Corning, New York, may not be one of the first places you think of when you think of the state of New York, but we think it is certainly a city worth visiting! In the first part of our 5 part New York State’s Hidden Gem series we will be exploring the city of Corning's most popular attractions, foods, and cultural highlights.
Corning is considered by some to be ‘America’s most fun small town’, a Finger Lakes region gem that is filled with absolutely gorgeous architecture, amazing hiking trails, and it’s star resident, the Corning Museum of Glass, the world’s largest museum of glass art and artifacts. hence it’s second nickname, ‘America’s Crystal City’.
Here are the cities top attractions:
Corning Museum of Glass - This highly popular museum is dedicated to the art, history, and science of glass. It was founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Works and holds more than 45,000 glass objects, some over 3,500 years old! You can participate in live glass blowing demos and Make Your Own glass experiences while here.
Chihuly Corning Museum of Glass Credit Danielle Breshears
The Rockwell Museum - This museum is Upstate New York’s only Smithsonian Affiliate museum, featuring a world-class collection of contemporary and western Native American Art. This museum is all about displaying and reflecting upon the essence of the American spirit, doing so through various works from American artists.
Spencer Crest Nature Center - This center is a part of the local Corning Community College and it provides ‘environmental, educational and recreational activities’ for residents and guests alike. The area holds 250 acres of land with 7 miles of trails. There are two ponds, a stream, and an onsite wildlife museum as well.
Gaffer District - Gaffer District is Corning’s historic downtown district, a gorgeous area of shopping, dining, and sightseeing! Below you will see some specific shopping and dining options!
Shopping -
- Antique Revival
- Market Street Apothecary, LLC
- Pip's Boutique
- Card Carrying Books & Gifts
- Vitrix Hot Glass Studio
- Wegmans Food & Pharmacy
- Yesterdays Classic Chic Boutique
- Connors Mercantile
- West End Gallery
- Hands-on Glass Studio
- Corning Revere Factory Store
- Pookie's Little Britches
- Bottles & Corks
Food -
- Aniello's Pizzeria
- Market Street Brewing
- The Cellar
- Atlas Brick Oven Pizzeria
- Hand + Foot
- Mooney’s Sports Bar and Grill
- Wild Ginger
- Cafe at Corning Museum
Mooney's Sports Bar and Grill - Beef on Weck Mac
But don’t just take it from us, see what others have to say about the charming little city of Corning, New York!
"Life moves a little slower, food tastes a little sweeter and everything is just a bit simpler than in the place you left behind," Suzy Strutner wrote in The Huffington Post when she named Corning one of "America's Best Small Towns, Perfect For A Long Weekend Trip".
"Historic storefronts boasted trendy eateries, chic salons and bustling artists' studios that seemed to stretch for a mile. . . . This is the kind of American main street that movie makers scramble to recreate in studios." Alexandra Baackes, Alex in Wanderland.
