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Ten years ago, it looked like the charming Finger Lakes village of Aurora, N.Y., might be another small town whose Main Street, along with its fortunes, was destined to decline. Luckily, however, the Aurora Foundation--a partnership between Aurora-based Wells College and Pleasant T. Rowland (the creator of American Girl dolls and a Wells graduate)--stepped in. The Foundation undertook the restoration of the village's historic downtown, financed a multimillion-dollar facelift for the Aurora Inn, opened restaurants, and set about putting the sleepy town back on the vacation map--a feat that involved Rowland buying Mackenzie-Childs, one of the town's largest employers, and steering the company out of bankruptcy. Today, visitors reap the benefits of the lakeside village's renaissance, enjoying gorgeous scenery, first-class inns, good restaurants, and easy access to the Cayuga Wine Trail.

How to get there: Located on the eastern edge of Cayuga Lake, Aurora is just under a five-hour drive from Philadelphia and New York City. If you plan to fly, book your flight into Syracuse or Rochester, N.Y., then rent a car for the hour drive to Aurora. For additional information, visit auroranewyork.com.

With a multimillion-dollar renovation, the Aurora Inn is the premier place to stay when visiting this charming village

Brooke Slezak

The welcoming 1833 Aurora Inn (above) offers 10 beautifully decorated guestrooms, most of which have a balcony. Rates start at $125, breakfast included; (866) 364-8808; aurora-inn.com. Another option is the elegant E.B. Morgan House, an 1858 mansion with seven rooms, beautiful common areas, and a lakefront patio. Rates from $125, breakfast included; (866) 364-8808.

Antique lovers should drive north from the Aurora Inn on Main Street, take a right on Sherwood Road, then drive four miles until they see Cleaveland's Antiques. Operated by Eleanor Cleaveland for 40-plus years, this eclectic gem overflows with dishes, vintage clothing, costume jewelry, and more. Open Thursday to Saturday, 1 to 5 P.M.; (315) 364-7266.

Side trips: Aurora is just 36 miles from the hiking trails at Taughannock Falls State Park, a wonderland of glacial gorges, rocky cliffs, and a 215-foot waterfall. Likewise, garden enthusiasts can reach Cornell Plantations, the botanical outpost of Cornell University, in Ithaca, in under an hour by car.

See where it all happens at the Mackenzie Childs compoundskilled artistans show off their pottery and furniture, take a tour of their restored farmhous and shop for yourself at their retail shop

Brooke Slezak

Around Aurora: Swing by Dorie's on Main Street for old-fashioned penny candies. Buy tickets for the summer community-theater productions held at the 19th-century Morgan Opera House, located above the Aurora Free Library. Spend an afternoon at the MacKenzie-Childs compound, where skilled artisans create the company's whimsical handmade pottery and furniture (pictured above). You can explore the perennial gardens and retail shop and tour the restored farmhouse (decked out in Mackenzie-Childs finery, of course). See the light at Vintage-Lighting, where Michael Montgomery offers affordable oil lamps, crystal chandeliers, and gilded floor lamps from the 1860s to the 1920s.

Where to Eat: At Dorie's, a popular luncheonette with a breezy lakefront deck, order soups, salads, sandwiches, and retro favorites such as Chicken a la King and chili dogs. Save room for a super-sized banana split from the restored soda fountain. Fargo Bar and Grill is the place to go for casual pub food, frosty mugs of beer, and a game of pool or horseshoes. Next door, Pizzaurora offers subs, calzones, and hand-tossed pizzas in a renovated 1940s garage. For grocery items or a quick snack, try the Village Market. Housed in an 1820 farmhouse, Pumpkin Hill Bistro offers sweeping views of the countryside along with delicious slow-cooked pot roast, chicken pot pie, and freshly made soups and salads. Take in the sunset--and a delicious meal--from the Aurora Inn's lakeside dining room or veranda.

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