Written & Photographed By Theresa St. John
[From the 2026 Home & Garden Magazine]
Penn Yan, New York, has become a summertime hub for visitors, with many wineries, breweries, shopping opportunities, the Mennonite Craft Markets, walking trails, and waterfalls, to name just a few attractions tourists can enjoy when in the Finger Lakes Region.
I wasn’t aware there were so many unique B&Bs available for an overnight stay until recently, when I decided to visit a few and learn what they were all about. Penn Yan is such a historic town, and the B&Bs have wonderful backstories, which I’m going to share here, in this article, with you!
Perhaps you’ll jump in your car sometime this season to try one or two of them out yourself.
Los Gatos Bed & Breakfast
I loved how this B&B was set back from the road, and I could tell that the sprawling lawn in front would be a deep, verdant green come springtime. Before I even entered the main house, I noticed two adorable cabins along the walkway and learned that they are available for rent as well. Both were very roomy and perfect for families or couples who want a little more room for a few days/weeks/even a month-long stay.
There are five inviting bedrooms, three in-home guest rooms, and two log cabins – all which ooze charm and ambience. Breakfast is always made from scratch and features fresh local ingredients, such as fruit, homemade breads, and eggs from their own chickens. They even have a cupboard full of homemade jams, maple syrup, and ground coffee for sale.
Charles and Rebecca Franks are the owners and love welcoming guests to their solar-powered retreat, nestled between Seneca and Keuka Lakes. The previous owners had moved from Los Gatos, California, to the area and transformed the once-private home into this beautiful Bed & Breakfast in 2004. When the Franks bought the property, they really liked the name and decided to keep it. They were also aware that the community and previous guests were familiar with the name, so it made perfect sense.
Charles and Rebecca are the friendliest folks I've met in a while, and I enjoyed spending time getting to know them while I was there.
Trimmer House Bed & Breakfast
This is the bed-and-breakfast I stayed in, and I have to tell you, I was impressed. I slept in Grace’s room. The sleigh bed was inviting, and I had the best night’s sleep. Owners Vic and Mary Cottengim pay attention to detail, and you can see it throughout their home, everywhere you look. It’s a beautifully preserved Queen Anne home that speaks to the Finger Lakes' 19th-century heyday.
It was built in 1891 by David Orville Trimmer. He was a very successful and wealthy champagne merchant. The house is a grand architectural design that the couple loves to showcase in their everyday life. Antique furniture from that period, a self-playing piano, pocket doors, we even saw original papers on the house, handled by Vic, who was careful to wear gloves when showing us.
Breakfast is made with local ingredients, always fresh and bountiful. I was pleased when they took the time to sit with me over a meal, telling me about the business, their five spacious guest rooms, how it started as a B&B, and how it came to be theirs. I loved my stay so much, I booked another weekend getaway with friends for my upcoming birthday!
Aubergine Bed & Breakfast
I loved seeing the distinctive oeil de boeuf windows at the top of this gorgeous Victorian B&B, also located between the Seneca and Keuka Lakes. In the world of architecture, these windows are small, circular, or oval windows, usually resembling a wheel, and they allow natural light into the upper floors of a building. They were interesting, especially accented by the slate mansard roof – both made me want to explore the rooms inside to see what they were like.
When the door opened to welcome my friends and me inside, the house was still decorated for Christmas. This thrilled me, as it’s my favorite time of the year. It was just after New Year’s, and I was grateful everything hadn’t been packed up yet. The owner, Christine Pyanoe, explained that company was coming to visit, and I smiled a silent ‘thank you.’ The cheerful holiday trees made me so happy. It felt like we’d stepped back into the year 1869, with rich chestnut woodwork, carefully chosen antiques set in just the right places, and a fireplace that drew attention to the history of the home and the owner’s love of entertaining strangers.
Christine is a retired French teacher. Her students helped name the bed-and-breakfast. Aubergine plays on the French word for "inn," and on the rich purple and green hues that draw visitors inside. She loves to travel, and the three guest bedrooms are carefully designed to showcase her favorite destinations – France, Italy, and the Finger Lakes Region.
Keuka Spring Vineyard
It’s funny, before I left Saratoga to visit the Finger Lakes, I noticed that we have a Keuka Spring Vineyards tasting room right here in town, across from Saratoga Arts. I said, ‘Hmmm, I’ll need to go there when I get home.’ So I was happy to visit the vineyard in Penn Yan during my road trip, and grab the chance to experience their lakefront setting, estate-driven wines, and warm hospitality of the staff.
It’s been a staple there for more than four decades, founded by the Wiltberger family in 1981. In 2022, it came under the stewardship of the Simmons family, multi-generation grape growers with more than 60 years of farming experience across the region. It was easy to see how passionate everyone working there is about grapes and the science of making wine. We were invited to watch a wonderful, short film about wine and the vineyard before sitting at a long table to sample Keuka Springs’ terroir-focused wines and delectable items from their charcuterie board. We learned a lot about reds and whites, how weather affects the grapes, and were happy to bring home our favorite bottles. It was nice to slow down for a little while and enjoy the company of people around me. One of the things Keuka Springs Vineyard says is ‘Life happens around the table.’ I definitely agree!
The Laurentide Inn
I stayed at the Laurentide Inn a few years before and loved it. The warm yellow structure with tall white columns sits on Main Street in Penn Yan, and the 200-plus years of history meets modern comfort in a most welcoming way. It was built around 1820 by William Morrison Oliver, a prominent early leader in Yates County. Owners Marla and Tracey Hedworth reimagined what was once the Fox Inn and reopened it in 2019 as The Laurentide Inn.
It boasts five beautifully appointed guest suites, all with a personality and charm of their own. In the back area of the property, you can (and should) have dinner and sample their rotating selection of house-brewed beers, Finger Lake Wines, New York State spirits, and pub fare that is above so many others I’ve tried. They also have live music, which we enjoyed while munching our way through the best dry rub wings I’ve ever had.
Lunch at Once
This was a wonderful surprise stop before heading home from the Finger Lakes. It’s a thoughtfully curated tasting room with a selection of merchandise for sale, fantastic views over the water, and a space where visitors can connect over a table of food and wine. The name is pronounced ohn-say. It has a dual meaning; Once, as the beginning of a story, and ohn-say, meaning eleven, a nod to the eleven lakes that mark the region.
We tried several wines – a diverse selection from some of the area’s most notable producers. Founded by Antonio Airas, who grew up in Mexico and had a vision that the space would invite people to explore what the region has to offer in a relaxed, engaging setting – which this certainly was. I brought home bottles I’d enjoyed over platters of food, chatting with friends while learning about the wines we were sampling and the people behind the labels.
Final Thoughts
You don’t always have to go far to enjoy a weekend away. I go back to the Finger Lakes Region often because the people are welcoming, the landscapes are fantastic, and there is still so much to see and to learn about in this part of New York. Maybe you’ll be inspired to do the same – let me know if you do!
