We have a new hotel, new Brew Pubs, new Wineries! 

​​Check out the Ramada Geneva Lakefront Resort













Winter Houndstm is in its third year.  This is an inexpensive winter escape to get out of the house, see some neat things, taste some new wines or beers and hang out with some greyhound folks without having to wait months for summer.


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Hotel lounge at Ramada Geneva Lakefront

This is a low-cost, informal event which bridges the winter gap between Greyhounds Reach the Beach® in October and Greyhounds in Gettysburg in April.  Participating wineries, distilleries and brew pubs will either waive or charge minimal tasting fees.   And they can't wait to see the greyhounds!


New Hotel  As in past years, we tried to negotiate an arrangement with the new management at Holiday Inn/Seneca Falls, but this year they wanted to charge us penalties ($) if people had to cancel due to bad weather.   So this year we are staying at the gorgeous Ramada Geneva Lakefront Resort, right on the shores of Seneca Lake.  If you have looked out over the south end of Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen, Ramada Geneva is situated at the opposite end of the lake in Geneva, NY.













Geneva Ramada rooms are spacious and accommodate dog beds.

​Ramada Geneva Lakefront is a full service hotel with a restaurant, indoor pool and lots more.  Rates are $100 a night with no pet fee and you can cancel with no penalties up to 24 hours before arrival.  So make your reservations early, as our room block goes away on January 24th.  Call the hotel directly to reserve your room.  Ask for the Winter Hounds rate.


​Ramada Geneva Lakefront Resort   

41 Lakefront Drive
​Geneva, NY  14456
​315-789-0400​​


Don't delay making your reservations as our room block officially expires Feb. 1st.  Any rooms left in the hotel after that time can be sold to other groups.  Our rate** will still be offered for our group if there are any rooms left after Feb. 1.  While the official dates are Friday through Sunday, Feb. 23-25, many of us will arrive Thursday night, Feb. 22, for an extra day of tasting and exploring.  Our Welcome event will take place Friday evening, 5-8PM or so.


No Weather Concerns Ramada Geneva Lakefront staff know that if we get a winter storm, people may have to cancel, so they promise no cancellation hassles at all.  If a storm happens to come in during our weekend, just call the hotel 24 hours ahead of your arrival and cancel.  Done deal.  So you need not worry about making reservations and then having to cancel.   


We will again rent a big conference room for two or three vendors who will offer coats, collars and other popular winter-oriented greyhound products.  This can also be a greyt room where we can hang out and socialize.


​This year we will again offer advance registration.   Our modest $10 registration fee covers our social room/conference room rental for socializing and vendors, and our tasting glasses.   We want to keep everything inexpensive, simple and easy.   


Schedule:  Thursday-Friday-Saturday, February 22, 23, 24 & 25, 2018


Some folks attend early and arrive Thursday to begin touring around.  Activities officially start on Friday, 2/23.  We plan a Welcome event in the social room at Ramada Geneva Lakefront Resort on Friday evening, Feb, 23, from 5-8 PM.  We'll reintroduce ourselves and hang out.  Vendors will be there.  Greyhounds are welcome everywhere.  

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Friday evening and Saturday we'll have some vendors open during certain hours in our conference room at the Ramada Geneva Lakefront.  Many of our participating wineries around Seneca Lake are available 10AM-5PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday for wine tasting.


Tasting Card  We'll provide an information card at registration with tasting information for each participating winery, brew pub or distillery.   We'll also provide a list of great area restaurants and eateries.


Sunday Breakfast  On Sunday, the Ramada Geneva Lakefront has a great buffet breakfast option with a chef making custom omelets for guests in the dining room overlooking the lake .


















The dining room overlooks Seneca lake!

​Then more wine tasting on Sunday, until you have to leave for home.  You can spend your time at the hotel with friends, seeing local sights and museums or touring the wineries, distilleries and brew pubs. Inside stuff or outside stuff.  Your choice.  


