Central-Leatherstocking Region - for more info, visit the official I Love New York site.

The timeless beauty of the Central-Leatherstocking region, with its rolling hills, spirited rivers, and bucolic farmland, has offered visitors a source of serenity for centuries. Throughout this peaceful landscape, you'll find some of the state's finest culinary destinations.

Day One

Wake up in the legend-rich Hotel Utica, where past presidents - think Franklin Roosevelt, and premier entertainers - think Judy Garland, made themselves at home. Recently restored to its 1912 grandeur, the hotel has earned a listing with the Historical Hotels of America. Savor breakfast, then head downtown to view the vast collections of the Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute. Get carried away on Utica's special train ride packages: Dinner Trains, Wine-Tasting Trains, even Rail & Cruise Trains, all depart from Union Station. A few miles north in Rome, stroll through the recreated, 19th-century Erie Canal Village. Utica is also home to New York's oldest brewery, Matt Brewing Company. With roots that go back more than a century to the Black Forest of Germany, it is one of the most respected specialty brewers in the country. Gather cool facts while sampling award-winning Saranac brews. Head West for lunch at Charlotte's Creekside Inn, tucked alongside a babbling creek in Oneida. Nearby, visit the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, before heading southwest to Cazenovia. Elegant dining and accommodations await you at the Brewster Inn, recipient of DiRona Award of Excellence from the Distinguished Restaurants of North America. Set on the shore of Cazenovia Lake, The Brewster was built in 1890 as the summer home of financier Benjamin B. Brewster who, along with John D. Rockefeller, established the Standard Oil company. Dine in a candlelit room adorned with silver and crystal, or al fresco on the large terrace overlooking the lake, before retiring to a lovely guestroom decorated with fine antiques.