Never too late to use a gift certificate

SKANEATELES -- Just past the nine mile mark the Judge Ben Wiles began to turn to the west. The shift in direction brought our first breeze of the warm evening as we looked toward the south end of the lake into the hazy air trapped inside the hills the glaciers left behind. The fading sunlight added to the mysterious appearance enveloping the gloaming on Skaneateles Lake. We were half way through a cruise down this gem of the Finger Lakes.

The Judge Ben Wiles seats 100 people for their evening dinner cruise. The owners of Mid-Lakes Navigation named the two story boat after their grandparents who have a long history on Skaneateles Lake.  The ship boards at the park right next to Route 20 in the village of Skaneateles. The captain plays the roll of host for the three hour tour pointing out the famous and lovely homes that grace the lake's waterfront.  The crew helps the captain load up and shove off and then they put on their hats of waiters and waitresses serving drinks and dinner on the open air double deck.

As we pull away from the docks we pass by boaters docked to grab lunch in the village.  We pass others tubing on the water or just enjoying a ride in their motor boats. The captain begins to point out landmarks. The churches that line the main street, the retreat for the sisters of St. Francis and the homes of the captains of industry past and present. We hear about the head of Tessy Plastics, the owner of Shehadi carpets and the home where President and Mrs. Clinton stayed during their Skaneateles vacation nine years ago.

We see the changing shoreline turn from long flowing lawns to sharp rocky cliffs with deep stands of trees. We see families sitting on decks and children swimming to docks. There are smiles and activities everywhere, even a dog trained to wave hello as the Judge Ben Wiles passes and toots its horn.

As we pass the one mile marker the captain shares a bit of history that goes back to the days before the north end of the lake was pristine crystal clear water. A sharp thinking businessman dammed the water so he could run a mill. The change in water flow raised the lake level eight feet extending the navigable waters nearly a mile and a half. It made Skaneateles what it is today.

It was the perfect evening to take this leisurely and informative view of a Central New York treasure.  Topping it off the dinner cruise included a glass of sparkling champagne. The perfect way to toast one of the highlight locations of any summer in the Finger Lakes.

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