Syracuse, NY Road Trips

Because of its proximity to Lake Ontario, Syracuse is the rainiest city in the US, if you count the number of days in which at least a tiny bit of precipitation falls. However, many of these are just short showers, and it doesn't add up to an unusual amount of water total. Still, if you're there longer than a couple of days, you are almost guaranteed to encounter some rain in this famously cloudy and wet city. Even during the drier parts of the year, you should check the weather forecast a few days before your arrival there, so you can see whether you need a rain jacket, an umbrella, or something more significant. During the winter, you should expect snow, sometimes in very large quantities. The "lake effect" means that large amounts of snow gets dumped on Syracuse. If you'll be driving in the snow, prepare in advance to have chains or snow tires.

Up-to-date information about happenings in Syracuse can most easily be found in online calendars, though the weekly Eagle Newspapers, and Syracuse's only major print newspaper, The Post-Standard, publish upcoming events in the Central New York area. Online calendars of upcoming events are offered by local media groups: Visit Syracuse WSYR Events Syracuse New Times Calendar WRVO Public Media Community Calendar 1 Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St, ☏ +1 315-474-6064, fax: +1 315-474-6943, [email protected]. Su W F noon–5PM, Th noon–8PM, Sa 10AM–5PM, closed M Tu; open noon–8PM on the first Friday of every month. Houses 11,000 works of American art, with an excellent permanent collection of ceramics, in a building designed by architect I.M. Pei. Adults $8, seniors/students $6, free for children ages 12 and under, pay-what-you-wish every Wednesday. (updated Aug 2019) 2 Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd E, ☏ +1 315-471-0593, fax: +1 315-471-7220, [email protected]. M–Sa 10AM–5PM, Su 10AM–3PM. The canal no longer passes through downtown Syracuse, but this museum celebrates its history. Features the last standing weighlock on the canal, a replica of an old canal freighter, and a number of historical exhibits. Free; suggested donation $5. (updated Aug 2019) 3 Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (The MoST), 500 S Franklin St, ☏ +1 315-425-9068. W–Su 10AM–5PM, closed M Tu.

1 Landmark Theatre, 362 S Salina St, ☏ +1 315-475-7979. Box office M–F 10AM–5PM, closes at 4PM in summer. Opened in 1928, this extravagant Roaring Twenties-era performing arts theater hosts many live musical & theatrical productions throughout the year. Offers nearly 3,000 seats surrounded with golden decor. (updated Aug 2019) 2 The Redhouse, 400 S Salina St, ☏ +1 315-362-2785, [email protected]. Box office M–F 10AM–4PM, open Sa prior to shows 10AM–2PM. Arts center displaying year-round theatrical productions. (updated Aug 2019) 3 Syracuse Stage, 820 E Genesee St, ☏ +1 315-443-3275 (box office), +1 315-443-4008 (administration), [email protected]. Box office M–F 10AM–5PM. Professional theater hosting plays and musicals. (updated Aug 2019) 4 Symphoria, 450 S Salina St #100 (performs at the Crouse-Hinds Theater, in the John H. Mulroy Civic Center at the Oncenter, at 411 Montgomery St.), ☏ +1 315-299-5598. Musicians from the Syracuse Symphony, a half-century-old ensemble bankrupted in 2011, formed Symphoria, Syracuse's musician-led symphony orchestra. Offers more than 50 annual concerts in the Crouse-Hinds Theater and throughout the local community. Children under 18 free, college students (with ID) $5. (updated Aug 2019) 5 The Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St, ☏ +1 315-299-8886, [email protected]. One of the most popular live music venues in the city. (updated Aug 2019) 6 St.

1 Stella's Diner, 110 Wolf St, ☏ +1 315-425-0353. M Tu 5AM-2:30PM, W-Su 5AM-9PM. (updated Aug 2016) 2 The Brooklyn Pickle, 1600 West Genesee Street, ☏ +1 315-487-8000. Open M-Sa until 9PM. The biggest deli sandwiches around and a friendly mom and pop feel have created an almost cult following to this little sandwich shop. 3 Varsity Pizza, 802 S Crouse Ave, ☏ +1 315-469-3171. 4 Heid's, 305 Oswego St, Liverpool, ☏ +1 315-451-0786. Heid's is known for two things: long lines and the hot dogs that are responsible for those long lines. Ordering is simple: anything that isn't a hot dog or a coney gets ordered first after you get in the door, including their delicious grilled cheeses and super-thick milk shakes; at the end, once you get to the cash register, you simply order how many hot dogs and coneys you'd like. If the retro-style of the restaurant isn't to your liking, you can always cross the street and sit by Onondaga Lake. 5 Alto Cinco, 526 Westcott St, ☏ +1 315-422-6399. (updated Aug 2016) 6 Coleman's Authentic Irish Pub, 100 South Lowell Ave, ☏ +1 315-476-1933. Daily 11:30AM-2AM. Don't be fooled by the name - this is a kitsch pseudo-Irish-themed bar with a leprechaun door next to the regular door. It holds an appeal for all ages. This place has a full menu as well as a bar. It is known for its participation in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities. If you are in Syracuse on St. Patrick’s Day be sure to come here and try the green beer.

