Within a 100-mile radius of Elmira, New York, the heart of Chemung County, there are countless ways to spend your time, choose from the arts, culture, sports or recreation to the many day-trip attractions found here.
Culture & Recreation
The Southern Finger Lakes is ideally situated for those who want to be in proximity to large metropolitan areas, but live a life made far richer by connecting to nature and community, making a difference in the lives of their neighbors and taking advantage of the opportunity to develop a fulfilling work/life balance that ideally suits who they are.
Performance
A newly-renovated 1,600-seat theatre presenting international performance artists covering a broad array of programs including Broadway musical tours, symphony orchestras, popular stars, country musicians, children’s theater, national dance companies, comedy, jazz, gospel and more.
Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes
The region’s finest musicians and masterful soloists, led by critically acclaimed conductor Marietta Nien-hwa Cheng, perform classical programs to pops concerts. A Youth Orchestra is also offered for talented young musicians.
A rich variety of professional instruction, exhibitions and performances designed for people of all ages.
Community Arts of Elmira (www.communityartsofelmira.com) is a center for creative expression located on the Elmira Creative Corridor, offering arts and cultural experiences through educational classes, workshops, events, and exhibitions, including downtown satellite galleries, as well as with the public art program Elmira Infinite Canvas (www.communityartsofelmira.com/infinite-canvas.php). Community Arts of Elmira is listed on the National Register of Historical Places and the National Park Service Network to Freedom Underground Railroad.
Provides seating for 3,700 spectators in an air-conditioned environment with a concert quality sound system, spacious private suites, a quality restaurant and sports bar, and fully equipped concessions. In addition to entertainment and sporting events, the center hosts trade shows, consumer shows, classes and other events.
Outdoor Life
Golf
Golfers have more than 170 holes to play at courses in and around Elmira, including at the Elmira Country Club and at the Corning Country Club, home of the annual Corning Classic LPGA tournament.
Fishing and Hunting
Chemung County anglers prowl Pine Creek or the Susquehanna River, the Finger Lakes and legendary Catharine Creek seeking everything from brook trout to muskies. Likewise, from white-tailed deer to black bear, wildlife is plentiful for hunters who enjoy long seasons.
Nature Trails
The glaciers that moved through our region during the last ice age left us with the long, deep Finger Lakes as well as glorious gorges, meandering river valleys, and rolling hills, perfect country for hiking and cross-country skiing! Downhill skiing is also popular.
Lake Life
The long, deep Finger Lakes just north of Chemung County offer a wealth of leisure opportunities, including fishing, boating, and other water sports. Many Chemung County residents vacation in the Finger Lakes, or choose to buy a lakeside cottage as a second home. Finger Lakes website
Attractions
Wine Trails in the Finger Lakes Region offer hundreds of small award-winning wineries open for year-round tours and wine tastings.
Watkins Glen International Speedway
Hosts NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch series events, as well as one of the nation’s premier Vintage Cup events. New in 2005, the Indy Car series presents the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix.
Museums
The Corning Museum of Glass is a one-of-a-kind experience: galleries, glassblowing shows, interactive science exhibits, and a shopping complex all devoted to glass in its most dazzling and unexpected forms.
Permanent displays of 17th to 19th-century European paintings, 19th to 20th-century American art, as well as Asian and Egyptian works. Major temporary exhibitions and a growing collection of contemporary representational art continually add new dimensions to explore.
Features a long-term exhibition on the history of the Chemung Valley and other temporary exhibitions. The museum also collects thousands of photographs and artifacts and has a library for local history research.
Wings of Eagle Discovery Center
An educational institution founded to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit military aviation memorabilia and to fly military aircraft.
An aviation museum working to preserve the history of motorless flight.
Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum
With over 15 miles of walking trails on 100 acres for nature study and an education center, the mission of the center is to lead and support educational and other efforts in our region to achieve a heightened awareness, understanding, enjoyment and caring for our natural environment.
Home of the largest collection of Western art in the east including sculptures and paintings by Frederic S. Remington, C. M. Russell, and Albert Bierstadt.
Professional Sports
An independent baseball team and member of the Northeast League, South Division. Teams from as far away as Quebec City play at the Pioneers’ 4,000-seat stadium, continuing a 100-year community tradition, and providing a great venue for business events.
Home of the Elmira Mammoth in the Federal Prospects Hockey League. The Elmira Mammoth began their inaugural season in 2022-2023. All home games are hosted at First Arena, a 3,784 seat stadium, continuing in a long-line of historic hockey teams to play out of Elmira’s First Arena. Teams as far away as Winston-Salem, North Carolina travel to play the Elmira Mammoth.
Clubs and Organizations
Chemung County has a wide variety of clubs and service organizations available covering interests as far ranging as learning to play the bagpipes to taking care of your health.