While this is a not a sponsored post, some information came from our hotel concierge regarding local attractions/ activities. All thoughts are my own.

From the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, there are plenty of adventures to be had in between utilizing the resort's amenities.

We shared our sponsored  experiences with the Jamestown Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and the National Comedy Center on Mommy's Block Party but also wanted to share some of our other adventures with you too!

While we didn't stop for a meal in between the mentioned museums, we did find ourselves a late afternoon treat at Tim Hortons. A beloved Canadian coffee chain that also has residence in several northern states, this café offers coffee, donuts, and even some sandwiches. 

The afternoon sugar was the perfect way to keep adventuring, and by the time we devoured our donuts, the sun had broken through the rain for a rather beautiful afternoon.

Deciding to keep the adventure going, we hit the wine trail. The Lake Erie Wine Trail boosts 53 wineries along with other brews and spirits for enjoyment. 

We decided to head towards Johnson Estate Winery. As New York's oldest estate winery, it is still family owned and operated. We headed in for a quick tasting with a very polite bartender, who worked with us to determine the best wines for each of our taste buds.

Pro tip- if you are traveling with family or a friend, order different wines from each other so that you can taste even more! My sister and I discovered that we have vastly different wine tastes. What I loved, she hated, and vice versa. 

A regular sample is $5 for 5 tastings, but we effectively explored 10 tastings between the two of us!  Yes, there is enough in a tasting for two to share as well. Tastings also come with a small cheese tray to munch on in between. This is the perfect way to test out new wines, especially with unknown wineries. 

If you prefer to enjoy a full glass, grab a flight and a charcuterie board outside, enjoy the vineyard and sun. We opted to not do this because we knew we still had dinner plans. Some wineries do provide food/ food trucks, so those are things to look up in advance, or ask the concierge if there needs to be more than a charcuterie board with your wine. 

On the way back, I decided that I wanted to test out some spirits. We stopped into Mazza/ Five & 20 Spirits for me to test out a couple of stronger spirits. Their tasting was relatively simple too, but it did take some time to figure out what I liked best! 

My sister opted to exclude herself from this one, and let me be the sampler. From bourbon to grappa, I had a few tastings that I enjoyed, a few that were straight up never going to be in my liquor cabinet. Grappa was definitely one liquor my taste buds did not enjoy. 

The wine trail goes all the way to Lake Erie, and we would have explored further if we had the time! We could have opted to go directly to Lake Erie, but didn't want to drive that far knowing we had dinner reservations back at the hotel, but it's certainly doable from Celoron. 

It's maybe an hour to hour half drive, but of course, if you stop at several wineries, you might need a DD to get back to the hotel!

Need something more family-friendly than wineries? Check out the Chautauqua Belle. We tried to fit this boat trip into our itinerary, but weather had other plans.  We weren't able to make it in time for arrival day and had reached out to the captain about the latest times possible on our one full day in Chautauqua. 

Unfortunately, weather had other plans, and the captain predicted well, as he had cancelled the last tour the evening before. (Hence why we ended up on the wine trail). 

Yet, the Belle is a much loved ride that shares the history from a lake's view. It takes off in two locations-from either Mayville or the Chautauqua Institute, and has a couple of tour options available other than the regular history tour.

Other kid-friendly activities include Midway State Park's amusement park attractions, Audubon Community Nature Center, Panama Rocks Scenic Park, and various lake activities.

If performing arts is your calling, then the Chautauqua Institution is for you. We could have had a chance to explore this area, but we opted for the other museums instead. The Institute offers programming for all ages to enrich lives culturally and socially. Recreation, Performing Arts, lectures, and more are all offered, including day camps and activities suitable for children. 

Primary season is late June to late August, but the Institute does offer some year round programming. One can visit the grounds with having external accommodations, such as the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, or if you really wish to make a vacation of it, you can find internal accommodations, although all are privately owned. I am pretty sure we overheard a couple of folks that may have been headed towards their musical offerings, such as the symphony, at the hotel, but I didn't want to pry and be that eavesdropper! 

There is definitely a lot to see and explore within the Chautauqua area, including winter snow shoeing and skiing (although that has lessened with less snow in recent years).  If you are staying at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, please speak with the concierge. The current concierge is a wealth of information and grew up within the area, so knows it really well! 

From trails to wine, there is a unique experience waiting for you in Chautauqua County, and the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel is ready for you to rest and dine when you are done exploring!

Want to visit Chautauqua?

Check out the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau for great attractions and ideas! 

Connect with their Facebook and Instagram pages for latest info too!