Syracuse has two major nightlife districts. The largest is Armory Square downtown, followed by Marshall Street on University Hill. 1 Faegan's Cafe & Pub, 734 S. Crouse Ave, ☏ +1 315-472-4721. A common hangout place for students at Syracuse University, usually not quite as hectic as some of the other bars near campus, this place has more of a relaxed sit down atmosphere. 2 Cafe Kubal, 401 S Salina St, ☏ +1 315-440-6441. (updated Aug 2016) 3 Freedom of Espresso, 115 Solar St. (updated Aug 2016) 4 Recess Coffee, 110 Harvard Pl, ☏ +1 315-410-0090. (updated Aug 2016) 5 Strong Hearts, 719 E Genesee St, ☏ +1 315-478-0000. All vegan cafe. (updated Aug 2016)

1 Econo Lodge Airport, 5396 South Bay Rd (I-81 to exit 26), ☏ +1 315-454-4462, fax: +1 315-454-4462. 2 Red Carpet Inn, 2914 Brewerton Rd, ☏ +1 315-454-3266. Budget priced motel. 3 Courtyard Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square, 300 West Fayette St, ☏ +1 315-422-4854. Located in the Armory Square retail district. 4 Clarion Pointe Downtown, 454 James St, ☏ +1 315-526-1887, fax: +1 315-474-7009. Comp breakfast. $74. 5 Best Western Syracuse Downtown Hotel and Suites, 416 South Clinton St, ☏ +1 315-425-0500. Located in the Armory Square retail district. 6 Marriott Syracuse Downtown (Hotel Syracuse), 100 East Onondaga St, ☏ +1 315-474-2424. (updated Nov 2017) The University Hill neighborhood is directly adjacent to Downtown Syracuse and is home to Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and SUNY College of Environmental Studies and Forestry. 7 Collegian Hotel & Suites, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, 1060 E Genesee St, ☏ +1 315-476-4212. Gym. $84 (Dec 2022). 8 Parkview Hotel, 713 E Genesee St, ☏ +1 315-701-2600. There are several hotels near Carrier Circle in DeWitt, directly accessible from the New York State Thruway's Exit 35, and 15-minute drive to/from Downtown Syracuse during non-peak hours. 9 Best Western Fairgrounds, 670 State Fair Boulevard, ☏ +1 315-484-0044, fax: +1 315-484-0045. 10 Candlewood Suites East Syracuse, 6550 Baptist Way, ☏ +1 315-432-1684. 11 Candlewood Suites Syracuse-Airport, 5414 South Bay Road, ☏ +1 315-454-8999.

1 William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center, 131 NBT Bank Parkway (just north of downtown). The city's central rail and long-distance bus hub. (updated Oct 2023) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Dec 2020) Routes stopping at Syracuse: Empire Service operating twice daily between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City including stops in Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Maple Leaf operating daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and Niagara Falls (New York) include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (Ontario). Stops between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City are the same as those made by the Empire Service. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States. Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer). The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City.

A car is probably the best way to get around Syracuse, especially if you are going to places away from downtown. Thanks to its many Interstate highways (I-90, I-81, I-481, and I-690), nearly everywhere in the Syracuse area can be reached within a 20-minute drive. Make sure you have a map and pay attention to the street signs. There are some streets in the downtown area that go from being two-way to one-way, which is not always clear on a map. You can walk to most of the destinations in downtown Syracuse from a parking lot or the Centro bus terminal. Most of the downtown area is relatively flat, but keep in mind that the Syracuse University area has many steep hills and the residential areas surrounding downtown have quite a few hills as well. What some people will do is catch a ride on the bus downtown, placing their bike on the bike rack on the front of the bus and then use their bike once they reach downtown, thus avoiding the steep hills. E-bike rentals are available throughout the downtown area via Sync Bike Share. The Centro Bus System provides a fair alternative to driving to most locations, with a fare of $2 within Syracuse and additional fares to outlying suburbs, such as to Auburn for $4 and to Oswego for $5. Buses can come sporadically, especially if you plan to ride the bus outside of Downtown Syracuse, so check the bus schedule online in advance. If you have to transfer to another bus, be sure to ask the bus driver for a transfer card so that you don't get stuck paying double fares for the same trip.