LivCo is big, yes, and there’s plenty to do and see, enough to keep you busy for a much lengthier stay. However, it is possible to get a quick taste of everything LivCo offers in just a short, two-night trip. Don’t believe us? Here’s how to see LivCo’s best in just 48 hours.
DAY 1
3 PM: Check In
Whether you’re arriving on the weekend or after a half-day of work, plan to get to LivCo for your 48 hours of fun around 3 PM, just in time to check in at one of the county’s great hotels, inns, rentals, or bed and breakfasts.
Do you prefer the amenities of a hotel? You can’t go wrong with a stay at the conveniently located and affordable Hampton Inn Geneseo by Hilton. The property is just minutes from the village and you’ll enjoy easy access to the SUNY Geneseo campus (including all its fun events), as well as shopping on Geneseo’s Main Street, at can’t-miss local businesses such as Gallery in the Valley, Market on Main, and Not Dot Shop.
Want something a little cozier and maybe historic? Try Mount Morris’s BrickInn, updated to modern standards but while retaining a touch of the past, honoring the property’s original 1915 Colonial architecture. The property is located in a quiet neighborhood and surrounded by gardens and shade trees, and, when you’re ready to explore, you’re just a quick drive from Letchworth State Park (a.k.a. the "Grand Canyon of the East") and Genesee Valley Greenway State Park.
If you prefer a rental in a vibrant downtown, though, go for The Loft in Dansville. This historic and restored Airbnb is within walking distance of restaurants and bars. A favorite Italian eatery is just downstairs. You’re also close to Brae Burn Golf Course.
If none of the above is quite right for you, no worries. You’ll find many more accommodation options in LivCo, from hotels to inns, and cabins to campsites.
5 PM: Grab a Pint and a Bite
Once you’ve checked in and settled in, explore LivCo’s local brew scene with dinner and a pint at one of several breweries.
In Avon, Mortalis Brewing Company is famed for its inventive flavors and creative sours. If the weather’s nice, grab a seat on the patio and, if you like what you taste, pick up some to-go beers on your way out the door, for enjoying later on in your trip.
Dublin Corners Farm Brewery was the very first brewery to open in LivCo. The small, family-owned brewery is situated on a farm (as the name suggests) in Linwood, but if you don’t have time to make it out to the main brewery, you can swing by the taproom in Geneseo for beers and ciders right on Main Street.
With a similar picturesque location, Rising Storm Brewing sits on 12 acres in Avon. Alongside a range of classic and more inventive beers, the brewery is also serving up live music and concerts in the summer, as well as casual bites.
The award-winning No BS Brew Company offers a tantalizing menu of barbecue, pizza, calzones, and more, alongside a lengthy beer list. The Livonia outpost is pet-friendly and open seven days a week.
7 PM: Choose Your Own Entertainment
After dinner and a drink (or two), take your pick of multiple entertainment options. Fanatics Pub in Lima regularly features a wide range of musical artists, representing an array of genres (though blues is a bit of a favorite around here).
Not in the mood for live music? Catch a classic, old-school drive-in movie at the Avon Vintage Drive-In.
DAY 2
9:30 AM: Fuel Your Day with LivCo’s Best Breakfasts
Nothing will get your day off on the right foot like a delicious breakfast. Whether you prefer to start your day with a sweet treat, something nutritious and filling, or a classic diner breakfast platter, you’ll find it in LivCo.
For healthy, farm-to-table flavors, try Milk & Honey Café, in Lima, which serves tempting breakfast sandwiches like the house special that piles scrambled eggs on an English muffin with aged cheese, red onions, greens, and a lemon tarragon aioli, as well as tantalizing toasts like the sourdough with raspberry jam and goat cheese.
If a classic diner experience is calling your name, the Barn in Piffard has you covered, red pleather booths, checkered floors, and all. Omelets, pancakes, palters and more await.
Sweet Arts Bakery has some of the best cinnamon rolls in the area, but if you’re into bagels or scones, that’s an option, too. Another quick, on-the-go breakfast eatery is little Lake Brewing, which, while yes, offers beer, also offers coffee and quick breakfasts, including sandwiches and pastries.
11 AM: See LivCo’s Most Famous Attractions
If you’re going to see and experience anything in LivCo, there are two absolute, can’t-miss attractions.
First, there’s Letchworth State Park, voted one of the best state parks in the nation and known as the "Grand Canyon of the East". Filled with waterfalls, gorges, and hiking trails for every fitness level, the park offers gorgeous views and activities no matter the season. The nature trail and nature center are both fun for families, and local outfitters can equip you for snowshoeing, hiking, or other excursion. Make sure to check the park’s calendar before you arrive, too, for annual events like the New York State Yoga Festival.
Then, there’s Genesee Country Village & Museum, which is not only the largest living history museum in New York State but also the third-largest living history museum in the entire country. The village campus encompasses nearly 70 different structures set over 600 acres, depicting life in the 1800s with the help of knowledgeable, costumed historical interpreters.
1:30 PM: Discover One of LivCo’s New Favorite Lunch Spots
While LivCo has plenty of staple spots to grab a bite to eat, we also have a fair number of new and up-and-coming eateries that are worth a visit. Try one for yourself, for lunch.
