Nature takes the lead in rural Canadice
Natural beauty surrounds Canadice, an Ontario County community tucked between Hemlock and Honeoye lakes. Canadice Lake, the smallest of the 11 Finger Lakes, anchors the center of the rural town. Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake provide drinking water for the city of Rochester and other communities, and as a result, the lake shores are undeveloped. “It’s like a throwback to a simpler time,” says Matthew Sharman, a Realtor with Empire Realty Group and one of the top agents in the region. “I’d say if you’re looking for beauty, solitude and kind of a self-reliant community, Canadice is definitely one of those places to look at.”
Waterfront homes on Honeoye Lake and country properties
Most properties boast multi-acre lots with heavily wooded surroundings and space for outdoor entertainment, and some property owners have room to hunt and trap on their own land. Waterfront homes along Honeoye Lake have more compact lots. The majority of the housing stock was built after the 1950s, but buyers can find some 19th century farmhouses scattered throughout the area’s rolling hills. Septic tanks and private wells are standard. Manufactured homes typically range from $50,000 to $150,000, while most traditional homes sell for $200,000 to $400,000. Small lakefront cottages often start around $300,000, but waterfront properties generally fall between $500,000 and $800,000. Prices tend to rise with increased lake frontage and access to a dock.
Peaceful recreation on Canadice and Hemlock lakes
“If you’re going to be in Canadice, you’ve got to love the outdoors,” Sharman says. “Hunting and fishing are huge deals there, too.” Canadice and Hemlock lakes have boating restrictions, and swimming is prohibited. But that means visitors won’t find noisy, wave-inducing speedboats on the water — instead, it’s a quiet, unspoiled sanctuary for fishing, kayaking, hiking and birdwatching. Nearby Honeoye Lake allows boats with unlimited horsepower, making it a preferred location for water skiing and other water sports. With an elevation of more than 2,000 feet, Harriet Hollister Spencer State Park is a reliable spot for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter and a go-to for biking and hiking in the summer.
Honeoye schools have small class sizes
Kids can attend schools about 5 miles away in the Honeoye Central School District, which receives a B-minus grade from Niche. Honeoye Elementary and the combined Honeoye Middle/High School each receive a C-plus. The district is small, with an enrollment of about 500 students in total. “It’s almost like a family-like environment at school,” Sharman says. “The teacher’s going to know every kid and every family, and for a lot of people that’s a big draw.”
Locals shop in Honeoye and Canandaigua
Residents can grab essentials at Dollar General or groceries at West’s Shurfine in the hamlet of Honeoye, but many locals head to Canandaigua to shop at Wegmans, Aldi or Walmart. Canandaigua also has big-box stores like T.J. Maxx and Lowe’s. Honeoye has local favorites like Pop’s Bakery and Deli, which serves up massive deli subs and baked goods. Friends gather at Birdhouse Brewing Company for live music and craft beverages around the fire pits, while Twisted Rail Brewing offers bites and brews with views of Honeoye Lake.
Rochester is less than an hour away
Rochester and Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport are about 35 miles north, or less than an hour’s drive. Emergency medical care is available at F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua about 20 miles away.
Annual Naples Grape Festival has music, art and a baking contest
Nearby Naples is known for the annual Grape Festival in September, a two-day event that celebrates the start of the grape harvest with music, art and food. One of the main attractions is the Naples Greatest Grape Pie Contest, where bakers present their spin on the regional treat that dates back to the 1950s. Sharman adds that “There’s great influence from some of the churches there, so there are church suppers and neighborly gatherings and stuff like that.”
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Written By
Leslie Klosterman
