Coming up to Syracuse for a few days from NYC (New York: safe area, buy)
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My wife and I are in our mid-30s with no kids and have decided to drive up to Syracuse and hang for a couple of days to check out the State Fair. I have never been to Syracuse so I'm looking for some insider's knowledge. To me, any information is good information. Any recommendations on where to eat or stuff to do? Is the Fair fun? Anything in particular about it that you like?
We're pretty laid back and enjoy exploring. If you're a local and love your city, please give some recommendations. I'll definitely check out your favorite diner!
As for Diners, I'd say that Stella's across from DestinyUSA would be one to check out. You may like some of the restaurants in Armory and Hanover Squares in Downtown, on Westcott Street, Marshall Street or even North Salina Street/Little Italy, as well as the Tipperary Hill neighborhood. Franklin Square has a cafe and a sandwich shop along with greenspace.
You may want to go to the Rose Garden at Thornden Park near Syracuse University. There's Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park. Upper Onondaga Park in the Strathmore neighborhood is another nice park. Onondaga Lake Park is a nice and big county park in Liverpool. There's Highland Forest in Fabius. Oneida Lake has a couple of beaches/parks and Jamesville Beach is another county park. Green Lakes State Park has a beach and a golf course, with much more. Perhaps a trip to the village of Skaneateles would be nice.
Like any other city, it has its good and bad parts, but there are some things to do as long as you look. There may be a festival going on when you are in town too.
Is there any particular food or place you may want to try or any type of place you would like to go to?
If you are looking for things that are different from The City and not just a smaller version or imitation, the Fair is not a bad start. They certainly have food there.
Skaneateles is not a far drive from the Fairgrounds end of Syracuse, and a good introduction to the Finger Lakes if you are not otherwise familiar with the region. Restaurants there could offer an antipode to Fair food.
New York City came to its prominence in America in large part due to the Erie Canal. A few minutes at Buy Cialis Online | The Erie Canal Museum | Syracuse, NY could offer some appreciation of what was critical infrastructure in its time. One thing you can't do from the Canal Museum is observe the actual current canal which moved nearly 100 years ago. One of the busier locks is in Baldwinsville a few exits up from the Fairgrounds. Canal Lock #24 | B-Ville.com
If you are looking for things that are different from The City and not just a smaller version or imitation, the Fair is not a bad start. They certainly have food there.
Skaneateles is not a far drive from the Fairgrounds end of Syracuse, and a good introduction to the Finger Lakes if you are not otherwise familiar with the region. Restaurants there could offer an antipode to Fair food.
New York City came to its prominence in America in large part due to the Erie Canal. A few minutes at Buy Cialis Online | The Erie Canal Museum | Syracuse, NY could offer some appreciation of what was critical infrastructure in its time. One thing you can't do from the Canal Museum is observe the actual current canal which moved nearly 100 years ago. One of the busier locks is in Baldwinsville a few exits up from the Fairgrounds. Canal Lock #24 | B-Ville.com
Your 3rd section reminded me that museums like the Onondaga Historical Association and the Everson Museum may be worth a look. Onondaga Historical Association
The Fair is an absolute blast, you will love it! Make sure you try all the favorites - $1 potato, $0.25 milk, etc. I'm a big fan of the animals, so am always hanging out in the cow barn, lol. Oh and WINE SLUSHIES! But really, there is just so much to do and see at the Fair, there's no way you can see it all in one day - have fun!!
A few of my favorite places around the area for stuff to do -
Empire Brewery - brewpub in downtown with amazing food
Pastabilities - great alternative type pasta place - get the hot tomato oil
Middle Ages - brewery (tastings) just outside downtown
Onondaga Lake Park - stroll along the lake, perhaps stop for a drink/food at White Water Pub (my Liverpool watering hole)
Montezuma Winery - if you like wine and have some time, it's about a half hour drive west of Syracuse
I had dinner at Pastabilities on Saturday, and the food was pretty awful. What is the big draw to that place? The hot tomato oil was the only good thing, to be honest. Half the tables were empty on Saturday night, and they gave us pagers for some reason and 30 minute wait.
