Visit Chautauqua County

With five amazing lakes and numerous waterways, the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region 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 where there are 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 Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museums, in Lucille’s’ hometown of Jamestown. Embark on a leisure learning experience such as attending a lecture, concert, an art gallery show or author reading at Chautauqua Institution, nestled on the picturesque Chautauqua Lake shoreline. Appreciate our great outdoors by hiking and horseback riding on the multi-use trail systems 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, take a ski lesson at one of Chautauqua County’s ski resorts or ride over 400 miles of snowmobile trails. No matter the season, the possibilities are endless in Chautauqua County.  

Most Popular Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region Experiences


The Chautauqua – Lake Erie Region 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 Region 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 Region! Explore area trails by horseback, 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.

  • 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 multi-use trials.
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 Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum.

  • National Comedy Center
  • Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum 
  • Grape Discovery Center
  • Midway State Park

Wineries

Tour the Lake Erie Grape Belt’s more than 30,000 vineyard acres along a 50-mile Lake Erie wine trail, including 23 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 

Breweries & Distilleries

Plan a craft brewery and distillery tour of the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region, where new developments along this unofficial “brew and spirits trail” are happening all the time. Visit the original Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, one of the largest craft-makers in the United States. 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.

  • Southern Tier Brewing Company & Distillery
  • Five & 20 Spirits & Brewery
  • Big Inlet Brewery
  • EBC West
  • Ellicottville Brewery on Chautauqua

 

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