Visit Chautauqua County

Chautauqua Lake

With five amazing lakes and numerous waterways, Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY is a prime summer vacation destination whether you spend a day, a long weekend or more. Explore historic Dunkirk and Barcelona Lighthouses, located in the heart of Lake Erie Wine Country home to more than 20 wineries,, quaint bed and breakfasts and Victorian villages with delicious restaurants and antique treasures. Laugh at both the National Comedy Center and Lucy Desi Museums, in Lucille Balls’ hometown of Jamestown. Embark on a leisure learning experience such as attending a lecture, a concert, an art gallery show or author reading at Chautauqua Institution, nestled on the picturesque Chautauqua Lake shoreline. Appreciate our great outdoors by hiking on our robust network of trails or set up camp at one of our local campgrounds. Rent a boat, charter a fishing expedition, learn to sail or take a ride on our very own steamboat, the Chautauqua Belle. Spend some time on the greens, indulge in a spa day or fly along the treetops via zipline at Peek’n Peak Resort. When the weather turns cold hit the slopes, or ride over hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails. No matter the season, the possibilities are endless in Chautauqua County.

Most Popular Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY Experiences

The Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY is full of unique places to visit. With a wide variety of renowned attractions, Chautauqua County has something for everyone.

Lakes & Beaches

Windswept shores, beaches, and dramatic cliffs define Chautauqua County’s northern Lake Erie border. Lake Erie and the adjacent waterways, known as Steelhead Alley, harbor abundant walleye, bass, and trout fisheries, and are home to popular migration flyways. A great vacation destination, Lake Erie is home to numerous water-based activities and attractions. Inland, Chautauqua Lake has remained a destination for lake recreation enthusiasts who have enjoyed sailing, boating, fishing, kayaking, and other water fun for generations. Several smaller lakes surround Chautauqua, including Findley Lake to the southwest, plus Bear and Cassadaga Lakes to the north. There isn’t a single part of the Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY that is more than 20 minutes from open water.

Lake Erie
Chautauqua Lake
Findley Lake
Cassadaga Lake
Bear Lake
Barcelona Harbor Beach
Sunset Bay Beach Club

Cities, Towns & Villages

Whether you love a bustling city or quaint lakeside town, Chautauqua County has it. Enjoy peaceful lakeside dining or explore the downtown nightlife. Anchored by the cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk, Chautauqua County is comprised of a mixture of Victorian, lakeside, Amish, and farming communities. Play on the sandy beaches of Sunset Bay, the powder packed slopes near Findley Lake, or enjoy the bustling summer sounds of Bemus Point. The Lake Erie Grape Belt featuring the Lake Erie Wine Trail runs through several Victorian-era villages along the lakeshore from Silver Creek to Ripley and into Pennsylvania. Stop for a meal in the college town of Fredonia or search for antique treasures in Westfield. The road to Amish Country begins in Cherry Creek, where a bed and breakfast innkeeper and shop owners will help you find the way.

Fredonia/Dunkirk
Westfield
Jamestown
Bemus Point
Mayville
Lakewood

Nature Attractions

Celebrate nature in Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY! Explore area trails, stand in awe of giant rock formations at Panama Rocks Scenic Park, round up the kiddos for a nature play day at Jamestown’s Audubon Community Nature Center, or discover how the abundant natural beauty influenced Roger Tory Peterson, the pre-eminent American naturalist who illustrated and chronicled the global natural world to the public in the 20th century at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.

Panama Rocks
Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History
Audubon Community Nature Center
Peek’n Peak Mountain Adventures

Parks & Trails

Designated trails provide year-round opportunities for nature adventures. Discover magnificent views and undisturbed landscapes while hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or snowmobiling the area’s network of trails.
Chautauqua Gorge State Park

Point Gratiot Park
Long Point State Park
Wright Park
Eastside Overland Trail
Westside Overland Trail

Museums & Attractions

Chautauqua County’s unique character owes much to its Victorian heritage as well as to the sons and daughters who bring international recognition to its quiet communities. Visit a National Historic Landmark within the gates of Chautauqua Institution or see grand historic residences at the McClurg Museum, the D.R. Barker Museum, and the Fenton History Center. The story of comedy lives in Lucille’s hometown of Jamestown, at the National Comedy Center and the Lucille-Desi Museum.

National Comedy Center
Lucy-Desi Museum
Grape Discovery Center
Midway State Park

Chautauqua Grape & Grain Trail: Wineries

Tour the Lake Erie Grape Belt’s more than 30,000 vineyard acres along a 50-mile Lake Erie wine trail, including 20 wineries known collectively as Lake Erie Wine Country, plus the Grape Discovery Center in Westfield, NY. Growers in Chautauqua County produce approximately 65% of New York State’s total annual grape harvest, which is then used in products sold in more than 35 countries around the globe. While Labrusca grapes like Concord and Niagara dominate the region, French-American and European varietals perfect for fine wines also thrive here. The local wine selection spans the taste palette from dry to sweet, including award-winning dessert and ice wine, pinot noir and grigio, Riesling, port, and more. Year-round events like vineyard walks, farm-to-table pairing dinners, wine clubs, wine and cheese, wine and chocolate, and harvest celebration weekends offer multiple reasons to return.

Liberty Vineyards & Winery

21 Brix Winery
Johnson Estate Winery
Noble Winery
Willow Creek Winery
Sparkling Ponds Winery
Mazza Chautauqua Cellars

Chautauqua Grape & Grain Trail: Breweries & Distilleries

Plan a craft brewery and distillery tour of the Chautauqua & Lake Erie NY, part of the Chautauqua County & Grape & Grain Trail. Visit the original Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, one of the largest craft-makers in the United States. Have a beer and bite to eat at The Empty Pint and take a brewery tour. Then, head next door for a cocktail at The Empty Bottle. Get your fill of raft beer, wine and liquor at Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing/Maza Chautauqua Cellars — New York State’s first combined brewery, winery and distillery. Chautauqua County has seen a rise in farm breweries and distilleries, meaning that products must contain a minimum of 75% New York State agricultural products such as grains, honey, fruits, maple syrup, etc.