Also, is that area of Syracuse considered the best area? Trying to follow detour signs and get back on 81 because the neighborhoods right near there looked like Beirut. Try as I might, I couldn't find my way back to 81 at night, and ended up driving around some real bad areas because the detour signs were all f-ed up.
I had dinner at Pastabilities on Saturday, and the food was pretty awful. What is the big draw to that place? The hot tomato oil was the only good thing, to be honest. Half the tables were empty on Saturday night, and they gave us pagers for some reason and 30 minute wait.
Also, is that area of Syracuse considered the best area? Trying to follow detour signs and get back on 81 because the neighborhoods right near there looked like Beirut. Try as I might, I couldn't find my way back to 81 at night, and ended up driving around some real bad areas because the detour signs were all f-ed up.
Sad to hear at Pastabilities. I've had pretty good meals there, but I don't go often (and the tomato oil + bread == amazing).
The near west side can be... iffy at best. It's improving, but slowly. To 81 south out of downtown either you can try to get back to West Street and up to 690 and over, or down S. Clinton to Adams and over for either direction on 81. And west of West Street (which if you go too far north of Armory Square you can't actually get on, since it passes over you) is the near west side.
Unfortunately, a lot of the highway signage over there is bad *on a good, construction-free day*, which is a different problem. City of Syracuse has their suggested detours, not sure how they're actually posted (or not).
I had dinner at Pastabilities on Saturday, and the food was pretty awful. What is the big draw to that place? The hot tomato oil was the only good thing, to be honest. Half the tables were empty on Saturday night, and they gave us pagers for some reason and 30 minute wait.
Also, is that area of Syracuse considered the best area? Trying to follow detour signs and get back on 81 because the neighborhoods right near there looked like Beirut. Try as I might, I couldn't find my way back to 81 at night, and ended up driving around some real bad areas because the detour signs were all f-ed up.
I thought you knew your way around the city, since you've been there 10 times? There is some construction, but I don't know about the rest of your post. Not trying to be smart or funny, but I just was under that impression about the different parts of the city.
Some other restaurants you may like OP are: Alto Cinco, Asahi, Munjed's, Panda West, China Road in Mattydale, Asti/Francesca's/Attilio's/Frankie's Piccolo Bistro in Little Italy/North Salina Street(just north of Downtown), the Blarney Stone on Tipperary Hill, Bull and Bear Pub in Hanover Square, Riley's on Park Street off of Oak Street and Eva's European Sweets(Polish) just inside of Solvay on Milton Ave, among others. Places like Byblos, Eva's, Kitty Hoynes, Pastabilities, Mother's Cupboard, Heid's in Liverpool and Dinosaur BBQ have been featured on either the Travel Channel or the Food Network. Hopefully, some other posters will chime in with some other spots I haven't mentioned.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 08-11-2014 at 03:36 PM..
Sad to hear at Pastabilities. I've had pretty good meals there, but I don't go often (and the tomato oil + bread == amazing).
The near west side can be... iffy at best. It's improving, but slowly. To 81 south out of downtown either you can try to get back to West Street and up to 690 and over, or down S. Clinton to Adams and over for either direction on 81. And west of West Street (which if you go too far north of Armory Square you can't actually get on, since it passes over you) is the near west side.
Unfortunately, a lot of the highway signage over there is bad *on a good, construction-free day*, which is a different problem. City of Syracuse has their suggested detours, not sure how they're actually posted (or not).
Had sausage ravioli and I wasn't even like an Italian dish. Tasted Asian to be honest, exactly like a pot sticker. Yes, the spicy hot tomato oil was very good. I wonder if the jarred kind tastes as good, because they sell it at the Wegmans near me and I would buy it.
Detours seem to post in a circle, without actually showing how to get on 81. Somehow I ended up on W Colvin Street / S State Street in a not so great area, trying to find the entrance to 81.
Is that area of Syracuse where Pastabilities is considered Armory Square? Is that considered a safe area at night to walk around in?
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