Things to Do in Chautauqua, NY: A Weekend Getaway Destination in New York's Southern Tier

If you're planning an escape from Toronto, Buffalo or Cleveland, Chautauqua Lake in New York's Southern Tier is the perfect destination. In this article, Charmaine Noronha highlights the charming village of Chautauqua. With rich cultural offerings including the Chautauqua Institution, scenic outdoor activities, and charming shops and restaurants, this hidden gem is ideal for a weekend getaway.

Sitting on the banks of Chautauqua Lake, this tiny town comes alive in the summer. Chautauqua is a small village in Chautauqua County, in the Southern Tier of New York State.

Only a three-hour or so drive from Toronto, and tucked almost directly between Buffalo and Cleveland, it can make for the perfect long weekend getaway, or an extended vacation destination.

So, grab your luggage and pack your car for a road trip to Western New York that feels a bit like southern Ontario cottage country, boasting a few fun and interesting activities and sites to see!

Please note that this article contains affiliate links. Simply put, this means we may receive a small commission for some of these recommendations.

The Famous Chautauqua Institution

This quaint town’s most notable attraction is the Chautauqua Institution, which has served as a national model for adult education retreats since its founding in 1874. Founded by inventor Lewis Miller and Methodist Bishop John Heyl Vincent as a teaching camp for Sunday school teachers initially, it blossomed into an all-encompassing centre for self-enrichment.

Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Victorian village has transformed into a sprawling centre that hosts lectures, concerts, music lessons, dance, theatre, visual arts lessons and more. It is a camp for the more than 100,000 nerdy, creative, and artistic adults who descend on this tiny village from June until August.

Things to do in Chautauqua Evening at the Institution — An Evening at the Chautauqua Institution, Image Credit: Charmaine Noronha

The main attraction might be considered its lecture series, with each of the nine weeks featuring a different theme and a different set of distinguished speakers. The institution invites notable guests to perform and often stay on-site to lecture for the week. I was fortunate to have attended a concert by five-time Grammy Award-winner Renée Fleming, who stayed on to lecture about the connection between music and health for the following week. The institution also hosts hundreds of classes for enhanced computer skills, writing, philosophy, sports, outdoor recreation and hobbies, and professional development.

Since its founding, four sitting United States presidents have visited the Chautauqua Institution, and it was here that Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed a crowd of more than 12,000 with his historic “I hate war” speech in 1936. Other notable visitors and performers include Booker T. Washington, Robert H. Jackson, Amelia Earhart, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Lucille Ball, Leann Rimes, Toby Keith, Harry Connick Jr., Ben Folds, and Salman Rushdie, who was infamously stabbed by an Islamic extremist at the Institution during a lecture. (Security has since been beefed up.)

Several accommodation options are available on the grounds, all of which are privately owned with the exception of the Athenaeum Hotel and Bellinger Hall dormitory. The 152-room Athenaeum Hotel is a historic, elegant hotel. You can purchase your gate and parking passes along with your hotel stay and dine at the in-house Heirloom Restaurant, which is rather lovely and overlooks the lake. The Athenaeum also offers packages for those looking to experience the Chautauqua Institution outside of the nine-week summer programming.

Things to do in Chautauqua Athenaeum HOTEL — Entrance of the Athenaeum Hotel, Photo credit: Charmaine Noronha

There is also a resource called the Private Accommodations Rental Directory, which lists hundreds of privately owned rental listings on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution.

To participate at the Institution, you must purchase a Traditional Gate Pass (TGP). This all-inclusive entry offers unlimited access to the grounds during your entire stay, plus general admission to all Amphitheatre, Hall of Philosophy, and Chautauqua Chamber Series: Guest and Resident Series at Lenna Hall. The Grounds Access Pass (GAP) is the “Create your own Chautauqua” pass, which is suited to those who may not be able to attend programs in the Amphitheatre while offering unlimited access to Chautauqua’s grounds.

Delight in the Grapes, Wines, Spirits and Dining of the Region

Visiting The Grape Discovery Center

Since Chautauqua is all about learning, continue your adult education at The Grape Discovery Center. While it doubles as the Visitor’s Center for the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt, this experiential site informs the public about all things grapes.

The Concord Grape Belt is located along the southeastern shores of Lake Erie in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. It’s the largest and oldest Concord grape-growing region in the world. It was first selected and propagated from wild seedlings in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1849 and was brought to western New York in the 1870s, where climate, geography, and soils proved to be very suitable.

Things to do in Chautauqua Grape Discovery Center — Wine Country. Image Credit: Charmaine Noronha

The centre offers a little museum display outlining the history of the grape and the region, with a special nod to Welch’s, the grape drink we all likely grew up on. Its tasting room offers a selection of wine sipping from notable wines of the region. If you’re a fan of wine, the nearby Finger Lakes region is home to many incredible wineries, and you can sample some here, too.

Johnson Estate Winery

Speaking of wineries, Johnson Estate Winery is one of New York State’s oldest wineries. This family-owned century farm and winery sits on 110 acres of vineyards and produces award-winning wines from 13 grape varieties. Wines range from dry European classics to sweet American wines, as well as ice and fortified wines.

Enjoy one of their summer flights paired with cheese and charcuterie at its outdoor venue, FLIGHT. And chat with its lovely owners if you get a chance.

