Syracuse Tourist Attractions

Syracuse is located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region in upstate New York. There is a wide variety of things to do, explore, experience and view there and we have listed a few.

The creativity found in the state is high and there are many art museums and galleries worth visiting, this includes ArtRage Gallery, Community Folk Art Center, and the Everson Museum of Art (see more info below). Echo Art is a locally-focused company that creates various pieces of art that are exhibited in various locations around town. This includes beautiful murals, public sculptures, unusual and unique bus stops and more.

The area is beautiful and worth a visit both during the summers and the winters, and maybe especially during winters for those who enjoy winter sports.

Downtown Syracuse is a compact area with old Neoclassical and Gothic buildings. A stroll along Canal Street while imagining what life was like here when the street was a part of the Eire Canal running through downtown. Take in the atmosphere of a pleasant square, visit some of the best shops and eat amazing food at one the restaurants and enjoy

The Erie Canal Museum – The free admission museum is one of the town’s popular attractions as it traces the development and operation of the canal. The canal dates back to 1825 when it was one of the first big projects in the nation. Exhibitions will show how the canal was built and how Syracuse looked at the time where there were canals where today we find paved streets and there are also exhibitions on the general history of Syracuse and more.

Destiny USA - Destiny USA is the fifth largest mall in the United States and it is located near the Inner Harbor area of Syracuse. It has over 25 million visitors per year and it is a perfect place for both serious shoppers and family fun time. The mall has three sections. There is the traditional mall with the mid-market as well as upmarket stores. There is also the outlet mall where famous brands have outlet stores, and there is an entertainment area. The entertainment area has an adventure area with both rope walks suspended high up above the lower floors, an indoor go-kart race track, a comedy club and restaurants.

Skaneateles – The quaint town of Skeaneateles (pronounced as “skinny atlas”) on the shore of Skaneateles Lake approximately 30 minutes from downtown Syracuse is known for having a long history of being a summer playground for the rich and the famous. The downtown area sees restored 18-th century buildings that houses small shops and restaurants. Stroll around the town – especially Genesee Street that is the heart of the town, visit the lake, walk the Charlie Major Nature Trail, visit Lockwood Lavender Farm (established in 1854), visit an art gallery or two.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo – The Rosamond Gifford Zoo is located at Burnet Park. They are dedicated to connecting people to the natural world and it is the home to more than 700 animals from 216 different species. The zoo is also a breeding zoo to help ensure the survival of threatened and endangered species around the world. The zoo has both indoor and outdoor exhibits and as most zoos the range of animals is vast. Animals that can be seen here include Asian Elephant, Andean Bear, Bactrian Camel, Snow Leopard, Red Wolf and many, many more.

Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology – The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology, also known as MoST, provides a hands-on experience for fun and learning for learners of all ages. It has the only domed IMAX theatre in the state of New York, a planetarium, a science shop and both permanent and temporary exhibits. Permanent exhibits include Life Science, Dino Zone!, Lockheed Martin Flight & Space, Innovation Station, Earth Science Discovery Cave, Climbing Wall, National Grid Energy and more.

Everson Museum of Art – The Everson Museum of Art houses more than 10,000 pieces of art that include ceramics, drawings, graphics, paintings, sculptures and videos. This museum was the first museum to dedicate itself to American art, to collect video art, to create a permanent ceramics collection, and to create a docent program. The building the museum is in was the first museum designed by I. M. Pei and it has been credited to launch his successful career and it is in itself a piece of art.

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – Barbecues might not be the first thing people think about when it comes to Syracuse, but Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse isn’t just any BBQ joint, it is one of the most acclaimed ones in the U.S and it has been featured the Food Network, The Travel Channel, Good Morning America and more. They also published an award-winning cookbook with many of the recipes they use. Branches of the restaurant can be found in other cities and regions, but this is where it all started as a mobile concession stand in 1983. This is the original.

Onondaga Lake Park – Onondaga Lake Park, also known as the “Central Park of Central New York”, is a linear greenway of more than 8 mi/13 km of park, with four trails, dog parks, skate parks, and playgrounds. There are bike trails, canoeing, kayaking, archery, athletic fields, boat marina, bocce courts and so much more available here. This is also where the Salt Museum is located as well as the Griffin Visitor Center. Visitors of the park can rent bikes, fish, relax, have a picnic, play and simply have a wonderful time if they choose to. During the winter months when Syracuse tends to have plenty of snow the park is an excellent place to go cross-country skiing.