Looking for something fun to do next weekend? Why not check out the Bath Community Days Expo in Pulteney Park? Enjoy good food, great vendors, live music and more from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, May 19, and from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday, May 20.For many, the highlight of the event will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday when a parade kicks off, followed by the Bath Tub Races at 10 a.m. These races have been part of the tradition since the '90s. Once held during the village's "Christmas in July" event (now Community Days), the races feature decorated bath tubs with two riders, and three people steering, all of whom must complete creative obstacles on the way to the finish line.

Spring has certainly sprung here in Corning & the Finger Lakes, letting us know that summer is right around the corner. The trees are in full bloom, flowers are poking up through the ground, and the vineyards are bursting with the promise of a successful harvest. From the beautiful scenery to the amazing attractions, there are so many reasons to visit the Finger Lakes during the spring season. During the month of May, though, there's an extra special Riesling to come... May is Riesling Month!

As you are probably aware, January was a landmark month for one tiny town in Upstate New York. Hammondsport was voted America's Coolest Small Town in the annual Budget Travel contest. While winning the title is quite impressive, what amazed me the most was how everyone from everywhere, it seemed, rallied behind this cool small town. Was this contest held in the height of tourist season? Oh no! It was January – the dead of winter. It's a time when not only are there very few visitors in Hammondsport, but a great number of businesses have closed for the season. With a population of 725, there's no way Hammondsport could have won on its own, even if every resident had voted every 24 hours, as per the contest rules.

There are certain words you naturally associate with the Finger Lakes. "Wine," "water," and "glass" spring to mind. But there are others that are becoming more and more prevalent in the region: words like "sustainability," "farm-to-table," and "organic." Whether it's the food, the methods of producing wine, or the types of spa treatments available, the Finger Lakes is offering fresh, home-grown products to help you feel revitalized.

Alright, folks... it's time to get your feet wet! When you go fishing in the Finger Lakes, it's an experience like no other. Picture this. You set out on Keuka Lake before dawn, the mist surrounds you. You find your spot and stop your boat. You cast your line out, hoping to reel in a big one. Light starts to peek over the horizon, breaking through the early-morning fog. You can make out the outline of the quiet waters parting at the bluff, seemingly bound for different worlds. The unparalleled beauty of this "Y-shapped" wonder is apparent everywhere you look. You can't help but get lost in the serenity of it all. Then, there's a tug on your line.

With Easter just a few days away and spring break close behind, it's important to have a few tricks up your sleeve for those vacation days. Corning & the Finger Lakes is full of fabulous hands-on activities your whole family can enjoy! Whether you're painting a piece of pottery at Earth Paint and Fire in Corning, or learning to make it at Sommerville Pottery in Prattsburgh, you'll find something to intrigue and delight your creative side.

We're excited to bring you another blog highlighting one of the "best-kept secrets" featured in the 2012 Steuben County Travel Guide! Check back the fourth week of every month this year to read more about the gems we've found in Corning & the Finger Lakes! To request your free copy of the Travel Guide, e-mail our Sales and Office Assistant, Kevin Peterson, or call 607.936.6544. Also make sure to request your Let's Go Hike and Bike cards!

Can you imagine a more perfect day than one filled with wine tasting at vineyards dotted throughout the scenic landscape of Hammondsport and Keuka Lake? Well, it gets even better when the Keuka Wine Trail is involved. On March 31-April 1, you'll be able to not only taste superb wine at the eight participating wineries, but sample the culinary bounty of another wine region entirely: Italy.When you attend Viva Italia! on the Keuka Wine Trail, attendees will enjoy some Italian-inspired dishes that pair exquisitely with Finger Lakes wine. At each winery, visitors receive a 6-inch plate with a sample of an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert, which the winery pairs with a wine that best complements the food, explained Jody Tyler, who coordinates Keuka Wine Trail events. Visitors will also taste three other kinds of wine at each winery.

