A visit to Cazenovia, New York is refreshing and great fun—anytime of year!
Don’t stop in Cazenovia unless you’re prepared to be assaulted by America the way it used to be.
Since its founding in 1793 by John Lincklaen, the town has had a lot of time to practice being congenial.
People in this village (population just under 3,000) are friendly, kind, and welcoming. One day it we passed adolescent girls returning from the lake, greeting us with, “Good morning!” Another evening, the elderly gent playing classic rock at the mini-car show waved. Both actions made us feel we belonged.
Having been in Washington, DC recently and finding the White House secret service man armed with an automatic rifle to be the friendliest on the streets, Cazenovia was refreshing.
And very Mayberry, RFD.
Even the police waved hello.
A Lovely Lake, Even on a Gray Day
Cazenovia Lake bustled with activity at 9:00 in the morning as kids and adults prepared for a day of fun in and on the water. Wandering there Thursday evening, we discovered the summer concert series and listened to the bodacious voice of the singer with the jazz band, JT Hall.
You’ve gotta love the cafe named Latte Da! and sitting in the window seat watching people greet each other up and down the street. Dining in the 100-year-old Lincklaen House was a treat. You’ll marvel over the service, the food and ponder how many conversations must have echoed off the thick stone walls.
The shops are quaint and visiting with the proprietors is sure to be a delight. We enjoyed the chocolatier’s yummy shop and the British co-owner of Lavender Blue. She kindly directed this Welsh-heritage woman to a walk around the Welsh Church and cemetery east of town.
Do those tombstones belong to distant relatives of the Griffith clan that settled in my little part of Pennsylvania? While there, an elderly woman arrived with watering cans to pep up the potted flowers on the porch. She told us church is only held in the summers on Sunday evenings. Next trip, we’ll plan around that.
Scrumptious Dining in Cazenovia is Easy to Find
Emma’s Cafe served up a delicious lunch—don’t skip the chowder. The owners share casual conversation, know the locals by name and make visitors feel comfortable—come on back anytime.
Seeking out Italian food everywhere we travel, we didn’t want to miss dining at BG Buda’s. The staff was hospitable and laughed at us laughing at the massive bottles of wine with a pump decanting system. Our salmon and seafood pasta—was as delicious as it was attractive.
The town boasts Cazenovia College, founded in 1824, it has evolved many times. The college has been included in US News Best Regional Colleges for 12 consecutive years. We walked by the town library located in a Greek Revival house. They were preparing a weekend book sale. It was all my itchy reader fingers could do to keep from crashing the book sale early.
Cazenovia reminds me that specifics connect us.
Exchanging words, making eye-contact, and showing genuine interest in others, decreases our differences. Let’s spread a little of the Cazenovia attitude outward.
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Hi Rose: I haven’t been to Cazenovia, but I have been top upstate NY and loved it for the quaintness and friendliness. It sounds just like the place that I live. People wave at you whether or not they know you, and they will always lend a helping hand off needed. This truly sounds like a place I would love to visit. Thx for the great post!
When you read about the Lorenzo House, Doreen, you will have another reason to go to Cazenovia. It was so delightful, I could go back again and see what autumn is like there!
I think I’d like your hometown.
I have been there many times, and you are correct, you will step back in time somewhat. The area there is very gorgeous. I have mentioned in my blog that I get upset when people assume you are from New York, you are from the city. Places like Cazenovia, are rural. In fact, I get upset when people just say Upstate, for each part of the state is different. Where I am from Adams, NY, has much different weather then where I work in Albany, I do not think Albany gets a month of 20 below zero temperatures in January and get tons of snow. Thanks for enlightening people about Cazenovia,
Thanks, William. I hope if you know anyone in Cazenovia, you will share this post with them. It is SO lovely. Ah, the job of a writer: breaking apart people’s misconceptions!
“Being in Cazenovia reminded me that specifics connect us. With the exchange of words, the making of eye-contact, and genuine interest in others, we decrease our differences and hopefully spread a little of the Cazenovia attitude outward.” Love it! I’d never heard of this place before. Just found it on a map. Sounds like you had a great time. 🙂
Ramona, I love when we keep making our worlds smaller and keep lessening the differences that drive us apart. Maybe some day you’ll find yourself driving through quaint Cazenovia.
