For our six year anniversary we escaped for a dreamy weekend getaway at the Inns of Aurora. Located in the Finger Lakes region on the east side of Cayuga Lake, the Inns are the perfect year round getaway.
With 5 properties making up the charming village of the luxurious Inns, each provide their own unique atmosphere and experience.
From historic charm and elegance, to chic vibrant style (imagine a whole floor decorated with the playful Mackenzie-Childs design) and even modern luxury you can take your pick. You will feel transported by the decor and art from each of the founders personal collections yielding the fair classification of an official AAA 4-diamond rating.
Our Stay
Before we checked into the Aurora Inn we grabbed lunch across the street at the Fargo Bar & Grill. Here you will enjoy a cozy casual atmosphere with great food and good service!
We had the pleasure of staying at the The Aurora Inn, in room 4.
The room is complete with sitting areas, a seasonal gas fireplace, king bed, exquisite marble bathroom, and a massive balcony making it fit for royalty.
The Inns of Aurora provide spa quality bath amenities, glorious Frette linens, and (one of my favorites) complimentary homemade granola bars with fair-trade coffee each morning. Every detail was executed to perfection, including turn down service.
Upon our return from exploring the Cayuga Lake wine trial and dinner in Ithaca we walked into a peaceful, relaxing, room with chocolates & classical music.
Be sure to check out the plethora of activities and experiences offered at the Inns of Aurora here. You will find all things wellness, adventure, culinary, and art, there is something for everyone!
The staff is top notch, extremely friendly, and can accommodate just about any request you could dream up.
1833 Kitchen and Bar
Located in the Aurora Inn on the main level you will find the delightful restaurant 1833 Kitchen and Bar. Here they offer breakfast, lunch , and dinner. The executive chef Eric Lamphere sources local fare and makes everything from scratch when possible. The service was impeccable and the food was divine.
Additionally, be sure to check out The Village Market which is adjacent to the Aurora Inn. It is here that you are able to conveniently pick up Aurora brand gifts, treats, fresh take home meals prepared daily or even a cup of Joe.
Exploring Cayuga Lake
With Aurora being an essential Finger Lakes destination we just had to do a mini wine tour. Drew and I have hit most of the wine trails of the Finger Lakes with the exception of this side of Cayuga Lake. Being newbies we were so fortunate for The Inns of Aurora to recommend their favorite stops, see below in order:
Heart & Hands (sadly, was not open but we got to taste some of their bubbly!)
Long Point
Bright Leaf
Treleaven
Bet the Farm (we unfortunately did not have time for this one, but we’ll be back)
We had the loveliest time meeting some wonderful locals, and tasting award wining wines!
We finished the night in downtown Ithaca at Coltivare for quite the dinner experience! Coltivare is the downtown culinary center, event venue and farm-to-table restaurant of Tompkins Cortland Community College. It offers a lovely modern rustic atmosphere and provides delicious, locally harvested fare that is transformed into farm fresh dining.
Whilst enjoying a delightful cocktail (the thyme machine) we were provided a tour of the restaurant, wine cellar, culinary lab, amphitheater, and special event space. Our dinner was exceptional, we ordered the beef short rib and seared salmon followed by their delicious amaretto and orange chocolate torte.
Boneless burgundy braised short rib with pink pickled pearl onions and jus lie
seared salmon with basil pesto, lemon olive oil
flourless chocolate cake with amaretto, chocolate ganache, glazed orange slices
I can’t wait to return and bring the kids, their brunch looks like its right up our alley (hello build your own Bloody Mary bar)! Head here for their menu and be sure to read more about their unique culinary center.
For getting around we used Bigs D’s Limos, Rick our driver was the best and able to safely bring the two of us to each stop in a Lincoln Navigator. They also offer party buses for larger groups!
We ended our trip by visiting Mackenzie-Childs tranquil victorian farm and going on a tour of the insanely gorgeous & unique farmhouse, a must do!
I have been a fan of their handmade ceramics, enamelware, glassware, furniture and home furnishings for quite some time. It is amazing the amount of time that goes into each piece. The ceramics are hand painted making no two exactly alike, and each piece of furniture is decorated by hand.
We of course headed for the shop at the end of our visit to get something special for the kids, and a few items for the home! You can see below some of the items we came home with:
I can’t recommend our getaway at the Inns of Aurora enough, we look forward to returning to this gem for years to come. There is so much to do and explore around Cayuga Lake, and what better way the to have the luxury accommodations and charm of the Inns of Aurora!
xoxo,
Jenny
Disclaimer and Fact Box: this stay was funded by The Inns of Aurora. My collaboration with The Inns of Aurora also included a live social media campaign, which allowed those who follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to be able to join me during the trip. I loved every minute and opinions are all mine (and I promise you, it was great). You can access the Instagram Story highlights here.
Find out more about The Inns of Aurora by visiting their website – it has a good collection of resources and can help you plan your next trip. Start here for ideas on what to do and see in Cayuga County, accommodation and shopping, of course. You can also visit the Finger Lakes tourism website.
I would also recommend following The Inns of Aurora on Instagram – it will give you a good flavor of what to expect on your stay!