Our third stop on The Journey brought us to the Finger Lakes region of New York, where we spent the night at The Schoolhouse by FLX Escapes.
We arrived after dark, which was becoming a bit of a theme for us. By the time we got there, we were ready for dinner and a drink, so we headed to Two Goats Brewing, a cool little brewery just up the road with an incredible view overlooking Seneca Lake. We ordered red ales, grabbed some food, and finally got to relax for a little while before heading back to the schoolhouse and calling it a night.
The next morning, we got to properly explore where we were staying.
The Schoolhouse is such experiental stay. It feels secluded and private, surrounded by trees and nature, but there are still a few other cottages nearby, so you don't feel completely isolated.
The whole place is filled with thoughtful little details that make it feel special. There's a school desk and pencil sharpener, funky lighting fixtures, and even a safe that's been repurposed to store records. The record player was a favorite of ours, so naturally, we put on a Billy Joel album while we made coffee.
There were also so many practical touches that I really appreciated. A fully stocked spice rack in the kitchen, dog treats waiting for Joey, and a bathroom stocked with things like Q-tips and makeup wipes. Those are the kinds of little details that make a stay feel especially welcoming.
And the bed was so comfortable, which at this point in the trip was becoming one of our most important criteria.
Outside, there was a cozy little igloo seating area that I absolutely loved. The deck was also a great place to sit with our morning coffee and enjoy the trees and crisp fall air.
David and I took Joey for a walk down the road that morning, and he had a very exciting encounter with some cows.
I'm fairly certain he'd never seen cows up close before, and he was completely fascinated by them. Between the cows, all the new smells, and the cool fall weather, he was having the time of his life. Watching him experience all these new places has become one of my favorite parts of this trip. He seems genuinely thrilled every morning to wake up somewhere new and investigate absolutely everything.
I loved how peaceful it was here. The trees were beautiful, the air felt like fall, and the whole property had this cozy, tucked-away feeling that made me wish we had more than one night to enjoy it.
Unfortunately, we had another long day of driving ahead of us.
Before leaving the Finger Lakes, we decided to explore a little more of the area. The region is known for its waterfalls, and we stopped in the town of Montour Falls to see one that was practically spilling right into town.
It was incredible. You could be walking down an ordinary street, look up, and see this enormous waterfall cascading down the cliffs at the end of it. Not exactly something you see every day.
We made one final stop at Holy Cow Meat Market to grab sandwiches for the road before continuing west.
Our stay at The Schoolhouse was short, but it was one of those places I immediately wished we'd booked for longer. Between the thoughtful design, the cozy atmosphere, the surrounding nature, and all the little details, it was such a memorable stop.
I would have happily spent another morning drinking coffee on the deck, listening to Billy Joel, and watching Joey make friends with the local livestock.
But The Journey was calling, and we still had a whole lot of America left to see.
