The best parks & outdoor spots in Penn Yan

Right on the Seneca River between Geneva and Seneca Falls, Waterloo / Finger Lakes KOA Holiday makes quick weekend getaways easy, with roomy RV and tent sites plus cozy cabins. Paddle the canal locks, cast a line, or just watch the wildlife from the docks while the kids explore.

From the Seneca Falls newsletter, October 15, 2026

Apple Barrel Orchards and Cidery is an award-winning, fourth-generation, 86-acre fruit farm right here in the Finger Lakes, now pouring its own cider in a tasting room tucked inside an 1896 barn. Go for u-pick, stay for a tasting, and maybe join The Barrel Club if you’re feeling committed.

From the Penn Yan newsletter, October 15, 2026

Butterfly Effect is a native plant nursery geared to the Finger Lakes, offering garden-ready plugs and starts that make rewilding your yard easy. If you want more butterflies, hummingbirds, and fewer thirsty divas, they’ll help pick species that thrive here and actually support local ecosystems.

From the Geneva newsletter, October 17, 2026

Broad, level stone-dust and an old railbed beside the canal make Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail an easy 9 mellow miles for biking, walking, or a no-drama jog, with boaters and birdlife for company. It’s the kind of close-to-home route you’ll actually use after work.

From the Geneva newsletter, October 18, 2026

Ontario Pathways is the community’s backyard trail, kept in great shape by a small nonprofit crew and folks like you. Recent drainage fixes mean drier steps near Freshour Road, and they’ve got fall fun on deck with a Chicken BBQ fundraiser and the Great Pumpkin Walk... lace up and lend a hand.

From the Canandaigua newsletter, October 16, 2026