Mark and Christi’s favorite meal of the trip was dinner at Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, NY. Chances are if you’re a vegetarian like me, you own at least one – if not six – Moosewood cookbooks. They’re like the bible for non-meaties. And the collectively owned restaurant has been around since 1973, making it something of a trendsetter. The menu changes daily, offering the best seasonally available foods. I know some fellow vegetarians who say this place is overrated, but Tim and I make a point to stop in whenever we’re in Ithaca and have never been disappointed. Mark and Christi were blown away with their meal, which that night included eggplant parmesan, salmon and these huge desserts. Mark’s review was just one word, “PHENOMENAL!” and said it “made it nice little date night.”

Their favorite dish was the oven poached salmon baked with leeks and tomatoes and a lemon-herb broth. It was served with potatoes, carrots and brussels sprouts tossed with horseradish butter.

RH Note: Gift certificates to a restaurant in the area a couple will be visiting on their honeymoon is such a thoughtful and practical gift. If you’re not sure of their food preferences, try asking a close friend or family member what they love.

I’m so happy Mark and Christi shared their NY mini-moon with us. The Finger Lakes region makes a great destination for an affordable domestic honeymoon. Stay tuned for more on this area from Tim and me in February!

While in the Finger Lakes region of NY, Mark and Christi wanted to do more than just drink wine. The hiking in this area is remarkable. Watkins Glen State Park displays the natural power of water. The stream running through the has carved out 200-foot cliffs and spills over 19 waterfalls along its 400-foot course.

The newlyweds loved the natural beauty of this spot, as well as it’s welcoming attitude to their dashund/terriers Rusty and Trouble who tagged along for the honeymoon.

The topography in Watkins Glen, much like Ithaca, is – as they say – gorges.

The park’s three main trails – Indian Trail, South Rim Trail and the Gorge Trail – wind through the rock and are easy to manage with several man-made bridges and staircases. Honeymooners of course have to check out Lover’s Lane (top photo) along the Gorge Trail. Late spring, summer and early fall are the best times to visit. Otherwise, expect snow!

Lots of steps make this a good workout. Pack a picnic lunch, pay the $7 to park your car and enjoy a cheap day for two. (or 4!)

Mark and Christi were super excited to check out some of the fantastic wineries that New York State offers in the picturesque Finger Lakes region. Most of these wineries have tasting rooms that will give you samples for free or for a small fee. They’re cozy and not at all pretentious. The staff is always willing to share their knowledge and help you discover the varieties you like best. (Can you tell I’m a huge Finger Lakes fan as well?)

They discovered some of their favorite spots easily. The got a free bottle of sparkling wine because they were honeymooners at Arbor HIll Winery in Naples, NY.

Also in Naples, they thought Imagine Moore Winery, above, was “a very cool winery with generous pours.”

And it wasn’t just wine Mark and Christi were tasting. They also checked out the local still at Finger Lakes Distilling where $2 buys you three whiskey samples. Christi calls their Glen Thunder “moonshine, pure and simple.”

After all the tasting, food was in order. These honeymooners had lunch at Stonecat Cafe in Watkins Glen. Mark says the food “was fantastic.” Christi is a collector of some amazing things, including vintage typewriters and super-cool Pyrex bowls. So you know they had to also wander into several antiques shops and check out the General Store.

These two sadly just missed the annual Grape Festival, which took place the following week in late September.  But they were eager to learn more about it. Christi says, “Henry, our innkeeper at Bristol Views, told us that grapes grown in the Canandaigua Lake region are mostly used for grape jelly, grape juice, and, of course, the local fave – grape pie.”

What a sweet way to spend a few days in the Finger Lakes! Check in tomorrow for the newlyweds’ more adventurous activities.

Mark and Christi started their mini-moon in NY’s Finger Lakes with no real plans other than booking a place to stay. That turned out to be the best plan… they fell in love with the affordableBristol Views Bed & Breakfast in Naples, NY. The recently renovated farmhouse has four guest rooms, a wood-burning stove and a fantastic view of Canandaigua Lake.

The honeymoners rated it a “five star” stay. Not only did this B&B offer excellent accommodations, but it was also pet-friendly since they were traveling with their two pups.

They had the added benefit of a private stay. Mark adds, “We lucked out and were the only people in the B&B at a time.”

The owners of Bristol Views made Mark and Christi feel right at home. He says, “They were so nice and friendly to talk with.”

They also stayed at the Bout Time B&B in Montour Falls, NY and the Ithaca University Best Western, both dog-friendly locations.

But Bristol Views won them over with hospitality and charm. Who wouldn’t love showing up to a hand-written welcome message on a front-porch full of rocking chairs?

Check back tomorrow to learn about wine-tasting in the Finger Lakes.

Roslindale, MA, residents Mark Murphy (a video and event producer) and his new wife Christi Gorelli (a graphic designer and blogger-extraordinaire) are awesome. No way around it. They’re two of the sweetest, coolest, nicest kids you could hope to know. We had the pleasure of attending their (super-fun and ultra-crafty) September 2009 wedding in Leechburg, PA, where Christi grew up.

These two are hoping to head to Barcelona this spring, but needed a post-wedding break before they headed back to real life. The Finger Lakes region of New York State was the perfect destination along their drive back to Mass. It was just right for them and their two adorable dogs. Christi says, “We wanted to do something small right away after planning an out-of-state wedding.”

I love the idea of a “mini-moon”. Whether you’ve got a big journey planned for later or a tight budget to begin with, staying local and keeping things simple can be every bit as romantic as globetrotting.

The Finger Lakes offer honeymooners charm, charm and more charm. From gorgeous view along the eleven glacier-carved lakes to the adorable antique shops lining the Main Streets of small lakeside towns, you can’t get any more quaint. Oh, and there’s wine. Lots of it.

The region has over 80 wineries, most of which grow their grapes locally and offer tastings. There are three main “trails” you can follow, running along Cayuga, Seneca, and Keuka Lakes.

Mark says, “The great location meant waking up to beautiful sights every morning,” as seen above. He adds, “Depending on the time of year, you can have wonderful weather and scenery as you drive along the lakes.”

Pour yourself a glass and check in every day this week to see Mark and Christi’s hiking, drinking, eating and chilling in NY.