Vacationers will find that western New York's Finger Lakes Region is not only the state's wine country, but also a water-lovers paradise. With its eleven long and narrow fresh water lakes, it's easy to imagine how water-sports prevail, varying from sailboarding and kayaking, to fishing and boating. Although wineries lead the pack when it comes to festival gatherings, trout derbies, sports car racing, strawberry festivals, and holiday celebrations attract a great deal of attention.
   Waterfall fans must also take notice. The Finger Lakes Region is the place for waterfalls. More than a hundred impressive waterfalls are spread throughout two dozen counties. Just north of Ithaca, Taughannock Falls is billed as one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. Also featuring camping, picnicking, fishing, and boating on Cayuga Lake, the falls stands as the main attraction at Taughannock Falls State Park. This view captures an unusual raging Taughannock Creek as it plunges 215 feet in a single drop. Flowing through a gorge that's 400 feet deep, excellent viewpoints may be reached over short trails. Named for the Chief Taughannock (great fall in the woods), this looks like the granddaddy of the Finger Lakes waterfalls.

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