If Hollywood needs a backdrop for its next blockbuster romcom, location scouts should quickly get to the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York.
Village of Aurora, a dreamy collection of early 1900s-built structures that now houses the Inns of Aurora, restaurants and other businesses, would be the perfect setting for a sappy romance. There are gorgeous oaks all around. The beautiful Cayuga Lake is but a stone’s throw from a tiny bank that literally says “Bank” out front. And road congestion is nonexistent — there isn’t even a traffic light. We could envision one of the romantic leads strolling down the sidewalk.
But the joys of Aurora go well beyond its camera-ready face. The place has made it a point to consistently write great food, fantastic spa experiences and gallery-worthy art into its script, too. Forbes Travel Guide recently visited the photogenic hamlet and all we can say is that the sleepy town is more than ready for its travel close-up.
The History
To fully understand Aurora today, you must first turn back a few pages in its history book. In the 1830s, Henry Morgan and his brother Edwin Barber (or “E.B.”) successfully traded and shipped goods in the area. One person they did business with was Henry Wells, co-founder of Wells Fargo and American Express. The three men would put their stamp on Aurora in a number of ways: the establishment of companies, the construction of buildings and the founding of Wells College, one of the first institutions of higher learning for women in the United States.
One of the scholars who attended the school was Pleasant T. Rowland. While Rowland’s career may have started in education, she is probably best known as the creator of American Girls dolls, a popular toy brand purchased by Mattel for $700 million in 1998. Though her many ventures kept her away from Aurora for a long time, Rowland was ultimately drawn back to the village that meant so much to her. As a show of appreciation for everything the town gave to her, she’s dedicated millions to restore buildings to their Federal- and Italianate-style brilliance that visitors can stay in, eat at and otherwise enjoy today.
The Design
There’s a lot to appreciate about these revived buildings. Accommodations are divided into six structures across the quaint footprint, and each tells a slightly different story. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Aurora Inn is the centerpiece, with its tapestried rugs, period-defining decor and standout 1833 Kitchen & Bar.
The lakefront E.B. Morgan House has etched glass doors, seven original marble fireplaces and a stunningly purple dining room that’s an inviting setting for a private dinner (if you buy out the entire house, of course). The Zabriskie House, named after E.B.’s grandson, oozes subtle sophistication with its white columns and three-story staircase, but it surprises with pops of blue and green on the walls and furniture. And while the Orchard Cottage sits behind the Main Street mansions, the 1850s-built two-bedroom beauty has an airy, modern glow from all the cream walls and polished steel appliances in the kitchen.
Even with the varying styles in rooms, one feature unites all the spaces — the gorgeous artwork. Rowland is an avid collector with more than 250 high-value pieces on display throughout the property. You can download an official guide from the inn’s website, but part of the fun of an Inns of Aurora stay is simply happening upon a David Hockney in the hallway or stumbling on a Romare Bearden as you walk toward a coffee pot.
The Food
In the hypothetical movie, the character would be some Manhattan know-it-all who swore by the bagels at her old neighborhood standby before taking a life-changing bite at the Aurora corner shop run by her future love interest.
And this wouldn’t be a stretch from reality. Every meal you’ll have in Aurora is an epicurean journey of local bounty. For starters, there’s Fargo Bar & Grill. Hardwood-walled and laughter-filled like you want in a good tavern, Fargo (as in Wells Fargo co-founder William G. Fargo) is the ideal spot for a beer, burger or buffalo chicken sandwich. Those early impressions are backed by a kitchen that serves fine ground chuck and the tastiest tater tots this side of the Hudson River.
The scene shifts from TVs showing Bills games to romantic conversations near fireplace flames at the aforementioned 1833 Kitchen & Bar. Here, four-course meals from local purveyors and responsible farmers are composed of everything from lemon-infused hamachi crudo to lamb tenderloin with dill and mint pesto. No matter which choice you make with your entree, be sure to save room for a decadent white mocha cream cake we’re still dreaming about.
If you want something a little different at dinnertime, reserve an evening with chef Lou Ruscitto-Donato at Aurora Cooks! Situated in a bright, beautifully converted building two minutes down the road, the experience revolves around a chef’s table with seating for 12. Over the course of the evening, chef Lou tells stories (she’s cooked everywhere from Lake Ontario to L.A.), shares wisdom (“what grows together goes really well together”) and preps a light, delicious meal — we had watercress salad and a zesty housemade balsamic dressing, seared fish and a smooth local sparkling wine from Dr. Konstantin Frank — before your eyes.
The Spa
One of the few new builds on the property, the Four-Star Spa at the Inns of Aurora is a magnificent space designed with a modern farmhouse sensibility. Exterior walls are stark white with black trim. Massive windows look out to the greenery and the occasional curious deer. Light woods, soft grays and a calming water feature further center you.
Should you need additional help relaxing, you’ve come to the right place. The spa works with an Ayurvedic philosophy, which is essentially an individualized holistic approach to health and well-being. Meeting you where you are in your personal journey, the sanctuary provides services for muscles (aromatherapy massage), the mind (reiki) or a mix of the two (Wholeness Healing). A roster of amenities, like the hot spa pool and cold plunge, helps ensure that no time is bad for a visit.
And if you’re feeling famished before or after your treatment, stop by the Cafe for a gratis salad bar filled with greens, fruit and a daily soup. When the weather cooperates, eat outside in the courtyard and get some additional healing from the sun.
The Experiences
With a lake in the backyard, it makes sense that the Inns of Aurora’s activities roster would include kayaking, fishing and paddleboarding. But there are other things to do during your time that have nothing to do with water, and the new full-time concierge will happily help you schedule it all. Take the three-and-a-half-mile nature trail. Work your way up and around a none-too-strenuous loop filled with cherry trees and blackberry bushes. Get to the lookout platform at the top and you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of town and the water.
Back at street level, you’ll find the Schoolhouse. This early 1900s beauty has been a place of learning, a post office and a market over the decades. Today, it’s used as the Inns’ do-everything spot — yoga classes, a fitness center and a basecamp for wilderness activities. You can also find Dan Stanton upstairs, leading a wood-carving workshop. A master craftsman whose wares are sold in the charming Village Market, Stanton acquaints you with the sharp equipment well enough that you can fashion a (somewhat) useable spoon to take home and show off. It’s a fun two-hour diversion that would make the perfect first date in one of those romantic comedies.
