Winter in Skaneateles: Dickens Christmas, Skiing and Snowy Escapes
Snow on the hills, steam off the lake and a village dressed up like a Victorian Christmas card: winter in Skaneateles is quietly magical. The cottage's gas fireplace, two living rooms and fast Wi-Fi make it an easy base for holiday weekends, ski trips or a long work-from-the-lake stretch.
Winter at the Cottage
Light the fireplace, pull out the puzzles and settle in. The home office (500 Mbps Wi-Fi, two monitors) makes a midweek stay easy to stretch. Winter roads around the lake can be hilly, so a vehicle with good tires is wise.
Winter Activities
- Song Mountain, Tully (21 min): downhill skiing and snowboarding, run with Labrador under SkiCNY.
- Labrador Mountain, Truxton (37 min): downhill skiing.
- Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Cortland (43 min): skiing plus the year-round Cascades Indoor Waterpark at Hope Lake Lodge.
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing: Bear Swamp State Forest (25 min, free) and Highland Forest (42 min, with rentals at Skyline Lodge).
- Lights on the Lake, Liverpool (44 min): a two-mile drive-through holiday light show, November 21, 2026 to January 4, 2027.
- Seward House Museum, Auburn (22 min): candlelight tours in December.
Opening dates for the 2026 to 2027 ski season depend on snow. Check each mountain's website.
Annual Winter Events
- Skaneateles Dickens Christmas: opens Friday, November 27, 2026 with the "World's Smallest Christmas Parade" at noon, then Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 PM through December 20, plus Christmas Eve. Free.
- Village tree lighting and caroling, typically the first Friday of December.
- Skaneateles Winterfest, the last weekend of January, with Taste of Skaneateles and the Polar Bear Plunge.
Drive times are from the cottage, checked in Google Maps in October 2026. Event dates change year to year, so confirm with each organizer before you plan around them.
Winter Questions
Is the road to the cottage plowed?
Ask us through Airbnb about current conditions before a winter arrival.
Is the lake walk open in winter?
Yes, though the docks are out for the season. Stay off any lake ice.