Driftwood Inn

Everything was adequate and comfortable. We have stayed at b&bs that knock it ou of the parks with afternoon teas and cute touches. This place provided cookies on the table and that was it. Breakfast was decent and home cooked by the owner Jim. Owners were very friendly and professional. Rooms were clean. The real perk of this place was the lake views and the dock. One night after touring wineries we enjoyed a bottle of Riesling on the outside deck and experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets we have ever seen! Unfortunately, it rained ²⁄₃ of the days we were in the area. The grounds are what makes this place a gem. Also, a little off the beaten wine trail but in a 20 – 30 minute drive you are where the action is.

I really tried hard to like the driftwood Inn. Its very nice, the rooms are very nice, the proprietress and her husband were very nice… but there was just something… missing. There was no personality, no spark or something. We have travelled all over and stayed in many B&B’s both good and bad. We really felt like we were just staying in a small old hotel. The couple running it doesn’t live on site either, which adds to the hotel feel. You have to call them on the phone if you need something. Ultimately, although the setting was nice, we just did not have a nice stay. My wife and I both had difficulty sleeping. We stayed in room 5, so I make no claims for the other rooms. The bed was kind a hard and we tossed and turned a bit. So we were already tired at 5 in the morning when EVERYBODY around us got up to take showers. Room 5 has a shower next to it for room 3, another just behind it (for room 4 I think) and another just above it. And let me tell you something, those pipes SCREAM. My wife and I had to raise our voices to be heard. And no sooner did one person get out of the shower, than someone else got in. The breakfast was nothing special… French toast and some fruit, and you got what was made… there was no bagels or yoghurt or other options out. My wife of course would not ask for something different, but she didn’t like the breakfast. The coffee was Big Red Bulk Can of Folgers. The Jacuzzi in our room was AWESOME but let me tell you something about water temperature. This is seriously a safety hazard, and I am not being facetious here… I burnt myself when I accidently touched the hot water tap in the bathtub. She warns people when they get here that the water is hot… but you just don’t comprehend what that means… who would? When taking my shower, I turn on the hot water to get it running and then turn the cold on. Its habit, so I did it here. Well, I reached through the shower to turn on the cold and the water was hot enough to instantly turn my hand red and get the hot throbbing feeling that you get from REALLY HOT LIQUIDS. However, my wife, having not burned herself already, turned the hot water on in the tub to get it going. I put my foot right in and had to jump out. Well, I caught myself using the faucet head and it was so hot it left a mark for 2 days. Seriously, turn the hot water down. You would save a fortune in heating costs and could then pass on the savings… or keep it, whatever!
As I said, its nice, but my wife and I won’t be returning.

Stayed here in Oct 14 and I plan on going back next time I am in the area!
Jim and Tammy were great hosts. The breakfast was good. House was clean. You can’t beat the location (right on the lake). It was great to wake up and see the lake right out my window.

Owners were very friendly. I unfortunately developed a cold the day we showed up and they even game me medicine. We were there to visit wineries and the location was further away from the wineries that some other B&Bs might be, but still reasonably close. The place is also right on the water, which is probably nice in the summer.

Having never stayed at a Bed & Breakfast, my wife and I were unsure of what to expect. Let me tell you that my expectations were not only met but also far exceeded. The location alone was among one of the best that I have stayed at as far as lakefront. This Inn sits right on the lake almost 20 feet back so everywhere you look you are right on the lake. The owners of the Inn, Jim and Tammy, were amazing, very friendly and down to earth. Made you feel as if you were staying at an Aunt & Uncle’s house for a weekend getaway. I think we might have been spoiled with the food because it was delicious. Day one we were treated with a Belgian waffle with Cinnamon Apples and fresh melons on the side. Day two was Scrambled Egg Soufflé again with the melons. Day three we had French toast with Berry/​Banana Compote. All of the breakfast we had was amazing and delicious. We stayed in room 6, which was converted from the old help’s room into a normal room. On the site they talk about having to make your way up two flights of stairs however we never had a problem carrying anything up. The room overlooked Cayuga Lake and had great views! Also with the windows open at night, the waves that hit the shore were a nice sound. Their location is directly in the middle on the west side of Cayuga Lake with many wineries within 10 minutes either north or south. There aren’t many places to eat locally at night, O’Malley’s is close but we did not go. We did order in Mark’s Pizza and get it delivered and for upstate NY it was okay pizza. They are also extremely close to Taughannock Falls State Park, which has a beautiful waterfall that you can drive right to an overlook. They are also within 40 minutes to Watkins Glen State Park, which also has many waterfalls (do the gorge trail– 3 miles in and out and you get to see 19 waterfalls.) Quick tip, if you are planning on doing any of the parks, if you do them on the same day you will only have to pay one parking fee as long as you keep your receipt. In closing, having never stayed at a B&B will I again, I am sure, and the next time I am in the Finger Lakes, I will definitely stay at the Driftwood Inn.