Mazza Five & 20

Introducing New York State's first combination winery, brewery, and distiller, Mazza Five & 20. For 40 years, Mazza’s main focus was creating Lake Erie wines, beginning with Mazza Vineyards in North East Pennsylvania. In 2005, they began a small craft-distilling operation in its Mazza Chautauqua location, crafting Eau de Vie (fruit brandy), grappa, and spirits for their fortified wines. And in 2015, they expanded Mazza Chautauqua Cellars to 80 acres of farmland in Westfield, New York, to tap additional farmers, grow the wine operation and distilling operation, and launch their brewery, Five & 20 Brewing.

Visit this Erie wine country tasting room to sample a variety of wines, spirits, and beers on tap. They can also be ordered by the glass to enjoy on site with the Mazza Experience.

Cabana Sam’s at Sunset Bay

The sun was blazing, and the vibe was equally hot at this waterfront restaurant located just south of Buffalo on Lake Erie. Cabana Sam’s has a menu filled with deep-fried goodies, sweet beach views, a live band, and a tropical atmosphere. You feel like you might be in Florida rather than New York here. Grab a spot on the patio and jam to the live band while noshing on crab cakes and more!

More Attractions Worth Visiting in the Chautauqua Region

Dunkirk Lighthouse

The still active Dunkirk Lighthouse, also known as the Point Gratiot Light, is located at Point Gratiot on Lake Erie in New York state. First established in 1826, the current tower was first lit in 1875. The lighthouse was automated in 1960 and is still operational.

The light's 27-mile range makes Dunkirk one of the most prominent on Lake Erie, and it has an extensive collection of military and maritime artifacts in its museum. A climb of the Dunkirk Lighthouse's spiral stairs to the upper observation level grants you a nice view of Lake Erie from the Lighthouse Observation Deck. You can also walk through the restored 1800 lighthouse keeper's home to get an idea of what life was like centuries ago.

Roger Tory Peterson Institute

Artist, author, and influential conservationist Roger Tory Peterson pioneered the modern age of bird watching with his breakthrough 1934 book, A Field Guide to the Birds. The beautifully designed Roger Tory Peterson Institute celebrates the 90th anniversary of the first Peterson Field Guide with exhibitions, events, and special anniversary programs planned.

One currently is a wonderful exhibition of Amy Tan’s original artwork and journals in celebration of her new book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles. You can follow her journey of sketching as she improves over the years. Tan is, of course, an American author best known for her novel The Joy Luck Club.

Robert H. Jackson Center

A short half-hour drive from Chautauqua will bring you to neighbouring Jamestown, which boasts a number of unique experiences. The first comes by way of the Robert H. Jackson Center to explore the legacy of notable U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Chief Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials, Robert H. Jackson. The center offers educational programs, exhibits and presentations highlighting his contributions to equality, fairness, and justice.

Lucy-Desi Museum

Hey Lucy, we’re exploring your home…city! Bet you didn’t know that legendary comedic Lucille Ball was born in Jamestown, did you? Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the “First Couple of Comedy,” have been proudly honoured by the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum since 1996. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz played a pioneering role in television and on the big screen for decades. The well-designed museum takes you through both their professional and private lives through rare artifacts, wardrobe, and props, as well as the awards they received and photographs and videos of their personal and professional lives.

Things to do in Chautauqua Lucy and Desi Museum — Lucy-Desi Museum. Image Credit: Charmaine Noronha

The Lucy-Desi Museum is down the street from The National Comedy Center, America’s official museum dedicated to presenting the history and story of comedy, as formally designated by the U.S. Congress in 2019. Opened in August 2018 in Jamestown, New York, the museum offers a fun, highly interactive experience using state-of-the-art technology to bring comedy and the comedians we know and love to life.

What Else is Worth Noting When it Comes to Chautauqua?

Chautauqua Lake has a long history of delighting visitors with a range of experiences, from outdoor adventures to cultural attractions, including the National Comedy Center and the Chautauqua Institution, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

Things to do in Chautauqua Lake — Down the Pier at Chautauqua Lake. Image Credit: Charmaine Noronha

“People should not miss this destination because it has something for everyone all year long, and people who visit here really do fall in love with the area,” says Victoria Burch of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau.

For example, 6 Baers Toys & Gift Shoppe offers old-fashioned toys, candy and DIY kits, while ART Cloth + Craft in Jamestown offers handmade gifts and jewelry from local artists, as well as women’s and children’s clothing. Take home a taste of Chautauqua County at Jamestown’s Borsari Food Co. Inc., offering an array of top-notch seasonings or Webb’s Candies in Mayville for some goat milk fudge or other sweet treats.

Chautauqua Lake is also home to more than a dozen waterfront dining options, from 4 Below Haggy’s Bar and Grille, Jamestown’s only self-serve bar taps, to Stella: A Kitchen & Bar, one of Lakewood’s newest culinary options, featuring a diverse, creatively curated menu of contemporary and traditional American fare.

New to the area is Ghostfish Brewing Co., the largest gluten-free brewery in the U.S. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Ghostfish offers seven flagship beers, including three IPAs, a stout, pale ale, pale lager and Belgian white ale.

And so, Chautauqua will have you laughing, learning and living peacefully along the lake if you choose to visit. And you should! It’s a unique, tiny summer town that has several diverse offerings to make for a fun long weekend getaway or more!

Charmaine Noronha was hosted as media by I LOVE NY for this trip. All opinions expressed are completely her own.

Things to Do in Chautauqua, NY: An Incredible Weekend Getaway Destination in New York's Southern Tier