The Normal is the only tipless restaurant in LivCo. In Lima, it offers a menu filled with scrumptious barbecue — but with a unique Scandinavian twist. (Don’t forget to snap a pic with the mural on the side of the restaurant before you leave!)
Cultures also collide at T’s on Genesee, in Avon, a sandwich shop and deli that blends Italian and Irish heritage. Grab a cold or hot sub and then treat yourself to the cannoli. Or check out new sushi restaurant and live music venue Drumroll Stage and Sushi Pub, in Geneseo. If you like the vibes, make plans to return for a show. If the weather’s nice, post up at the outdoor patio and bar at Corsa on the Links, a golf course-set eatery with a modern menu and quick lunch bites.
Prefer something to go, so you can keep the adventures rolling? Grab to-go barbecue classics in Livonia, at Lake BBQ, which will position you perfectly to explore the area around Conesus Lake.
3 PM: Choose Your Own Adventure
There are two fun ways you can spend your afternoon, depending on your interests.
For the traveler who can’t visit a new destination without checking out the local shopping scene, plan a vintage shopping crawl to some of the best spots in the county, where you can find antiques, home décor, vintage clothing and accessories, books, and more.
Stops to add to your crawl include FLX Revival in Geneseo, for all your vintage clothing needs, Carvings & More in Mount Morris, where you’ll find antiques and unique gifts, 2nd Time Around Consignment in Leicester, for a wide array of antiques, but also video games and action figures, and 1812 Store in Livonia, for a curated collection of high-end antiques sourced from across the Northeast. Still looking for more? Check out all the antique stores in Livingston County.
If, though, shopping doesn’t quite get your blood pumping, consider further exploring LivCo’s great outdoors. With ample recreation areas, wildlife preserves, nature centers, and more, you certainly won’t be left wanting for options.
If you didn’t visit Letchworth State Park earlier in the day, now’s the time. Be sure to stop by the Humphrey Nature Center and check out its interactive, family-friendly exhibits detailing the area’s plants, animals, geology, and ecology. At the Conesus Inlet Wildlife Management Area, explore the marsh and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, including amphibians, birds, and reptiles. If you have your own gear, you can enjoy freshwater fishing for northern pike and walleye. Stroll the boardwalks at Christine Sevilla Wetlands Preserve and take in the dense, lush greenery all around. This spot is particularly beautiful in the summer months.
For great views and your choice of hiking, cross-country skiing, or biking, check out the Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation Area and its 20-mile trail network. Take the Overlook Trail for breathtaking views of Honeoye Lake. Near Dansville, Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area provides a mix of habitats for hiking and wildlife watching, including woodlands, overgrown fields, and even old-growth apple orchards. Access roads make for easier hiking here. The Rob's Trail Preserve is crisscrossed with four different trails ranging in difficulty. The Hemlock Trail to the lake is a favorite, with 1.5 miles to the shoreline. Look out for bald eagles, deer, grouse, weasels, and wild turkeys.
7 PM: Treat Yourself
Whether you spent the afternoon working up an appetite on the trails or on the hunt for antiques, treat yourself to a fine dining experience at one of LivCo’s upscale eateries.
Ember Woodfire Grill in Livonia offers from-scratch, sustainable, and casual-yet-elevated cuisine. Menu items are served family-style, for the table to share, and range from rainbow trout battered in corn meal and served with green apple onion carrot slaw and a sweet and spicy sauce, to Neapolitan-style wood oven pizzas in fun varieties like black garlic dill pickle.
Galene is a New American restaurant with coastal cuisine and views of Conesus Lake (one of the few restaurants to offer them!). In addition to the main menu, there’s also a cold bar, tinned fish menu, and Sunday brunch.
Yard of Ale is a historic spot, with roots tracing back to the 1800s. You’ll find classic fine-dining offerings on the menu here, such as prime rib and filet mignon, lobster tail, and scallops.
A newer addition to the LivCo upscale dining scene, The Bronze is a fun, seasonal, farm-to-fork restaurant serving a broad mix of tempting options, from osso bucco to Koji fried chicken, burgers to steak.
DAY 3
10 a.m.: Say Goodbye (For Now!) with a Farewell Brunch
Check out of your hotel or inn and reminisce over the last few days, over brunch.
In Geneseo, your options include Strange Design Public House, with its signature Fruity Pebbles french toast, alongside other comfort food breakfast favorites, Cricket’s, for vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free brunch options, and the Tankroom Cafe at Deer Run Winery, for light breakfasts, baked goods, and boozy accompaniments.
If you’re in Dansville, try Scovill’s Grill on the Brae Burn Golf Course, for brunch classics and even breakfast pizza. In Lakeville, try Galene, where the coastal restaurant offers lake views, cocktails, and seafood-inspired brunch items. Near Letchworth State Park, try breakfast at the Glen Iris Inn dining room, for mimosas, breakfast staples like pancakes, and local coffee.
As you sip and munch you’re way through brunch, we’re sure you’ll only be able to think of one thing — When do you get to come back for more of all things LivCo?