Looking for a something new to try this spring? What about a great activity to do with your family? All this nice weather we've been having has certainly inspired me to find things to do outside. Anyone who knows me is well aware that I'm not really big on sports. I had the pleasure of speaking with several local guys who are taking the sport to a whole new level – and I was rather surprised to find myself anxious to get out there and try it for myself.Sure, there are all kinds of places to go golfing in Steuben County. Enjoying the scenic beauty of the Finger Lakes region while out on the course is something really special. But there's another kind of golf that's taking hold here in Corning & the Finger Lakes – the kind that isn't exactly played with a golf ball.

The greenest green I've ever seen. That's what I kept thinking as I stared out the window of the tour bus I took from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. While it was nowhere near Saint Patrick's Day, I couldn't help but search through patches of clover every time the bus stopped. I wanted to find that 4-leafed shamrock – a little piece of what I perceived to be Saint Patty's Day – from the land that started it all!Commemorating Saint Patrick (c. AD 387-461), this cultural and religious holiday is celebrated internationally on March 17. This day not only honors the most commonly-recognized patron saint of Ireland, but the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Although the day has morphed into a secular celebration of Irish culture, in the early 17th Century, Saint Patrick's Day was an official feast day. The original color associated with Saint Patrick was blue, however, green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration as early as the 17th Century. Today, the holiday is perhaps the most celebrated saint day in the world.

We're excited to bring you another blog highlighting one of the "best-kept secrets" featured in the new 2012 Steuben County Travel Guide! Check back the fourth week of every month this year to read more about the gems we've found in Corning & the Finger Lakes! To request your free copy of the Travel Guide, e-mail our Sales and Office Assistant, Kevin Peterson, or call 607.936.6544.

Guest blogger, Brett Smith, talks about his experience with maple syrup production.There are not many in Steuben County, New York, that would consider February and March their favorite time of the year. Some, however, look forward to these months all year. For those that boil maple sap, this is the season to be anticipated!In late winter, the nights are cold and the days are warm. When this change occurs, the dormant maple trees build pressure and sap starts to move, and depending on the season, can flow with great abandon.

Even though there's no snow on the ground, that thing called "winter break" is quickly sneaking up on us. Kids are looking forward to it – parents, probably not so much. You're probably in frantic search of some great activities to suggest once those inevitable "I'm bored"s make their dreaded appearance. Well, you need look no further than Corning & the Finger Lakes.If you've ever spent the day at The Corning Museum of Glass, you know why it deserves to be on Budget Travel magazine's list of "15 Places to See before 15." Kids love all the hands-on activities they find when they visit the glass museum. Give the museum a "thumbs up" every day through next Tuesday, February 21, and make sure it gets the recognition it deserves.

It was a quiet day in March several years back when I explored New Orleans. The Mardi Gras beads had been thrown, the alcohol consumed, and parades had long since rolled by. If you wanted to see Carnival masks, you couldn't just look around – you actually had to go into a store or visit Mardi Gras World (which I really wanted to do, but didn't have time!) Yes, the Big Easy had settled down from its celebrations, but the energy of the recent activity lingered in the air like electricity.Now, I'm sure it'd be very exciting – invigorating, even – to be on the streets of New Orleans this February 21. But that's just a little beyond the realm of possibility for me. As I'm sure it is for a lot of you. But that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the celebrations.

As I turn my calendar page to February, I can feel it... Love is in the air! It may be the shortest month, but it certainly has the biggest heart. At least, that's what I drew into the space below February 14 on my calendar! While I am of the opinion it's important to express your love to those you care for every day, there's just something about February that makes people more apt to show it.If it's romance you seek this Valentine's Day, look no further than Coring & the Finger Lakes. When you bring your sweetheart here for a weekend getaway, you'll discover plenty of ways to celebrate your love.

We're excited to announce a new blog series to go along with the "best-kept secrets" you can read about in the new 2012 Steuben County Travel Guide! Check back the fourth week of every month this year to read a feature on one of those gems we've found in Corning & the Finger Lakes! To request your free copy of the Travel Guide, e-mail our Sales and Office Assistant, Kevin Peterson, or call 607.936.6544.

