Aurora, is a small village of under 1,000 people, located on the east side of Cayuga Lake in central New York. It is home to Wells College, a college for women that was founded in 1868. It is located north of Ithaca. Its historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I found it a great place to stay after a full day of exploring Cayuga Lake, the wineries, Ithaca and Cornell University.
I highly recommend The Inns of Aurora which was one of the nicest inns that I have ever stayed in. It is located at 391 Main St. It was recently named the #11 Resort in the US in Travel+Leisure Magazine’s 2019 World’s Best Awards!
The Inns consists of five houses, each with its own unique character. They are The Aurora Inn, the E.B. Morgan House, the Rowland House, Wallcourt Hall and the newest Zabriskie Hall. I stayed in Wallcourt Hall, from 1909, that is stunning in its contemporary design.
The Inn also has a number of dining options including their 1833 Kitchen & Bar with great food, a farm-t0-table focus and beautiful views of the lake. They also have the casual Fargo Bar & Grill across the street. They also have the Village Market with coffee, pastries, desserts and beer along with take home meals.
The Inn was created by American Girl Doll Founder and Wells College alumna, Pleasant Rowland. The dining room is headed by James Beard honoree Patrick Higgins who was a guest chef at the James Beard House.
The Taylor House is available for private rentals also.
In 2021, they opened their new The Spa at Inns of Aurora. It is located outside of town at 700 Sherwood Rd. It is a beautiful property with lovely views of Cayuga Lake. Promoting wellness, it offers a number of spa treatments. It also has a cafe for for guests of The Spa.
