Located in upstate New York, this city has a rich salt mining past and houses the Erie Canal Museum. The snowy winters bring 120+ inches annually to this university town.
Syracuse, in central New York, lets you build robots at the Museum of Science and Technology, join 30,000 basketball fans at JMA Wireless Dome, or walk through habitats of 700 animals at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The city keeps pieces of its past alive, including America's only "green-on-top" traffic light from 1928 on Tipperary Hill, which resulted from local residents throwing rocks at the original "British red" top light.
Getting Around Syracuse
Syracuse sits at the intersection of Interstates 81 and 90, putting it within a 5-hour drive from Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia. The Syracuse Hancock International Airport runs non-stop flights to major hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City. While the Centro bus system runs along major routes, most residents drive. You'll find multiple parking garages downtown and free parking in most commercial areas throughout the city.
Daily Life in Armory Square
The brick buildings and warehouses of Armory Square contain more than 30 restaurants, 20 bars, and 50 retail stores. You can start your evening at Al's Wine & Whiskey Lounge, sampling from over 400 whiskey varieties, then head to Funk n' Waffles for live music and creative waffle combinations. During daytime, students and downtown workers fill local shops and cafes, grabbing coffee or browsing through boutiques.
Parks and Recreation
The two glacial lakes at Green Lakes State Park maintain a turquoise color year-round due to their meromictic nature - their waters never mix between surface and bottom. The city's 170 parks spread across 1,000 acres include Burnet Park, home to America's first public golf course from 1901. At Onondaga Lake Park, you can walk or cycle 8 miles of paved trails along the water's edge.
Arts and Museums
The Everson Museum of Art, designed by architect I.M. Pei, houses American paintings from the 18th century to present day and holds 3,500 ceramic pieces. In the 1850 Weighlock Building, the Erie Canal Museum displays a full-size replica canal boat and exhibits about life from 1825 to 1918, including tools, maps, and personal stories from canal workers and residents.
Food Scene
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que's original Syracuse location has appeared on Food Network and Travel Channel for its 14-hour smoked brisket and house-made sides. In Little Italy, Pastabilities draws crowds for its spicy hot tomato oil, while Francesca's serves traditional recipes from Naples. The Great New York State Fair brings hundreds of food vendors each summer, continuing a tradition from 1841.
University Life
Syracuse University's 21,000 students fill cafes, shops, and apartments in the neighborhoods around campus throughout the academic year. The JMA Wireless Dome fits 49,250 people for football games and 35,446 for basketball. On Marshall Street, you'll find student spots like Varsity Pizza, serving slices since 1926, and The Shirt World, selling Syracuse Orange merchandise.
