A One-Tank Trip to The Lake House At Canandaigua, New York
“Where the hell is Canandaigua?”
This was the catchphrase printed on a t-shirt in the resort’s gift shop, and I have to admit I asked myself that same question. At first, I thought there might be a connection to Canada, but then I noticed the extra N in the name. If you’re now curious, too, the town of Canandaigua and the lake of the same name is about a 3-hour drive southeast of Toronto in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. Famed for its glacially-sculpted landscape that includes 11 long, narrow lakes and its more than 100 wineries, some of the region’s more well-known destinations include Lake Seneca and the town of Ithaca, home to Cornell University. But I’ll wager that it won’t be long before the name Canandaigua will be just as recognized, not only because of the sheer beauty of the deep, turquoise lake set amongst the rolling hills, but a very special property on its shores; The Lake House at Canandaigua.
Opened in 2020, the 124-room property is already making a name for itself, sweeping up accolades such as TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award, Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List and the prestigious No. 1 Resort Hotel in New York State in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.
After our fall weekend getaway to The Lake House, it’s easy to understand how they earned so much recognition in such a short time. It’s luxoury without pretension, a place to escape the stress of our hectic lives and truly relax.
Everything about the resort is conducive to R & R from the Adirondack chairs along the lakeshore and well-cared for gardens to the exceptional Willowbrook Spa, suburb food and the friendly attentive staff. Not to mention my indulgent to-do list that was so very different than the one I’m usually ticking off at home.
A barrel sauna may sound rustic, but not this one. First off, one end is glass with a close-up view of the lake. And it’s not just about a sweat with a view, but an immersive ritual. The 60-minute experience features contrast bathing (hot-and-cold cycles that trigger beneficial hormones and neurotransmitters) and a botanical honey mask that left my skin feeling like new afterwards.
Over 70 % of the rooms have a lakeview, and our spacious balcony was the perfect perch to sit back and take it all in. The rooms themselves have a modern but warm decor with a specially-designed four-poster bed as a focal point. There were lots of thoughtful details and touches, including a pair of binoculars for an even closer look of the mesmerizing lake.
Also, the resort’s bikes are free to use and it’s a leisurely pedal to Young Lion or Twisted Rail Brewery.
At Rose Tavern, we feasted on their delectable dishes like ‘Nigiri’ Arancini (rice balls wrapped with wagyu beef), their signature roasted Sticky Brussel Sprouts and the melt-in-your-mouth JBs Parker House Rolls. At the more casual Sand Bar restaurant, we enjoyed seafood specialities in a beachy atmosphere.
Like always, my do-do list was left incomplete but this time with items like yoga class, pool time and cocktails in the library still unchecked. So, we’ll just have to come back another time to tick them off, and this time we’ll know where the hell to go.
Jennifer Merrick
A teenage journey to the Arctic Circle sparked Jenn’s life-long passion for travel. In her twenties, she travelled abroad, teaching English in the UK, Hungary, Ukraine, Egypt and Singapore. She returned to Canada, settling in Toronto, where she began teaching new immigrants. Wanting to share her travel discoveries, she embarked on a second career as a freelance travel writer and her stories have been published in 30+ newspapers, magazines and websites.
Feet still itchy, she continues to travel and write about her adventures along the way. Join Jenn in this column as she hits the road.