Naples

Just south of Canandaigua Lake [1], surrounded by hills, lies Naples, population 2,500. A tidy village with a brisk tourist trade, Naples centers around a historic Old Town Square. Naples is one of the best places in the Finger Lakes [2] to sample a sweet regional specialty—grape pie. The pies, made with dark grapes, are only available during the harvest season in fall.

Cumming Nature Center

About eight miles northwest of the village lies the 900-acre Cumming Nature Center (6472 Gulick Rd., 585/374-6160, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sat.–Sun., admission $3), owned by the Rochester Museum and Science Center [3]. A veritable outdoor museum, the preserve holds six miles of themed trails leading through forests and wetlands. The Conservation Trail illustrates theories of forest management; the Pioneer Trail, complete with a reconstructed homestead, teaches about the early settlers’ lives. The Beaver Trail focuses on the principles of ecology, and the Iroquois Trail focuses on Native American life. Near the entrance is a visitors center.

Gannett Hill

Scenic Route 21 heads due north out of Naples to the highest point in Ontario County—Gannett Hill, 2,256 feet above sea level. Now part of Ontario County Park, the hill offers bird’s-eye views of the surrounding countryside.

Food

Bob and Ruth’s (204 Main St., Old Town Square, 585/374-5122) is a village institution containing both a casual dining area and the more formal Vineyard Room. Specialties range from rotisserie chicken to Angus beef (average entrée $17). In summer, an outdoor patio opens up.

The historic 1895 Naples Hotel Restaurant (111 S. Main St., 585/374-5630) specializes in traditional American fare; on Saturdays, live music is often presented in the hotel’s rathskeller downstairs (average entrée $14). Five rooms are also available here for overnight guests ($75–125 d).