I’ve never heard of Cazenovia, but it sounds like a relaxing place to visit. It is great to have stories like this so that people outside of the northeast can understand that New York State is so much more than NYC. And that much of New York is not super fast paced and is very friendly. I’ve lived in NYC and upstate NY and they are truly worlds apart.
Thanks for adding that, Erica, because it’s so wonderfully correct! When I lived in Montana, one of the locals was very shocked when I showed him where I grew up in Pennsylvania–in the country. He thought the whole state was like Philadelphia: city. It’s fun to shake up perceptions. And California is the same thing–so much wilderness there, even outside the Parks.
Thank you for a virtual tour of the town dear, seems like a pleasant getaway!
It was an incredible little town to stroll through. Will do it again.
Lovely pictures. seems like peaceful place.
With such a small population, it will be so relaxing I guess.
Small towns are usually more relaxing than big cities, Tuhin. At least to this visitor, Cazenovia sure felt that way.
You can’t beat small town America. This town sounds like a great one. What a difference from DC! 🙂
I love DC for all the museums and culture–so marvelous. I could live within an hour distance of the city…as long as I was in a small town to do it!
Italian food and friendly people? I’ll be on the next plane…
Claire, I can name a number of good Italian places–in Italy! 🙂
Cazenovia does indeed sound like Mayberry. A lot of small towns still manage to pull elements of that off. I live in a city of over 80,00, but I taught English for six years in a small farming town 25-minutes away. It was always the best to see how many of the students had been together since kindergarten. I grew up that way as well. Too often these days, people just don’t take the time to get to know each other and that’s so sad, but definitely more possible in smaller places.
Well said, Jeri. It’s all about community and having a community takes a lot of effort. People have to want it to make it a living, breathing part of your life.
80K is about the biggest sized city I’d want to live in. Smaller is better!
Since my family is from New York and I never heard of Cazenovia the first thing I had to do was Google it on a map. The fact that it’s above Buffalo (and my family is from Yonkers) answers that question. 🙂 Lovely looking area RoseMary and I’m guessing that – like Buffalo – it gets more than it’s fair share of snow in the winter. Brrr!. The food and wine looks great! In fact, reminds me I haven’t had a good glass of wine since I landed on the mainland. Time to do a little shopping! Thanks for the inspiration!
Nero d’Avolo, Marquita. Sicilian wine that I love.
Yep–I’m thinking there are piles and piles of snow in Cazenovia. But ah, the rest of the year!
Looks like a great little getaway. I checked on Maps and it looks like it is 4 hours north of where I live. Great place for a long weekend getaway for me and my hubby. I will have I love the name of the caf, “Latte Da”, very clever. =) The photos are beautiful too. Thanks for giving me some ideas for weekend getaways.
Yeah, Sabrina! I found a town that’s within driving distance for you! I’m betting fall up there will be utterly lovely.
Looks like a pretty town; a place to go and switch off from the busyness of this world. I cherish being in new environments.
The meals look well presented although I would not go for the seafood pasta for fear of biting into squid!
Ha! I tend to watch for the squid dishes, Phoenicia. That has to be prepared just right for me to be able to eat it. Ah yes, to new environments. I’m getting antsy to go again!
This looks like such a charming get away. And who couldn’t do with a little Mayberry right now:)
I love Mayberry, Jacquie!
RM, reading this I was thinking of a book I read years ago – You and I and Yesterday, by Marjorie Holmes. Your writing of this village fit in with that – friendly, outgoing, lots to do and safe to walk at night.
I must ask you though – with all the eating you did (and the food looked delicious) how much weight did you gain? Just asking.
tee hee, Lenie. My usual 3 lb trip! thank goodness I can get rid of it when I get home.
Aside: when I travel with Jackie, I lose weight. What’s up with husband-travel? 🙂
There are a surprising number of old, friendly, quaint villages in New York State. All in all they are the farthest things from the city which shares this state’s name. I’ve never visited Cazenovia but it looks and sounds charming.
You’re spot on about that, Ken, these lovely little villages and towns are drastically different from NYC. I love them. It’s a good thing there’s snow, or I might petition to move north!