Chautauqua

Chautauqua is a small village in Chautauqua County, in the Southern Tier of New York State. It is home to the Chautauqua Institution, which has served as a national model for adult education retreats since its founding in 1874.

Understand
In 2014, Smithsonian magazine named Chautauqua the best small town to visit in the United States, beating out famous destinations like Sedona and Williamsburg.

Get in
Chautauqua is on the west side of Chautauqua Lake and can be accessed by taking Interstate 86 to Exit 7 (Steadman Rd) or Exit 8 (State Route 394), then traveling north a few miles. From the north, you can take I-90, the New York State Thruway, to Exit 60, then take State Route 394 southeast through Mayville; Chautauqua is just a couple of miles beyond Mayville.

Get around
The Chautauqua Institution campus is easily walkable, and many members bring their bikes for a relaxing coast around the institution. Tram and bus services are also convenient and free to gate pass holders. To get anywhere else, you'll need a vehicle.

Drink
Chautauqua Institution has a dry campus (no alcohol can be bought or brought onto campus).

Sleep
If you're coming during the Institution's season, you'll need to be flexible with your accommodation needs. There are hotels, guest houses, apartments, condominiums, cabins, and more. All are privately owned but the Institution offers a nice central clearinghouse and search engine for availability.

Off-season, accommodations are more traditional, but there are a lot of options for a village of this size.

Go next

 * Jamestown, the Chautauqua County seat, is the nearest city, though not a large one. It is a short drive away on State Route 394 South.
 * You can view the enormous expanse of Lake Erie from Westfield, an easy drive on State Route 394 North through verdant, rolling hills.
 * A bit further east are the towns of Dunkirk and Fredonia, the home of State University of New York at Fredonia.
 * Erie, Pennsylvania is easily reachable by driving on Route 394 South to I-86 West and I-90 West, then following signs.