Win 2 passes to Cabin Fever!Leave a comment below about a fun past Cabin Fever experience, or why you’re excited about attending this year, and our favorite will win (2) passes to the event! Rules: You must be 21 years or older to enter and be able to pick up tickets at Steuben County CVB (1 W. Market Street, 2nd floor, Corning) by 5pm on Friday, February 10. Contest ends at 12 noon on Wednesday, February 8. Winner will be notified by email.Well, it’s officially cold. With this unusual winter we’ve been having, I’ve actually been quite surprised to find frost on my car and a nip in the air in the mornings. I thought we might be skipping over this season and going straight to spring.

Some called it the end of an era. Some said its beauty simply wasn't enough. Everyone agrees it was a very sad day when Steuben Glass LLC stopped producing the intricate crystal that has been adding to Corning's sparkle for over a century.What began in 1903 with Frederick Carder and Thomas G. Hawkes ended November 29, 2011, when current owner Schottenstein Stores Corp. decided to shut down production. They had hoped to bring the company back to its glory days, but the difficult economy, declining sales, and high expenses proved to be insurmountable odds.When Carder and Hawkes started the company, the primary focus was colored art glass. Corning Inc. purchased the company in 1918, and in the 1930s shifted the focus to making pure lead crystal. Collectors have long sought after the crystal, and presidents have even given it as gifts to visiting heads of state.

Post a comment below to tell us why you think Hammondsport should be America's "Coolest Small Town!"How cool is this? Hammondsport is a top-ten contender for America's "Coolest Small Town!" The Budget Travel competition began last fall with Hammondsport gaining the most votes in the first round. Hammondsport received 8,036 votes in the initial round. The next highest contender was Weaverville, CA, with 999 votes, followed by Beaufort, NC, with 468.

We all know his story. We've all heard his words. He had a dream, and he shared it with the world. His dream for racial equality and an end to discrimination was at the very heart of the American Civil Rights Movement. He was a leader, an inspiration, and a man whose name now belongs to history.We still celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. every January. This year, 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning is not leaving education about King's life solely up to the history teachers. Through both an art exhibition and a special evening dedicated to "Making Real the Dream," the arts center is portraying King's life in a very poignant way. Now in its 27th year of honoring King, 171 is offering arts learning experience, visual artwork exhibits and performances created by talented artists throughout the region.

Well, Christmas is over and the New Year is still a week away. Your kids have unwrapped their toys, and – if they're anything like my brother when he was little – have probably broken a few already. They've been playing with everything for a couple of days. I'd give it maybe one more before you'll start to hear those two little words that haunt every parent's nightmares: "I'm bored."Those couple of weeks off school around Christmas time are highly anticipated during the fall, but somewhere in the middle of break, you realize it's far too long. There's a line in a Christmas song that expresses this. After describing what the kids are hoping to find under the tree, Bing Crosby notes, "Mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again..."

10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... It's almost New Year's!!! So, what are you going to do? I bet you've been too preoccupied with holiday shopping and decorating to even think about that giant ball dropping in NYC. If you're like me, Christmas kind of snuck up on you this year. The weather's been warm, and it doesn't really seem like winter at all. How could it possibly be holiday time yet, let alone the end of 2011? Never fear! I've got suggestions sure to help you ring in the New Year in style.

Last week, we discovered all the wonderful winter adventures Corning & the Finger Lakes has to offer those outdoor enthusiasts. We covered cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and so much more! We talked about great places to take your sled and spend the day on the slopes. We even discussed where to go for all your winter sporting gear! So you adventure-seekers... you guys are all set! You know where to go, you know what to do. All you need now is for some of that white stuff to start falling from the sky – then it's go time!But for those of you who are like me and fall into that "wanting to be warm and dry" category when it comes to winter, this blog's for you! (And when you adventuresome types come in from the cold, you can do all these fun things, too!)

There are two types of people when it comes to winter. There are those who crave adventure. They can't wait for that first significant snowfall so they can rush outside and take part in all those classic winter activities. Whether they're flying down a steep slope or snowmobiling somewhere off the beaten path, these outdoor enthusiasts crave the exhilaration found in winter sporting activities. Then there are those who need to stay warm and dry. They firmly believe the bears have it right. Winter is prime time for hibernation!

