Cayuga Lake, New York

Great For: Oenophiles
What's Relaxing: Sipping wine while enjoying lake views

What could be more relaxing than porch sitting by a calm lake? Porch sitting and drinking a glass of fine wine, of course. And you can do just that at the Inns of Aurora, which include the recently restored Aurora Inn and the E.B. Morgan House, set on Cayuga Lake in New York State's Finger Lakes region. Amenities are ready-made for a perfect weekend getaway and come in the form of in-room dining, massages, fireplaces, and broad lakeside porches. Plus, special wine dinners and cooking classes that feature local bounty from area farms and vineyards are available. Rates start at $150 per night.

Things to Do: While the Finger Lakes region encompasses over 9,000 square miles and boasts more than 100 vineyards, Cayuga Lake has its own wine trail. Visitors can learn to make wine at Heart & Hands Wine Company or explore the historical village of Aurora. Ithaca, on the southernmost point of Cayuga Lake, is home to The Finger Lakes Wine Center, where you can taste and learn all about local wines in one central place.