Syracuse, New York is a great place to visit.
In the winter there is a large, outdoor ice skating rink in the center of downtown just beneath the city's Christmas tree. All of downtown is decorated for Christmas, and much of the decorations are visible from the rink. If you visit at Christmas time, you must go to Lights On The Lake at Onondaga Lake Park. It's a 2 mile long trail decorated with light fixtures and displays celebrating the holiday season. It's inexpensive to drive through to view the displays from the warmth of your car or van while listening to holiday music on the radio.
During the summer this trail is closed off to traffic so that people may walk or bike ride along side the lake. The only vehicle allowed on the trail during this time is the Tram that you may ride for free from one end to the other.
Near Onondaga Lake Park is a natural history museum called St. Marie among the Iriqois. It is a fort the French used during a war when America was first becoming established.
If you like history, you may also want to visit the Erie Canal museum, which showcases the lifestyle of the late 1800's to early 1900's when the Erie Canal was frequently used to transport goods across the state.
If you are a sports fan you can catch a game. Syracuse offers the Syracuse Orangemen college sports teams. If you want something more professional check out the Syracuse Skychiefs minor league baseball team or the Syracuse Crunch minor league hockey team.
Interested in arts and entertainment? Syracuse offers a taste of broadway with the Syracuse Stage, or you can check out the Syracuse Symphony. You may also want to visit the Everson Museum of art. Kids will enjoy the Museum of Science and Technology that offers many hands on activities, as well as an Imax theater.
You may also want to visit the New York state fair grounds, which holds events all throughout the year. The best time to visit the fair grounds though is during the last two weeks of August where it holds the Great New York State Fair. That is surely a site to see with a mile long midway, free daily concerts, livestock competitions, a concert grandstand, petting zoos, and lots of other free or inexpensive entertainment. Make sure you check out the four foot hand carved butter sculpture!
While in Syracuse make sure to sample the local foods such as Hoffman's hot dogs and coneys and Gianelli sausage. In the heart of downtown is the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que which is also a big hit!
