It's a magical time of year when the weather is just right, warmer days, chilly nights and the sap begins to flow in the sugar maples. There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh maple syrup.
We are not just talk--here in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region there are a number of ways visitors can taste and experience New York State Maple season for themselves.
Maple Sugaring Festival at Genesee Country Village & Museum
Experience maple sugar season the 19th century way at the Genesee Country Village & Museum annual Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake Breakfast. Meet the tinsmith and the cooper who crafted the buckets, spiles and troughs used to catch the sap, then try your own hand at tapping the sugar maples. See the art of making tallow candles at the MacKay House. Watch as trees are tapped live on the Village Square. Taste the delicious 19th-century dishes made with the thick amber treasure of our New York forests. Enter your own maple syrup or sugar recipe for a chance to win one of several prizes of pottery, in the Cooking with Maple Contest on March 18th.
See: 40 Reasons to Visit Genesee Country Village & Museum
Maple Sugaring at Cumming Nature Center
Maple Sugaring at the Cumming Nature Center explores the science and lore of maple syrup production with volunteer guides along the Pioneer Trail. Learn how a tree makes sap and discover the different processing techniques of Native Americans, early pioneers, and today’s modern sugar bush managers. Taste 100 percent pure maple syrup in the sugarhouse and a pancake meal in the visitors center. This event is a program of the Rochester Museum & Science Center.
Maple Weekends at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
During Maple Weekends guests enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes and other breakfast specialties all served with Boxler Maple Farm Syrup made fresh at Hidden Valley Animal Adventure. Guests can also visit with the more than 30 species of exotic animals who live at Hidden Valley through their year-round tours.
See: Fun on the Farm: The Exciting World of Agritourism.
New York State Maple Weekends at Kettleridge Farm
Stop Kettleridge Farm at 515 Log Cabin Road in Victor during Maple Weekend for a tasting of fresh maple syrup, pancake samples and a tour of the sugarhouse and farm. Enjoy a hike in the sugarbush, including stops at the shiitake mushroom log yard, the honeybee apiary, and the chicken coop.
Black Button Bourbon Maple Syrup
The only thing sweeter than maple syrup--Bourbon Maple syrup found at Black Button Distilling located on Rochester's Railroad Street. Stop in for a tasting and while you are there try some of Black Buttons exclusive locally made spirits. Bonus: visit on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday and stop by the Rochester Public Market just down the road for some farm market goodies to cook with your maple syrup.
See our video: Black Button and Rohrbachs, Limitless Flavor
