The Glass Museum in Corning, New York is the main attraction, but if you want to spend a little more time enjoying the quaint village, this 1-night Corning itinerary will help you plan. In this post I share the best things to do in Corning NY to plan a nice weekend getaway.
There are more things to do in Corning New York than you may notice on first glance. This small town in the southern Finger Lakes region is a great spot to enjoy a small city getaway.
This little village has enough for families to enjoy a day trip from Rochester or a weekend getaway. It is not too far from the east coast either if you are looking to have a longer stay in upstate New York.
We spent an overnight and it was the perfect short getaway to reconnect and recharge.
Best Things to Do in Corning New York
These are my top picks if you are looking for the can’t miss things to see and do.
- Visit the Corning Museum of Glass
- Rockwell Museum of Western Art
- Explore the Gaffer District
Where is Corning, New York
Corning, New York is located under a 2 hour drive south of Rochester, NY. It is a great place for a day trip from Rochester and offers enough options for a quick weekend getaway for your family.
It is a little over 4 hours from New York City.
Where to Stay in Corning, New York
We stayed at the Staybridge Suites in Corning and it was a perfect place for our family of five. It is near the Chemung River and within walking distance to the Gaffer District and the Corning Museum of Glass.
The lobby was beautifully decorated with glass pieces inspired by the museum of glass.
We stayed in the two bedroom suite and the room was huge. It had 2 bathrooms, a living room with a kitchen, and two bedrooms.
1-Night Corning NY Itinerary
Corning is a little over 2 hours away from our home in Rochester and we could visit as a day trip. For this trip we decided to stay over so we could enjoy the evening holiday event in The Gaffer District.
Day 1: Corning Museum of Glass and the Gaffer District
We planned an overnight in Corning and wanted to maximize our time checking out the best things to do. I wanted to balance exploring with relaxing time at the hotel.
The first stop on our Corning Itinerary was at the Corning Museum of Glass. This is a fantastic museum and kids 17 and under are free with adult entree.
The museum offers hands-on glass activities, an art gallery style exhibit, and a glass blowing show that can’t be missed! Check out our full review: Corning Museum of Glass: A Unique Family Friendly Experience.
After the museum we checked in to the hotel and relaxed for a bit before heading out to the village. The hotel was about a 10-15 minute walk.
The annual holiday event Sparkle was going on in the downtown Gaffer District. This part of town is lined with pretty shops and restaurants. I loved walking along the streets and looking at the window displays.
We took the shuttle from the Corning welcome center to the Gaffer District. The shuttle was located at the welcome center across the street from the hotel.
Corning’s Gaffer District is the main street of the village. There are shops and restaurants to enjoy. A few can’t miss places in downtown Corning are Dippity Do Dahs Ice Cream, Main Street Coffee, Main Street Brewing Co, as well as antique shops and candy shops.
We explored the shops and had a great dinner at Slammin’ Jammin’ BBQ. There are many restaurants to choose from in Corning. Check out this list here.
Day 2: Pool Time and the Rockwell Museum
We had a slow paced morning with breakfast at the hotel and pool time. Then we checked out and headed over to the Rockwell Museum.
This was a last minute decision based on a recommendation from the hotel staff. She recommended we go over to see the Rockwell Museum for its gingerbread display. I am so happy we did. It was really fun.
The Rockwell Museum shares a collection of Native American art and other exhibits that celebrate the history of America. They had a lot of hands-on activities for kids.
The museum has a kids corner and a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt allows kids to find specific pieces of art through the museum.
They also had a scavenger hunt for the gingerbread houses. I was really impressed with how the Rockwell was kid friendly.
The scavenger hunt was pieces of art work that you had to discover throughout the museum. I was not sure what to expect and if this would be entertaining for the kids but they really liked it.
I loved seeing the old maps of the United States. It was a really cool way to spend our morning before heading back home.
My Final Thoughts
Corning really delivered for a quick weekend getaway. It was a short drive and a really relaxed weekend. We didn’t do a lot of things but it provided us with time away from the busy day to day and great attractions.
When I think of family getaways I always think big cities, but there was a perfect amount of things to do in Corning for families.
It was nice to have a family adventure closer to home. There was less planning and more time to enjoy each other.
Read Next: 12 Best Things to Do in New York State with Kids
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.