Bemus Point, New York is a little-known village, consisting of a mere 350 people. Despite the lack of people, it is rich in memories; the kind that last a lifetime.
As the sun rises each day, so do the occupants, inhaling deeply the smells of summer and the lake. The village itself is located directly on Lake Chautauqua, carved centuries prior by massive glaciers traveling through the Western New York area. It is often referred to as the “thumb” of the Finger Lakes, and is true to the stereotypical beauty of the area. In the summer, many tourists flock here, in search of a memorable experience, shrouded in the hazy heat.
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As the tourists enter Bemus Point, they become overwhelmed by the plethora of restaurants and shops that the village consists of. They may first choose to have brunch at a local favorite, The Hotel Lenhart. Celebrating 133 years in 2013, the most prominent feature is not located inside the hotel at all. An expansive veranda wraps around all sides of the hotel, atop of which sits 40 radiantly colored rocking chairs, furthering the cozy nature of the village itself.
Though the temperature creeps higher in the summer months, the multitude of tourists are on the move, as if in a race to see who could experience the entirety of the village first. However, their efforts are futile, for the list of activities in Bemus Point is infinite. After brunch, they may choose to experience Bemus’ most prominent feature: the lake. From boating to jet skiing, fishing to tubing, Chautauqua Lake has something for everyone.
As the day goes on, their blissful delight is suddenly interrupted by a grumble. They gaze upward, expecting a storm, but see nothing but clear, blue skies. The grumble occurs again, and the epiphany occurs: it’s dinnertime! However, they can still relax for there are not one but two establishments in Bemus Point that provide boat docks free of charge, The Village Casino and The Italian Fisherman. The tourists casually float into the more formal of the two, and are quickly seated by the waiters at “The Fish”. They could not get enough of the lake today, and chose to dine at The Italian Fisherman’s “Watergrill”, overlooking the serene lake. As their food arrives, they embarrassingly wipe away their saliva, unable to control themselves. Juicy burgers, oozing provolone cheese, and smoky, crisp, bacon. Blackened tilapia, grilled to perfection, piled high with caramelized onions and a swipe of tarter sauce.
The tourists tantalizingly scoured their plates for any remaining crumbs, one pointed out the only thing more amazing than the dinner: the sunset over Lake Chautauqua. The locals claim there is nothing like it, especially those living in the appropriately named Sunset Bay. Many occupants from Sunset Bay often walk to the nearby state park, Long Point, to further experience the already gorgeous sight.
The sunset entrances the tourists, but their gaze is broken by music, flowing as if from thin air. They soon realize the sounds came from The Floating Stage, directly next door to The Italian Fisherman. During the summer, The Stage is home to the summer concert series “Bemus Bay Pops.” It features everything; tributes to The Eagles, The Beatles, comedy shows, orchestras, and more. For the younger crowd, The Stage is fully equipped with a big screen for viewing movies for free!
As the stars began to appear, and the crickets began to chirp, the tourists could not suppress the growing smiles spreading over all of their faces. They could not have asked for a better day.
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