There’s something special about a quiet winter getaway.
After the busyness of the Christmas season, my mum and I headed to the Finger Lakes region of New York for a few days away, splitting our time between two beautiful Airbnbs in Lansing, just outside of Ithaca.
It ended up being the perfect kind of trip. Slow mornings, cozy evenings, coffee with lake views, good food and quality time together.
Staying in Lansing, New York
One of my favourite parts of this trip was staying in Lansing instead of directly in Ithaca. The area felt peaceful and quiet while still being close enough to easily explore the city and surrounding towns.
Our friend Donna kindly hosted us at two of her lakefront Airbnbs during the trip. We spent the first half of the trip in her larger lake house before moving into the attached apartment for the final few days.
Both spaces had their own personality, but each felt equally cozy and welcoming.
The properties are located near Cayuga Lake, with easy access to walking trails, marinas and waterfront views that would be especially beautiful in the summer months. Even in winter, there was something calming about being near the water.
The spaces had everything you could possibly need, and Donna was always available for any questions we had. Plus, she had tons of resources about the area and recommendations. We loved looking through the books and choosing our own adventure!
The Spacious Lake House
We started our trip in Donna’s larger lake house, which was perfect for slowing down and spending time together.
The house has three bedrooms and several different gathering spaces throughout the home, including a sunroom, reading nook, living room and dining area. Every corner felt cozy in its own way.
We spent a lot of time simply relaxing there, whether that meant reading, drinking coffee, or just sitting and chatting. Those quieter moments often end up being some of my favourite parts of traveling.
Upstairs, the master bedroom overlooks the marina and lake, making mornings there feel especially peaceful.
The house also felt like a great balance between quiet and convenience. It was tucked into a sweet neighbourhood while still being close to local restaurants, trails, and nearby towns to explore.
Find more about the lakehouse here.
The Cozy Lake Apartment
For the second half of the trip, we moved into the attached one-bedroom apartment near the lake.
It would be an ideal spot for either a couple or two friends traveling together. Even though it’s connected to the main house, it still felt private and peaceful, with its own entrance.
Inside, the apartment had everything we needed, including a comfortable living room, well-equipped kitchen and thoughtful details that made it feel warm and inviting.
One of my favourite parts was how close it was to the lakefront park and walking trails. Even in the colder weather, we loved heading out for short walks near the water before coming back inside to warm up.
In the summer, I could easily picture spending evenings around the fire pit or walking down to the marina for sunset.
Find more about the apartment here.
Things We Did Around Ithaca
We intentionally kept this trip fairly low-key, but we still explored a few places around the area that I would absolutely recommend.
Taughannock Falls State Park
One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Taughannock Falls for a winter walk.
The trail to the falls was short and easy, which made it perfect for a slower travel day, and the scenery was beautiful with the snow surrounding the cliffs and waterfall.
Winter hikes have a quietness to them that feels completely different from hiking in other seasons.
Autumn Leaves Books
We also spent time wandering through Autumn Leaves Books, which felt exactly like the kind of bookstore you hope to stumble across while traveling.
The shelves were packed with new and secondhand books, and it felt like the kind of place where you could easily lose track of time.
If you love cozy bookstores, this one is worth adding to your Ithaca list.
A Few Favourite Food Stops
We found a few spots during the trip that quickly became favourites:
- 1833 Kitchen & Bar at Inns of Aurora for a cozy dinner after a beautiful winter drive through the countryside.
- Ithaca Bakery for bagels and coffee. We loved it so much that we made sure to bring bagels home with us before heading back home.
- Thai Express for comforting takeout after a day of exploring. It was so good we went twice!
Traveling With My Mum
One of the things I’m most grateful for is getting to travel with my mum.
Whether we’re exploring a new place, spending time at an Airbnb or simply drinking coffee together in the mornings, we always seem to have the best trips.
This getaway was not packed with a long itinerary or major bucket list experiences, but that is part of what made it feel so special.
It was restful, quiet and exactly what I needed after a busy season.
Dave's Postcards 
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