Knowing where to eat, play and save should no longer be a dilemma for anyone traveling along Routes 5 and 20 between Darien and Skaneateles.

The Best of Routes 5 and 20 survey tallies popular preferences for food, value, scenery and more along the 135-mile road.

The online survey - conducted during the month of March - was posed by a tourism promotion team from Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca and Cayuga counties, and the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce. Rather than recite their own opinions about 5 and 20's best, the Cayuga County Office of Tourism wanted to gauge the people's thoughts.

“We took it from the angle that, when we're visitors, we tend to ask the locals what's the best place to eat or get ice cream,” said Meg Vanek, executive director of the tourism office.

The best-of lists will be supplied to travel groups like car and motorcycle clubs in hopes that they'll consider the winners when choosing their destinations along Route 5 and 20.

The promotion yielded 10 distinctions in Cayuga County. Five are featured below, and the second half will follow next week.

Best Food: Bambino's Bistro

Guillermo Salinas purchased Daddabbo's Pizza about a year ago, but he's wasted no time turning the renamed Bambino's Bistro into one of Auburn's most distinguished eateries.

He started by widely expanding the menu to include artichoke and goat cheese raviolis, focaccia wraps and delicacies like lamb burger and pate de canard. These higher end selections complement Bambino's popular pizza, which the eatery continues to serve.

Salinas obtains ingredients locally whenever possible. During the summer, he walks down Genesee Street to the Auburn Farmers Market to purchase fruits and vegetables.

Salinas' focus on French and Italian cuisine also resulted in drastic renovations to the restaurant's dining room, which now seats eaters in more upscale table and chairs.

“All the passion we put into the dishes and the service makes it a unique place,” Salinas said. “The service and the food has to go together.”

Best Value: Finger Lakes Drive-In

The double- and triple-header summer film features of the Finger Lakes Drive-In are a bargain at $7 for adults and $2 for children 5 to 11. Most theaters match the adult price for only one film, while the children's price has no equal.

That low admission cost treats Finger Lakes Drive-In filmgoers audience to first-rate movies often in their first weekend of national release. When “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” unofficially commences the summer movie season next week, the drive-in will be screening it with the rest of the multiplexes.

Where the Finger Lakes Drive-In tops its indoor counterparts is its atmosphere. As the only drive-in in the Finger Lakes, it offers families a more social movie-going experience. Whenever possible, owner Kevin Mullen purposefully selects G- and PG-rated films parents can watch with their children without pressure to mute themselves like they would in an indoor theater.

The drive-in audience can also take advantage of its spacious automotive seats by ordering pizza or hamburgers from the concession stand. Heavier than indoor refreshments, such selections at the drive-in also help spectators stay slated for the six-hour show times.

Best Picnic Spot: Hoopes Park

Hoopes Park's central pond and lush scenery make it the most ideal site along Routes 5 and 20 for a family picnic.

Tuesday nights at its bandstand, the park hosts live performers like the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Flying Column, who are slated to play this summer. The music is often followed by a free movie for families to enjoy, such as this summer's offerings of “Tale of Despereaux” or “Kung Fu Panda.”

No matter the noise, the park's beautific flower beds and treelines lend themselves to a serene picnic.

Best Scenic Spot: Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

At the northern tip of Cayuga Lake, along the Atlantic Flyway, ducks and geese stop to rest, feed and nest in the 7,000 acres of wetlands that comprise the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. For travelers along Routes 5 and 20 not content to glimpse the scenery from their cars, the refuge's visitor center guides sightseers to Montezuma's four walking trails and observation areas during its April-to-December season.

Almost 250 species of birds, 43 species of mammals and dozens of reptiles and amphibians call the refuge home on at least a part-time basis. It also hosts three active bald eagle nests as part of the refuge's effort to reintroduce the once-endangered species to the state (the bald eagle was removed from the endangered list in June 2007).

Best Fun for Free: Annual Holiday Parade

Following every Thanksgiving, Santa Claus makes his way down Auburn's streets in style. He is joined by the Auburn Fire Department, the Auburn Civic Band and more than 40 floats during the city's annual Holiday Parade and Fun Day.

Live music, cookies, chili and cocoa and the parade have encouraged the public to gather along Genesee Street and welcome the holiday season for 22 years. Families can also enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides and a tree-lighting ceremony at City Hall.

And in the spirit of the season, it's all for free.

Best of Routes 5 and 20

Best Food

• Bambino's Bistro, 105 Genesee St., Auburn.

Call 255-3385 or visit www.daddabbos.com.

Best Value

• Finger Lakes Drive-in, 1064 Clark St. Road, Aurelius. Call 252-3969.

Best Picnic Spot

• Hoopes Park, 100 S. Herman Ave., Auburn.

Call 252-9300.

Best Scenic Spot

• Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 3395 Routes 5 and 20, Savannah. Call 568-5987.

Best Fun for Free

• Annual Holiday Parade, Genesee Street, Auburn.

Call 252-7874 or visit www.auburndowntown.org.

The Best of Routes 5 and 20 in Skaneateles

Best of the Best

• Village of Skaneateles, Genesee,

Jordan and Fennell streets. Call 685-0552 or visit www.skaneateles.com.

Best Locally Made Gift

• Wine from Anyela's Vineyards, 2433 W. Lake Road. Call 685-3797 or visit www.anyelasvineyards.com.

Best Place to Shop

• Roland's Men's, Boy's and Girl's Wear, 14 E. Genesee St. Call 685-7389.

Best Value

• The Hilltop Restaurant, 813 W. Genesee St. Call

685-0016.

Best Family Fun

• Skaneateles Community Center,

97 State St. Call 685-2266 or visit www.skaneatelescommunitycenter.com.

Best Food

• Sherwood Inn, 26 W. Genesee St.

Call (800) 3-SHERWOOD or visit www.thesherwoodinn.com.Best Family Fun

Best Rainy Day Activity

• The Spa at Mirbeau, 851 W. Genesee St. Call 685-5006 or visit www.mirbeau.com.

Best Fun for Free

• Summer concerts in Clift Park, West Genesee Street Call 685-0552 or visit www.skaneateles.com.

Best Scenic Spot

• The end of the pier,

West Genesee Street Call 685-0552 or visit www.skaneateles.com.