I couldn't help but hum that classic song, "It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas" as I hung ornaments on my Christmas tree last weekend. Even though the chill that's usually hanging in the air right about now is distinctly absent, the spirit of the holidays is present and accounted for! It seems everywhere you turn, there's another sign that the holiday season has indeed arrived in Corning & the Finger Lakes.Look no further than Pulteney Square in Bath this Friday evening from 6-8:30 p.m. The "Spirit of Christmas" will have you celebrating the sights and sounds of the season, as you gaze at church nativity scenes while listening to live music and carolers. And the tastes will be pretty good, too! Enjoy chili, donuts, popcorn, cider and hot chocolate. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and peruse the stands of food and craft vendors – maybe even get a few people checked off your holiday shopping list!

Thanksgiving is one of those times when you get to slow down and really think about all the good things in your life. Sure, you stress over what size turkey to get to feed all the people you're inviting over. How much time should I allot for the preparation of the meal? Who's bringing what? How am I going to stand having my crazy aunt at the table with me for an extended period of time? Yes, these are the great questions that come with the Thanksgiving holiday. However, another question arises: What am I thankful for?

Thanksgiving: a time for family, friends, and food! No doubt you've already thought about how you'll be celebrating and who you'll be doing it with next Thursday. You're pondering what dish to bring to your aunt's house to contribute to the feast – or perhaps you've just been told! Me? I've been required to show up with some of my famous "cake balls" shaped like turkeys – or else!Perhaps your mind has skipped right over Thanksgiving and it's completely focused on what comes after. It's easy to get distracted from the upcoming holiday when department stores are glowing brightly with the colors of Christmas. And all those ads! Black Friday deals are infiltrating our newspapers, e-mails, and Google searches! Temptations abound! I'm already laying out my plan of attack for that early-morning shopping spree. (I absolutely refuse to go out Thanksgiving night!)But see? I'm getting ahead of myself. It's so very easy to do.

It's finally here! I know you've been waiting for it! It's another one of those calendar phenomenons: it's 11.11.11! It only occurs once every 100 years, so obviously it's a day for observance marked by immense celebration!Clearly, I'm kidding – or at least I think I am! I was thinking about other interesting calendar dates this morning and realize I remember exactly what I was doing on 10.10.10. Of course, this is only because the bus driver on our Sound of Music tour is Salzburg, Austria, lamented that the "just married" couple in the horse-drawn carriage next to us was going to have a much easier time remembering their anniversary than he did.It's amazing how many people seek out these unique dates for weddings. Heck, I might have even tried to snag a venue for my upcoming wedding on this date, if it weren't for the fact I've always dreamed of an August wedding. I really missed the boat on 08.08.08 a few years ago!

As I used to say when I was little, "Shop 'til drop! Shop 'til drop!" Years later, that remains my mantra during the holiday shopping season. What a blessed time of year, isn't it ladies (and few select gentlemen)? From the moment the clock strikes midnight the day after Thanksgiving, it's game time!I haven't always felt this way, though! I used to love nothing more than staying home on that wretched non-holiday to help my mom trim the tree and hang lights all over the house. However, right around the time I went away to college, I decided I must experience this so-called Black Friday for myself. But I was going to do it from a safe distance. Yes, I'd enter the craziness that became department stores. Yes, I'd watch people run around as if the item they were in pursuit of was being discontinued forever. I might even make a small purchase. Who could tell!? But I promised myself I wouldn't get sucked in.

Halloween has a way of sneaking up on you, doesn't it? It's almost scary how quickly autumn has flown by. Trees have shed their colorful leaves, and we're left bare, skeletal remains of seasons gone by. Where flower pots stood on the porch seemingly five seconds ago, pumpkins now perch, awaiting Batman, Cinderella, Buzz Lightyear and friends to show up looking for candy. Yes, it's spooky how quickly time flies.When I was younger, Halloween never elicited the same excitement in me as it did in other children. While my friends would beg their mothers to take them to the store to find the perfect princess costume, I was content to go pick out a pumpkin and call it a day. For some odd reason, the thought of caking on face paint, pinning a rainbow wig to my mess of curls, and roaming the streets in shoes six sizes too big for my feet was never that appealing to me. Is it obvious that I clearly, painfully even, remember that clown costume?