REGIONAL INFORMATION
Exploring the History of Chautauqua & Lake Erie, NY
Tucked along the southwestern edge of New York State, Chautauqua & Lake Erie, NY is more than just a scenic getaway destination—it’s a place where history flows as deeply as the waters that shaped it. From early exploration routes and iconic landmarks to vibrant cultural movements and influential residents, this region tells a uniquely American story that you can still experience today.
Top Things to Do in Chautauqua County
- Spend a summer vacation on our five lakes—Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Findley Lake, Cassadaga Lakes, and Bear Lake—enjoy boating, fishing, paddling, swimming, or just hanging out by a lake.
- Visit Chautauqua Institution for their summer season and enjoy a concert, lecture, class, or round of golf at this world-renowned Historic District campus.
- Explore a museum like the National Comedy Center, Lucy-Desi Museum, Dunkirk Lighthouse, or many others.
- Enjoy the flavors along the Lake Erie Wine Country wine trail or at any of a number of craft breweries such as Southern Tier Brewing or Mazza Five & 20 Brewing and Distillery.
- Play a round of golf at over a dozen area courses including the Peek’n Peak Upper Course, and the Hill Course and Lake Course at Chautauqua Institution
- Explore miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, cycling routes, and areas for kayaking and canoeing
- Snowmobile on more than 400 miles of groomed trails between late December and early March.
- Enjoy downhill skiing, snowboarding, or tubing at an area ski resort.
- Go to an event, festival, or concert at various indoor or outdoor venues throughout the area
- Visit an historic downtown or village center for shopping, dining, farmer’s market or architectural walk
Located in Western New York State
Chautauqua County is located in western New York state and borders Lake Erie to the west and Pennsylvania’s northwestern tier to the south. The area is located about 1.5 hours drive from Buffalo, 2.5 hours from Cleveland, just under 3 hours from Pittsburgh, and slightly more than 3 hours from Toronto.
Chautauqua County’s westernmost boundary consists of an extensive Great Lakes plain that then rises 600-700 feet to yield rolling and forested hills for most of the inland area further east. Chautauqua County has a large inland lake near its center—Chautauqua Lake—which is between 17 and 18 miles in length and up to 2.5 miles wide in points. The 50-mile long Lake Erie plain is home to more than 30,000 acres of grape vineyards. This grape growing region—the largest in the eastern U.S.—is a striking feature of the region and home to more than 20 wineries.
The county is generally rural and intermittently forested with 2 small cities (Jamestown and Dunkirk) and several villages housing the majority of the population and activities. Chautauqua County is known for its outdoor recreation, key cultural offerings such as Chautauqua Institution and the National Comedy Center, as well as five lakes.
Summers in Chautauqua County are usually mild with highs ranging from the mid 70’s to the upper 80’s. Pleasant spring weather occurs from early May through mid-June and fall conditions begin in mid-September and last through early November. The prime fall foliage period is early to mid-October. Chautauqua County’s prolific winter recreation season begins in mid-to-late December and lasts through late February or early March. The region can receive over 100” of natural snowfall in a typical winter making it ideal for skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) About Chautauqua County, NY
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Maps
Find your way around Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY with maps featuring attractions, trails, cycling routes, lake contour, fishing information and much more.
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Let Us Make Your Group Happy
Many of the reasons why vacationers have been attracted to the Chautauqua & Lake Erie, NY area for the past 150 years are the same reasons why group visitors will love the region today. Plan your group function, tour, or event with us.