Arguably bigger and better than your local farmers market, and guaranteed to serve you the best cider donut you’ve ever had, the CNY regional market offers one of the best Saturday morning activities anywhere in the area. You will not be sorry you dropped in. Just please bring me something from Dana Bakes.
One of the best parts of living in Central New York is a truly gorgeous state park (and golf course!) right down the road from Syracuse. The lakes of Green Lakes are two of only about 50 meromictic lakes on earth. As a result of the lack of intermixing of the water layers, the lakes are spectacularly beautiful and also fascinating for study. Hang on the beach, hike around the woods, or rent a paddle boat - we never miss an opportunity to recommend this spot for visitors of all stripes.
See some art! Check out the impressive ceramics collection and regularly rotating exhibitions on view in this I.M. Pei designed structure, where Anna used to work. In the Summer, there are also frequent outdoor festivals and markets in the plaza just behind the building.
Have a strange little adventure walking around this hilly little gem of a park. You probably won’t get lost, but you will see a striking array of structures and sculptures in various states of marriage with the earth (see what I did there). You may even see the resident artist at work! Recommended brunch at The Pewter Spoon down the street.
Watch Minor League Baseball! You might catch a glimpse of our own Tim Tebow, and Friday night home games promise craft beer and fireworks shows, and (recently) watchable baseball, too!
Our local brewery. We love these guys and they certainly try a lot of new things with their brews! It’s a very laid back and friendly atmosphere with frequent food truck nights and a byo food policy (except pretzels!)
Another favorite local brewery, this time a little to the west of town, Red Hawk is a Belgian style brewery run by a chatty and delightful couple who really know their stuff and always have a few special Belgian treats to serve. Situated at the top of a hill, the view from the lawn is excellent.
About an hour south of Syracuse, and perfect for a day trip, Ithaca is a very walkable town with great shops and restaurants (Maxie’s Supper Club!), not to mention Cornell University (it’s kinda pretty I guess).
People love the Finger Lakes for the wine tours, scenic drives, small town hopping, and state parks. There are so many to choose from, but one of our favorites, and the site of Chris Barnes’s first camping trip ever(!!!) is Watkins Glen state park just at the south end of Seneca Lake. Its stunning natural gorges are a special sight! Google it real fast, you’ll see.
If you want to make a little vacation out of your visit to Syracuse, the Adirondacks is gorgeous and a popular spot for hiking and camping. Because of its popularity, we recommend looking around early to secure a spot.