Our last stop of the day was Rock Stream Vineyards in Rock Stream, NY. Tim loved this place because they server complimentary cheese with your tasting. Can’t go wrong with free cheese!

This place is best known for their grappa, a Pomace brandy liquor made from grape skins. It’s meant to be served chilled and sipped slowly, so it’s not for the novice. The 80-proof liquor will put hair on your chest. It wasn’t for me, but Tim’s now a fan.

We took home a bottle of Cabernet Franc which didn’t last the week at our house. It went great with the Italian dinner we cooked a few nights later.

As you drive down Rt. 14 along Seneca Lake, there are wineries lining either side of the road. Some offer free tastings, others charge a small fee per pour. Our next stop was Torrey Ridge.

We each chose six wines to taste. The staff at all of the wineries are helpful in picking what you might like. The more questions you ask, the more you learn about their particular varieties.

This stop is actually two tasting rooms in one. Adjacent to the Torrey Ridge building – which houses the huge, two-story tasting facility seen at the top of this post – is the Earle Estates Meadery.

Legend has it, the term “honeymoon” originates from an old Irish tradition in which newlyweds drank honey wine, or mead everyday for one full moon (a month) after their wedding. That makes Earle Estates a must-see for any honeymooning couple. We may not have been “just married,” but it made us happy anyway.

During our day of wine-tasting in the Finger Lakes, Tim and I started out in Geneva, NY, at Belhurst Castle. Built in the 1880’s, it’s a place with a long and rambling history, including its use as a speakeasy and casino during prohibition.

Like most many of the wineries in the region, they’re probably best know for their Reislings. Belhurst consistently receives awards for their wines.

It goes without saying, that one must be careful when tasting and driving. So we loaded up on lunch before we began to imbibe. Stonecutters is one of two restaurants at Belhurst. In good weather, you can sit out on the patio and enjoy the amazing lake views across the lawn.

The food is reasonably priced and wine parings are suggested with each item. We started with a cheese platter featuring Upstate New York cheddar and some tasty mustards. My mozzarella-tomato-pesto panini and Tim’s catfish sandwich were great. He especially loved the fried pickle that comes on the side.

Without drinks, our bill was less than $30 for two. Not a bad way to start the afternoon.

Then it was on to the good stuff: the vino. Belhurst recently completed construction on a new wing at the hotel, below, that houses the tasting room and gift shop.

We sampled some of their reds and whites and spent some time chatting with the dude who was pouring. He told us about the grapes used, some from Upstate and others from Long Island. Tim and I both love dry wine, so we decided to take home a bottle of their semi-dry riesling. It was a little pricey, but quite good.

As our readers know by now, we’re just as fond of 90+ day epic journeys as we are of staying close to home for a honeymoon. One place my husband and I love to travel to is the Finger Lakes wine region .

On a drive home from visiting my in-laws in Syracuse, Tim and I decided to take an afternoon tour of the Finger Lakes to remind all us East Coasters that we can find a bit of Napa-esque charm nearby. Our friends Mark and Christi absolutely loved their long-weekend mini-moon here. With it’s stunning lake views, charming B&B’s, and award winning wines, the Finger Lakes is the perfect place for a short stay or a week-long retreat for a new couple. A five-hour drive from Boston or New York is all it takes to get away. And don’t worry, we were parked for the shot above.

You can find lots of trip planning info here and here. A great B&B list is here. Foodies will want to check out this list.

Vermont as a mini-moon is most definitely a winning choice. And there’s one part Burlington you just can’t miss. After the skiing and Lake Champlain, the main attraction for many visitors is Church Street, a pedestrian mall full of shops and restaurants.

With festivals and events taking place year round, there’s always somehing to do and see. Tim and loved the time we spent here on our long weeeknd.

Obviously named for the big church at the end of the street, this ace always attracts a crowd. We couldn’t believe how many people were braving the cold to wander in and out of the boutiques.

We had to stop into Lake Champlain Chocolates for a jumbo chocolate-covered strawberry each. The staff is always making something delicious in the front window and happy to talk with visitors about their confections. You can also check out their factory tours at the nearby Pine Street facility.

