Craft breweries, meanwhile, are drawing more people to the Finger Lakes through both attrition and accolades. As the number of breweries in the region surged past 100 over the past year, ones like Prison City Pub & Brewery in Auburn, Mortalis Brewing Co. in Avon and Other Half Brewing in East Bloomfield have built reputations with beer fans outside of it.

Kimble eagerly awaits another development that could put the Finger Lakes on the national stage as a destination: federal designation as a national heritage area. Legislation to authorize a feasibility study by the National Park Service was signed into law in March, and Kimble expects the study will find that the region meets the criteria of a national heritage area.

"We have huge historical significance here, great cultural and national assets," she said. "So this will put us on a national stage and increase awareness of everything we have to offer."