My friends and I traveled to the Finger Lakes for a birthday celebration and girls’ trip and landed in Dundee, New York. After a lot of back and forth about location and what amenities were important to us, we settled on a Waneta lakeside cottage in the Village of Dundee.

After a day of kayaking on Waneta Lake and making dinner in our Airbnb, we ventured to Watkins Glen State Park. We hiked along the Gorge Trail, observing the natural rock formations and waterfalls before hitting the Keuka Wine Trail. After a few less-than-relaxing taxi trips to local wineries, we ended at Bully Hill with fine red blends and a view.

We muscled a taxi into taking us back and spent the night kayaking, enjoying local wine and discussing what the next day would bring.

For an easy girls’ weekend filled with wineries, outdoor exploration and low-key entertainment, the Finger Lakes have my vote.

Word to the wise: Plan a wine tour or designated driver, as the area is a bit too sleepy for Lyft, Uber or all-night taxis.

— Angelique Platas, associate editor