My book-junkie hubby could not pass up a stop into Crow Bookshop, a cozy space full used titles. Somehow we managed to get out the door with just one book purchased.

We’re so glad we decided to explore Burlington, a city that we had somehow never visited in all our years in the Northeast. We loved the city so much that we’re talking about heading back up in warmer weather. Vermont has so much to offer honeymooners who don’t want to stray too far from home – cheese, beer, hiking, skiing and so much more. We’re sold!

On our mini-getaway to Vermont, Tim and I knew we simply could not miss the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour. It’s one of the highlights of a trip for anyone who loves ice cream. We drove out the Waterbury facility, just 40 minutes from Burlington.

Even though they weren’t producing ice cream that day, we paid our 3 bucks each and got to overlook the production facility, watch a short film about the company’s history and philanthropy and – of course – get a free sample! One tiny cup is never enough though, so we treated ourselves to a great big cone each. Ice cream for lunch is the way to go!

If there’s one thing Tim loves as much as ice cream it’s beer. So naturally we headed on over to the Magic Hat Brewery Tour in Burlington. We were invited to sample all of their beers on tap while we waited 45 minutes for our tour to start. We checked out their merch and chatted with the staff. Our 30 minute long tour took us above the brewing and bottling facilities, which weren’t operating that day. But who cares… there were free samples!

Burlington, VT is a great location for anyone seeking an East Coast mini-moon. But especially for couples who love comfort food that won’t empty your wallet.

Tim and I hit up Sadie Katz Deli for breakfast. This tiny spot is an old fashioned diner with booths, lunch counter and vintage formica table tops. Many of the meals are served with delicious and greasy potato latkes instead of home fries. The waitresses were friendly and the food was served up fast. We cleared our plates!

The Burlington Fresh Market and Cheese Outlet is the perfect stop for lunch. Located on Pine Street, this place offers a huge variety of gourmet goodies. Not only do they prepare gift baskets and offer catering services, but you can shop for groceries, order a sandwich or pick up a freshly baked scone. We stopped in for lunchtime bagels and then browsed the shelves for a while.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with American Flatbread for dinner. Be prepared for a wait – we spent ours at the bar trying their beers brewed on site. But there’s a reason everyone in town flocks here for dinner… the artisanal pizzas are handmade with fresh, local, organic ingredients and then baked in a wood burning oven. All the prep and cooking is done in the open-air kitchen just off the dining room. Without exaggeration, it was one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had. Do not miss this place if you visit VT!

Though the trip was an anniversary/Valentine’s celebration with some R&R, our recent trip to Burlington, VT would make the perfect local mini-moon for any couple looking for good food in a gorgeous environment. Vermont, home to just over 600,000 residents, is know for it’s beautiful Green Mountains, legalized gay marriage, dairy cows and crunchy lifestyles.

Its largest city – Burlington – sits on the shores of Lake Champlain, seen in the chilly shot above.

Lake Champlain offers tons of summertime fun, with kayak rentals, dinner cruises, fishing and even scuba. It was a bit too icy when Tim and I visited in February for any of that. But of course winter’s greatest attraction is the nearby slopes at Stowe, Smuggler’s Notch and Jay Peak.

Burlington is an easy drive from NYC in under 6 hours and even closer from Boston in under 4 hours. We packed our rental car full off music, snacks, knitting materials and of course caffeine. Leaving early Saturday morning had us in town and ready for lunch that afternoon.

Planning the trip was super easy… We got a good hotel deal through hotel deal through Hotwire.com. The design*sponge Small City Guide and The New York Times’ 36 Hours in Burlington made great guides to take along on my iPhone. We took a slow pace that weekend, wandering, snacking and wandering some more.

We can’t say enough good about Burlington. It’s an adorable, progressive town, full of friendly locals and lots of laid back vibes. Tag along this week as we hit up great restaurants, tour the Magic Hat Brewery. And eat Ben & Jerry’s, of course.

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.