Free
McCarthy Hill State Forest
The former Pinnacle State Park, west of Corning, is now a state forest. Trails and hill views; open year-round, no fee.
Finger Lakes, New York
Corning
The Crystal City on the Chemung River: the Corning Museum of Glass with live glassblowing, the Rockwell Museum's art of the American West, and the brick-lined Gaffer District.
Photo: Corning Museum of Glass, User:Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Corning has been a glass town since the 1860s, and the Corning Museum of Glass is its glowing heart. You'll find 35 centuries of glass, live hot-glass demonstrations and studios where you can make your own piece.
Downtown's Gaffer District, named for the master glassblowers, is a walkable strip of 19th-century brick buildings along Market Street. The Rockwell Museum, in the old City Hall, shows art of the American West. Watkins Glen and Keuka Lake are each about half an hour away.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Watkins Glen State Park
Nineteen waterfalls in a stone gorge, about 30 minutes north.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Centerway Square clock tower
A 19th-century clock tower at the heart of downtown.
Free
Glass-art storefronts
Studios and galleries selling local glass along Market Street.
Cheap
Heritage Village of the Southern Finger Lakes
Historic buildings of the region.
Paid
Corning Museum of Glass
Glass art and history, live demonstrations and make-your-own studios.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Gaffer District
Restored brick buildings with shops and restaurants on Market Street.
Free
Corning farmers' market
A summer market downtown.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Free
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Wineries along Seneca Lake, north of Watkins Glen.
Free
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Wineries around Keuka Lake, starting at Hammondsport.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Corning Museum of Glass Experience
- The Rockwell Museum Tickets
Part of our Finger Lakes guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The glass museum easily fills a day, especially if you make something.
- Watkins Glen's gorge and Keuka's wineries are each a short drive.
- Market Street's restaurants make for a relaxed evening.
Nearby and worth the drive
Watkins Glenabout 30 min · Guide ↗
Gorge trails and Seneca Lake.
Hammondsportabout 30 min · Guide ↗Keuka Lake and wineries.
Ready-made trips with Corning
Good to know
- Getting around: The Gaffer District and the museum are a short walk or shuttle apart.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Corning Museum of Glass, User:Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: The Rockwell Museum, Corning, The original uploader was Pollinator at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Centerway Square clock tower, Corning, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Market Street, Corning, Pubdog (talk), Public domain