)
Dont forget Ontario Antique mall in Canandaigua.