Longtime Summer Favorites in Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY
Full of places to add to your trip list!
Chautauqua County, New York has been a vacation destination for more than 150 years, a time when travelers would arrive by rail and steamship, as opposed to cars and airplanes. Several unique experiences coupled with the unrivaled natural beauty of Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY have sustained an active flow of summer vacationers since 1874, the year Chautauqua Institution was founded. With the return of summer, longtime favorite Chautauqua County destinations are opening for the season!
Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua Institution is a picturesque, lakeside National Historic District campus with a nine-week summer season with programming focusing on helping visitors find intellectual growth and renewal through music, dance, opera, theater, and visual arts. The 2026 season will run June 27th through August 30th.
Soar and Splash at Peek’n Peak Resort
Peek’n Peak Resort Mountain Adventures opens for the summer and fall. Guests can climb through the treetops and experience spectacular views on the Aerial Adventure Course which features 69 obstacles and 8 courses in varying difficulty levels including cargo nets, ladders, ziplines and more. Visitors can explore the course at their own pace during a 3-hour self-guided experience suitable for all ability levels. In addition to the Aerial Adventure Course, guests can cruise 2,000 feet on their Giant Zipline or fly over the Peak at 130ft up on a 1,400ft zipline for breathtaking views of the resort on their Soaring Eagle Zipline. Enjoy some relief from the heat at their outdoor Pool and Cabana Bar which also opens for the summer.
Round out your visit to the resort with a round of golf on their championship caliber Upper Course, a night of family fun at the Peek’n Putt mini golf course or relax and rejuvenate with when you visit their Spa.
Lily Dale Assembly
On the shores of Cassadaga Lakes sits Lily Dale Assembly, the world’s largest center for Spiritualism. Established in 1879, people have been visiting Lily Dale for private readings with mediums, seminars, workshops, public clairvoyance demonstrations, and healing seminars every summer since.
Midway State Park
Beloved Chautauqua County destination Midway State Park is one of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in the nation and was originally operated as a trolley park beginning in 1898. Midway is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Bemus Point-Stow Ferry
Journey through time and across the narrowest part of Chautauqua Lake on the Bemus Point - Stow Ferry. This ferry is one of the last remaining cable ferries in the country and can carry up to nine cars or 50 passengers. There is no cost to ride, but donations are appreciated. Rides are 10 minutes long with additional time needed to load and unload. The ferry operates on weekends in the summer as well as some holidays.
Chautauqua Belle
Cruise around Chautauqua Lake on one of the last remaining steamships in the country, the Chautauqua Belle. Take a trip back in time while you learn about the crucial role Chautauqua Lake played in the development of our country. The Chautauqua Belle operates daily from June through October. Reservations required.
