A Day at Chautauqua Lake

Chautauqua Lake has a long history of delighting visitors with a range of experiences (tourchautauqua.com) from outdoor adventures to cultural attractions, including the National Comedy Center and the Chautauqua Institution, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

“People should not miss this destination because it has something for everyone all year long, and people who visit here really do fall in love with the area,” says Victoria Burch of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau.

For example, 6 Baers Toys & Gift Shoppe (baeressentials.org) offers old-fashioned toys, candy and DIY kits while ART Cloth + Craft (artclothandcraft.com) in Jamestown offers handmade gifts and jewelry from local artists, as well women’s and children’s clothing. Take home a taste of Chautauqua County at Jamestown’s Borsari Food Co. Inc. (borsarifoods.com), offering an array of top-notch seasonings, or Webb’s Candies (webbscandies.com) in Mayville for some goat milk fudge or other sweet treats.

Chautauqua Lake also is home to more than a dozen waterfront dining options, from 4 Below Haggy’s Bar and Grille (4belowbarandgrill.com), Jamestown’s only self-serve bar taps, to Stella: A Kitchen & Bar (stellaakitchenandbar.wordpress.com), one of Lakewood’s newest culinary options, featuring a diverse, creatively curated menu of contemporary and traditional American fare.

New to the area this year is Ghostfish Brewing Co. (ghostfishbrewing.com), the largest gluten-free brewery in the U.S. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Ghostfish offers seven flagship beers, including three IPAs, a stout, pale ale, pale lager and Belgian white ale.

Of course, a day at the lake is not complete without a visit to the Chautauqua Institution (chq.org), which features a plethora of art, education, entertainment, recreation and religious experiences from late June through late August.