Languishing on Lake Ontario: Sterling on Little Sodus Bay
the view of Little Sodus Bay from the porch of my HomeExchange rental.
An hour-and-a-half drive from Ithaca, this gem of a town on Lake Ontario is the quintessential spot to get away from it all and do some hardcore relaxing.
Sterling, NY, a sleepy little gem of a town on Little Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario is perhaps most known for the Sterling Renaissance Festival that takes place every summer. A fisherman’s paradise located an hour’s drive from Rochester, it is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an easy getaway, with no shortage of pleasant attractions to keep you amused.
Little Sodus Bay is a lovely little cove of a bay with calmer waters than the powerful currents of Lake Ontario, and home to myriad species of migrating waterfowl, turtles and beavers (or was it a muskrat? otter?) There are an abundance of lake house rentals in the area, or spend the weekend in a room at the Pleasant Beach Hotel or Turtle Cove Resort and Marina, to name a few options. You can also camp at one of the local lakeside campgrounds such as Fairhaven State Park or Shady Shores Campground in Fairhaven. These are popular sites for camping, so check their websites to see about availability and to reserve your spot.
A room with a view in our Home Exchange lake house rental.
Explore the area — or just relax and do nothing at all.
To access the lake, Fairhaven Beach State Park and neighboring Chimney Bluffs State Park offer camping or day passes where you can hang out or hike along the dramatic bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario and languish on white sand beaches, causing one to forget they are not at the ocean but rather one of the Great Lakes.
a pebble-y pocket beach at the Sterling Nature Center
I love the Sterling Nature Center, down the street from Fairhaven, a less traveled spot with an idyllic system of hiking trails and many places where you can pop down to the shoreline and have your own private pocket beach. Warning: I did notice an unusual amount of snakes on the trails so if you’re squeamish about this, I’d probably stick to one of the aforementioned parks.
Lake Ontario as seen from a lookout spot at Sterling Nature Center
what to do, where to eat
The Village of Sterling has everything you could need to feel like you’re really on vacation - a cidery — Sterling Cider — is right in town, located in a renovated house, and has a cute little outdoor seating area where you’ll often find local musicians playing out front. Another fun nearby excursion is the magnificent waterfront Colloca Estate Winery, who often hosts events like clambakes - check their website to see if anything’s happening while you’re in town.
The local grocery store is called Big Bo’s Big M, located across the street from the visitor info stand - though for a better selection of fresh foods I’d venture further up the lake to Ontario Orchards which has an excellent selection of produce, local meats, dried fruit and nuts, garden supplies, a bakery, and other fun items to peruse.
The adorable Hardware Cafe and General Store is THE BEST place to have breakfast or lunch, and pick up any supplies, souvenirs or gifts you might need to pick up while you’re in town
There is an excellent waterfront dive bar and restaurant called Little Sodus Inn - the closest thing you’ll get to night life in the area, often featuring live music and you can arrive by boat if you happen to have one. Across the bay, Turtle Cove Restaurant and Bar is a fancier option for a seafood or steak dinner with a view of the water, also available by boat.
Little Sodus Inn - arriving by boat
someone’s excited!
Arriving at the dock of Little Sodus Inn, ready for some serious downtime.
However, the Pleasant Beach Hotel and Restaurant has to be one of my favorite places in the State! Book a room or just go for dinner or an evening cocktail. The seafood basket meals, burgers and sandwiches are perfectly delightful but the sleepy, low key deck situated right on the water, and relaxed vibe make this a MUST-VISIT.
Pleasant Beach Hotel and Restaurant on Little Sodus Bay
sunset view from the deck of the Pleasant Beach Hotel
Take an afternoon stroll down Fancher Avenue, a charming street lined with colorful lake cottages to the Fly-By-Night-Cookie Company and pick up some treats for dessert or go for ice cream at Big Bo’s ice cream stand. There’s also a little public playground next to the boat parking lot across the street from the Little Sodus Inn, and a sweet little path that meanders along the edge of the bay with a gazebo, a spot where ducks and other waterfowl like to hang out.
The ‘nightlife’ scene on Little Sodus Bay at the Pleasant Beach Hotel and Restaurant.