FAQs on Visiting Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County is located in the southwestern corner of New York state, between Erie, PA and Buffalo, NY. The northern border of Chautauqua County is located on Lake Erie. Interstates 90 and 86 run through Chautauqua County with I-90 on the northern end of the county and I-86 crossing the southern side. Commercial air service is located in Erie and Buffalo with shuttle and private car services available, as well as rental cars. Trains and buses also stop in Erie and Buffalo.
"CHQ" stands for Chautauqua Institution or sometimes Chautauqua County, NY in general. Chautauqua Institution, a historic lakeside retreat, was recognized for offering the “Best Small Town Cultural Scene” in America by USA Today. Chautauqua's nine-week summer season features the arts, education, religion, and recreation with hundreds of events surrounded by National Historic Landmark architecture on the shores of beautiful Chautauqua Lake.
You can visit Chautauqua Institution year-round. A gate pass is required during the nine-week summer season. A Chautauqua Institution gate pass provides admission to the grounds, all Amphitheater events and many other lectures, concerts, and more. Admission is free for children 12 and under, and Sunday admission is free for all at Chautauqua Institution.
The gates are open the rest of the year, and admission is free. Locations such as the Book Store, Library, and Post Office are open year-round. Some hotels and vacation rentals are open year-round, and some restaurants and shops at Chautauqua Institution are open outside of the summer season. The Athenaeum Hotel is open from spring through fall.
There are wineries, breweries and distilleries in Chautauqua County, NY. Lake Erie Wine Country, a 50-mile wine trail featuring 23 wineries, stretches from Chautauqua County into Pennsylvania. Breweries and distilleries include Southern Tier Brewing and Distilling in Lakewood, and Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing in Westfield. Other breweries include Wicked Warren's in Jamestown and Big Inlet Brewing in Mayville, among others.
Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY refers to Chautauqua County, located in the southwestern corner of New York state. The county includes Chautauqua Lake, Chautauqua Institution, Jamestown, as well as nearly 50 miles of Lake Erie shoreline.
It is speculated that “Chautauqua” (SHəˈtôkwə) means “bag tied in the middle,” “place where fish are taken out,” or “two moccasins tied together.” The reason for the ambiguity is that the name comes from the now-extinct Erie language. The local lore favors “bag tied in the middle,” a reference to the unique shape of Chautauqua Lake, a south and north basin that come nearly together at the halfway point, where the Village of Bemus Point is located and the I-86 Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Many restaurants are situated along Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie in Chautauqua County. There are several other restaurants that are not lakeside but do provide outdoor dining options seasonally. View lakeside and outdoor dining options in Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY.
There are several art galleries in Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY, including multiple galleries at Chautauqua Institution, at the local colleges: SUNY Fredonia and Jamestown Community College, at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, and in communities across the county. The annual Art Trail Open Studio & Gallery Tours on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends allow visitors to travel across the county to interact with several artists and shop their works.
Visitors to Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY enjoy four seasons of outdoor recreation. Five lakes provide endless opportunities for summer fun. Extensive networks of trails offer hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Peek'n Peak Resort has dozens of ski slopes plus terrain parks, tubing and more for snow sports fans. More than a dozen public golf courses welcome visitors, including the award-winning Chautauqua Golf Club and Peek'n Peak.
World-renowned attractions such as Chautauqua Institution, the National Comedy Center, Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum, Lily Dale Assembly and many others draw thousands of visitors annually. Numerous festivals and events take place in Chautauqua County each year.
Lake Erie Wine Country's 23 wineries span 30,000 vineyard acres along a 50-mile trail stretching from Chautauqua County to Pennsylvania.
The National Comedy Center is located in Jamestown, NY, the hometown of Lucille Ball. The National Comedy Center is the United States’ official cultural institution and museum dedicated to presenting the vital story of comedy and preserving its heritage for future generations. Over 50 immersive exhibits within the 37,000-square-foot facility enable visitors to take a laugh-filled journey through comedy history, from early vaudeville to the latest viral memes.