The town I grew up in is merely 1.5 hours away from Aurora, NY, but somehow I had never been there or even driven through. That changed a couple of weeks ago when my mom and I took a quick getaway to the Inns of Aurora, a highly acclaimed collection of restored historic homes, replete with an award-winning spa and 3 restaurants on premise. I’d had the Inns on my short list of places to visit for a while, and it being Christmastime with a surprisingly mild (for December) few days of weather in front of us, I found the perfect opportunity to book.
We arrived in the late afternoon, and after settling into our spacious lakefront room, we embarked on a Holiday Decor Tour. The Inns offer a myriad of activities to guests to enhance their stay and truth be told, this particular offering was my main motivation in taking our trip. I love interior design and am especially drawn to traditionally decorated spaces like the Aurora Inn. As an aside, this is the “home” we stayed in as well, and I liked that while the atmosphere was quiet overall, there was a general hum of activity on the ground level, as the primary restaurant for the properties is located there.
Our tour guide Dale was responsible for the holiday decorations at the Inns, so not only did he share the sources and driving themes for each space, but his extensive knowledge on the history of the area and his personal experience in working with Pleasant Rowland (Wells College graduate, and founder of American Girl) to bring each space to life. All of the homes are gorgeous, but my favorite was the E.B. Morgan House for its cozy library and grand entryway/staircase. As we made our way through the village, we were treated to a fiery Cayuga Lake sunset. Following the tour, we relished in a fireside dinner at 1833 Kitchen & Bar.
The next morning we were booked for a Guided Morning Nature Hike, with Mike. The hike wound through the dense forest, “over” the lake, and past the backside of The Spa, rewarding us with beautiful views at each turn. We even caught a glimpse of The Farmhouse, the Inns newest property, which is slated to open in early 2026. My mom and I always begin our day with a walk, so this felt like an extra special version of our regular routine. Mike was an absolute pleasure sharing both his personal and professional anecdotes, along the way.
Before leaving Aurora, we made a couple more stops, first for lunch at Aurora Brewing Co., and then on to do some window shopping at MacKenzie-Childs‘ headquarters and retail outlet. We spent our drive home talking about how warm and welcoming the staff was at Inns of Aurora, and how wonderful our (albeit too short!) stay here was overall. I for one, and am looking forward to returning next summer, and exploring more of this part of the Finger Lakes region!
