Stay-cation will be a new category for the blog. I’m starting off with some tips from my trip around the area for the 4th of July weekend. Feel free to share your own in the comments or submit your own stay-cation ideas.
Waverly, NY
Saturday morning we dropped our dog off with family in PA. We were headed to Ithaca, but on our way stopped by the Railhouse in Waverly. It looks sort of like a townie bar from the outside, but we gave it a shot and it turned out to have quite a nice restaurant inside. The menu had a lot to offer; sandwiches, salads, steaks, pasta, wraps, etc… We got a chicken speedie sub and a clam strip wrap (both came with chips or fries) and they were surprisingly fantastic / tasty. More surprising were the prices. Our total came to less than $14 and I noticed a $5 lunch special that changes daily. If you find yourself in the area, definitely stop in.
Ithaca, NY
We got to Ithaca and were pretty tired from the morning drive so we stopped in the Ithaca Bakery, got some coffee, split a cookie, and sat outside. It’s a good coffee stop, but they have a lot more to offer (I just seem to always go their for coffee on a full stomach). Later on we checked into the Hilton Garden Inn. It was a bit pricey for one night, but it was a holiday weekend and right on The Commons. The Rooms are nice (with great views) and the beds were super comfortable (sleep number beds). For proximity to The Commons, you can’t beat it.
On The Commons my girlfriend found a rad purse on a discount shelf at Ten Thousand Villages, we drank some bubble tea, and I found a low price on a french press to replace my coffee machine. One of my favorite stops was a bookstore in the Dewitt Mall (near The Commons) called The Bookery. It doesn’t look like much, but the book selection was right up my alley. I could have spent a couple hours in there, but we were in a hurry to catch dinner at Moosewood.
Moosewood is my favorite restaurant in Ithaca. They serve lunch and dinner, and the menu changes for each meal every day. I’m not a vegetarian, but 99% of their menu is vegetarian / vegan (I’ve seen fish on the menu). Everything is cooked with fresh / organic ingredients. [I know you meat eaters are probably ready to skip this section, but seriously, give it a shot, you’ll be impressed]. To save money, we got a soup / salad / bread combo for $8 (their dressings are fan-fricken-tastic), and split an entrée ($1 split / extra plate charge). There was a 30 minute wait, but a few drinks at the bar helped pass the time. Some people might not realize it, but Moosewood is a world famous restaurant. I have vegetarian friends from the other side of the country who own their cookbooks. Bon Appetit magazine named it one of the most influential restaurants of the 20th century. … After Moosewood, we did a little barhopping, but I didn’t keep track of the names (one had an outdoor patio, and the other was a hippish basement bar). [Side note: We didn’t go this trip, but one of the best stops in Ithaca is the Farmers Market, I’ll have a write up about it soon.]
Geneva, NY
We heard there were going to be fireworks in Geneva on Sunday night so we stopped in a few hotels to check prices and availability; everything was booked. The desk clerk at one place did give us a tip about a boat ride to see the fireworks from the water that had a cash bar. The boat was the Rose Lummis. It was kind of ramshackle, but it had charm – the boat dog, Waggs, snuggled at our feet, they didn’t overcharge for beers, and the view of the fireworks from the water was fantastic.
I ended up looking for hotels on my smartphone; calling around confirmed that indeed everything was booked. But just to explore my options I looked under Motels and found Clark’s Motel. I’m weary of motels, but it had good reviews on Google, so I figured I’d give it a shot – they had one room available. This place was a FIND! You couldn’t beat the price of around $60 a night. Its family owned, only have about 4 units, and they give motels a good name. The room was very clean, and big (it had 3 beds), a tad dated in terms of style, but had an HD flatscreen TV, and was on a park. It also happened to be across the street from Denny’s, so we finished the night with some eggs for dinner. All-in-all we ended up spending only $50 each for the entire night in Geneva – we really lucked out here! [Also close by are the Waterloo Outlets, we only buzzed by for a quick 15 min, so I’ll do a write up when I have a chance to spend more time up there.]
Myles Lasco
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