Our attendees from 2016 and 2017 just loved this event because it was small and intimate.  People got to congregate in the hotel lounges in front of a fireplace in the evenings -- with their hounds -- have a glass of wine, and get to know people whom they had seen at events but maybe had not ever had a chance to chat with.  The hotel was very friendly and helpful.  People came away from the weekend with a lot of new greyhound friends.


​Tasting Glasses When you check in, we'll give you a wine or beer tasting glass and a card listing all the participating wineries, what their tasting fees are (if any), and any special information.  


​Email Us  Please send us an email at Grapehound@gmail.com 1) if you have questions or 2) if you wish to attend but do not plan to pre-register online so that we can order enough supplies.


* Susie and I used to stay at Geneva Ramada Lakefront years ago when we started going to the Finger Lakes.  About five years ago they remodeled the hotel and got new management.  They decided not to allow pets.  Now they have changed their policy and do allow pets.  (Technically a three greyhound limit.)


** Summer rates at Geneva Ramada Lakefront in summer (wedding season) are over $200 per night with a $50 per day pet fee. Yipes!  They are giving us a great deal for Winter Hounds.

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Winter Houndstm

An informal gathering of greyhound folks with their hounds in NY wine country  ​Friday, Saturday, Sunday, February 23, 24, 25, 2018

Dining in Geneva

Finer Dining at Cobblestones  One of our favorite restaurants in Geneva is Cobblestones.  It is in an old Greek Revival house and a very nice place for a delicious upscale dinner.
















Great Italian Food in a Casual Setting: Cosentino's   

We have had a relationship with Cosentino's ever since we got a greyt recommendation from one of our Grapehounds attendees.  They welcome greyhounds on their deck in the summer but I'm afraid it'll be take-out or people only for this time of year.  Great people who love our events.

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Images of the lakeshore at Ramada Geneva.

Cobblestones

Suggestions

We want to help Ramada Geneva Lakefront to welcome us back every year.  Here's how we can do that.


  • If your dogs are used to lieing on your bed, please bring a quilt or cover to place over the bed coverings.
  • Bring a lint brush to capture any dog hair on furnishings.
  • Bring your pets' favorite dog pillows for the floor.  Lots of room to put them around the room.
  • Walk your dogs thoroughly outside before bringing them to the social areas or back to the room.
  • Make sure the hotel desk has your cell number, so if your dog has an issue they can contact you.
  • Bring your dog's coat because the wind can be cold off the lake.  It's beautiful but can be chilly!

Check In Times at Geneva Ramada Lakefront


Thursday(3/22)     No check in

Friday (3/23)          Hotel Restaurant from 8:30AM to 9:30AM

                                Evening Welcome event and check in 

                               Nester Room 5PM to 8PM

​Saturday  (3/24)       Nester Room 8:30AM to 9:30AM


We have three separate wine tours.


Tour One goes south down the west shore of Seneca Lake

Tour Two goes south down the east shore of Seneca Lake

Tour Three goes down the west shore of Seneca lake and then loops around Keuka Lake

Registration for Winter Hounds is now open.  Just click on any of the green registration buttons.


To reserve a room, call the Ramada Geneva Lakefront directly at 315-789-0400

Reiki Massage Available on Saturday

We have learned that there will be a Faire for psychics and Reiki practitioners at the Geneva Ramada Hotel  on Saturday during our weekend.  Reiki is a form of massage and I am informed that three Reiki practitioners will be offering massage for dogs, as well as humans, all day on Saturday (2/24).  There is a $3 fee to join their event and all proceeds go to the Beverly Animal Shelter.

Brady, owned by Cindy McNealy, is shown here in snow wearing his warm winter coat.  Brady was the featured greyhound for January in the 2015 Celebrating Greyhounds calendar.  

Weather has been mild for two years straight!

Winter Houndstm
​February 23, 24, 25,  2018