
This Part of New York Will Take Your Breath Away
What started as the “Salt City” in 1825 now stands as one of New York state’s most beautiful cities.
With weather that changes with all four seasons, beautiful old neighborhoods that still look like they did years ago, and the pretty Onondaga Creekwalk, Syracuse has lots of beautiful sights for you to find.
Here’s why this former salt town might just be Central New York’s crown jewel.

Right in the Heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Region
Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Syracuse, you’ll find one of America’s best wine regions, where eleven clear glacial lakes make perfect conditions for top-notch vineyards.
The Finger Lakes wine area, started in 1982, covers 11,000 acres. The deep lakes keep the weather just right, protecting the grape vines from early frost.
This famous region makes 80% of New York State’s wines, with more than 100 wineries making tasty white wines like Riesling and cool-weather red wines like Cabernet Franc.
The steep hillside vineyards look like Germany’s Rhine Valley, helping create an industry that brings $13.7 billion to New York’s economy.

Syracuse Has an Extensive Parks System
Past the hills full of vineyards, Syracuse shows off its natural beauty with one of New York’s best city park systems.
You’ll find more than 170 parks covering over 1,000 acres, giving you an amazing connection to nature.
The parks offer many fun things to do, from America’s first public golf course at Burnet Park to the peaceful Hiawatha Lake in Onondaga Park and the relaxing views of Green Lake State Park. You can also enjoy 12 public pools, two ice rinks, and miles of trails all year round.

Beautifully Preserved Historic Architecture
Syracuse works hard to protect its historic buildings, with the city’s Preservation Board carefully watching over historic neighborhoods and buildings since 1975.
For example, the Erie Canal Museum stands as a treasure of Syracuse’s old buildings and is America’s only surviving weighlock building from the canal days.
Local people worked hard to save this Greek-styled masterpiece from being torn down, and now you can see great exhibits about canal history inside.
And from the fixed-up Marriott Syracuse Downtown to the creative Hotel Skyler conversion, the city’s old buildings keep finding new uses while staying beautiful, making the city feel like a living museum of amazing architecture.

Packed with Museums, Art Galleries, and Performance Venues
While many cities have cultural spots, Syracuse stands out because it packs so many world-class museums, galleries, and places to see shows into one city.
The historic Landmark Theatre, built like a 1920s movie palace, makes a perfect backdrop for shows, while the Everson Museum holds 11,000 amazing American artworks.
You can hear all kinds of music, from small shows at the 443 Social Club to big concerts at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The city offers other unique places to experience culture, like the Salt City Market’s community spaces and summer concerts among apple orchards at Beak & Skiff.

Home to the Onondaga Creekwalk
Running through Syracuse’s heart, the Onondaga Creekwalk is a pretty 4.8-mile path that connects the city’s Southside neighborhood to Onondaga Lake’s shores.
The paved trail winds past historic Armory Square and downtown, giving you constant views of Onondaga Creek while connecting important spots like Lower Onondaga Park and Kirk Park.
This city nature path helps you learn while you walk, with twelve information stops that share local history through signs and digital stories.
The trail helps manage rainwater while giving you nice features like places to launch kayaks and connections to the bigger Empire State Trail network.

One of the Greenest Cities in New York
Syracuse ranks as one of New York’s leafiest cities, with an impressive 890,000 trees covering 27% of the city’s land.
You’ll find more tree coverage here than in other big New York cities, including Albany, Rochester, and Buffalo.
The city’s urban forest helps everyone by removing 169 tons of air pollution each year and storing 163,500 tons of carbon.
These environmental benefits, worth $9.1 million in community services yearly, have earned Syracuse national recognition, including a spot in America’s Top 20 Green Cities by National Geographic’s Green Guide.

Driving distance from the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains
From your base in Syracuse, you can easily drive to New York’s most beautiful mountain ranges, both the tall Adirondacks and the rolling Catskills.
You’ll find the Adirondacks just 146-185 miles away, with Old Forge being the closest entry point at 96 miles.
Lake Placid is reachable in about 4 hours by taking scenic routes like I-90 and NY-28. The Catskills sit 140-180 miles to the southeast, and you can get to Windham and Hunter Mountain in about 3 hours.
Along the way, you can stop at popular places like Cooperstown, Lake George, and historic Saratoga Springs.
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