Fun in the Finger Lakes 2025!

Travel is fun and great and is part of my healing therapy journey of being a long-time cancer-fighting Mom. I do not take any trip for granted, even to the local grocery store. Plus, I am not a one-size-fits-all type of traveler, as I enjoy traveling with my family, friends, and solo when the opportunity arises. I just got back home from a four-day trip to the Finger Lakes with my Rhodes girls (high school friends), and loved every minute of it!

We had a great time despite the smell of a dead animal in the entryway of the large 1800s farmhouse we rented for our stay on Keuka Lake (one of the Finger Lakes), upon our arrival. Since I am the only one not living in Ohio (the Cleveland area), I find this time together so delightful that I can catch up with the girls collectively and also individually while walking through town, browsing the windowscapes and landscapes, on a hike, or sitting next to someone while dining. I cherish these precious yearly getaways immensely.

For this trip, I think we all loved our one afternoon pontoon boat ride around a lot of Kueka Lake (it is almost 20 miles long from tip to tip). Captain Jim was great, and the weather was perfect for all of us to relax, listen to the music, and enjoy the ride gliding across the lake so effortlessly. But, hiking in Watkins Glen State Park on the southern tip of Seneca Finger Lake with its famous Gorge Trail and 19 waterfalls, going to cool restaurants, breweries, and wineries, plus snagging VIP tickets to see Lyle Lovett from our Airbnb hostess was not too shabby!

As I reflect on these moments, I’m reminded of just how meaningful these friendships are to my soul. Whether we’ve known each other since junior high, high school, or through other chapters in life, the bond we share is something truly irreplaceable. These are the friendships that buoy you up (we were near the water!) when life feels overwhelming, like the ones that make you laugh until you can’t breathe, and the ones that make the miles between us feel like nothing at all.

My Rhodes girls and I have weathered the storms of life together, and our trips are more than just getaways—they’re a testament to the strength of female friendships, the power of shared memories, and the joy of creating new ones. I love that history we share (for example, we talked about one class we all were in at the same time - AP Physics with Mr. Pompeani!) and the creation of going somewhere together, most of us for the first time in many locales. Through it all, I’ve come to realize that whether it’s a pontoon boat ride or a quiet moment on the porch or campfire, it’s the people (Debbie, Kata, Robin, Sarah, and Sue) who make the journey worth taking, our friendships deepening and continue to grow no matter where life leads us!

bSoleille!

Terri