Unwind on Campus
The front lawn of Syracuse University’s iconic Hall of Languages is a popular gathering spot.
Did you know that Syracuse University has been called the most beautiful campus in the nation? Relax on the Quad, or tour the magnificent campus art. Check out summer programming at the Community Folk Art Center, and don’t forget all the facilities in the Barnes Center at The Arch, where you can even borrow equipment for a camping adventure!
Grab Life by the Rope
Located on South Campus, the Outdoor Education Center and Challenge Course offer unique team-building opportunities.
As we kick off summer in Syracuse, the University has an abundance of opportunities to stay active and try new things. For those seeking adventure, check out our challenge course and zip line on South Campus, or try one of our various fitness classes offered through the Barnes Center at The Arch.
For the golfers, we have the nearby Drumlins Country Club, where undergraduates play golf for free. Drumlins also offers graduate student discounts and student rates for tennis. Afterward, recharge with a cool drink and a meal at Bistro 1926.
Get Lost in Nature
Central New York is anchored by dozens of lakes and ponds, including Onondaga Lake (shown here), the birthplace of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Syracuse University is located near 170 parks and nature areas. Some—like Thornden Park, which boasts a famous rose garden and public pool—are walkable from campus. Others—like Beaver Lake Nature Center and Clark Reservation State Park—have great hiking trails. And don’t miss Green Lakes State Park, which features rare freshwater limestone reefs and great swimming in the clear, aquamarine-tinted waters.
Less than an hour’s drive from campus, Lake Ontario (pictured) offers world-class sportfishing, deep-water boating and refreshing summer swims.
When you’re out touring the amazing regional parks, check out some of the waterfalls, too, like Pratt’s Falls Park, Delphi Falls County Park, Tinker Falls, Salmon River Falls and Chittenango Falls State Park, which is as high as Niagara Falls (also only a few hours’ drive away!) and where you might spot an elusive Chittenango ovate amber snail—found nowhere else on earth.
Within an hour or two drive, you’ll find many destinations to explore. Relax on the picturesque beaches of Lake Ontario, visit the world-famous wineries of the Finger Lakes, relish the many attractions in Ithaca, Rochester or Skaneateles—or head to Cazenovia Lake to kayak and wander the outdoor sculpture park.
Festival Bonanza
The Great New York State Fair is not just the oldest state fair in the country. It’s also one of the biggest, annually attracting more than a million people over 13 days.
The New York State Blues Festival is a three-day celebration of blues music and culture, held each summer at the New York State Fairgrounds.
If you relish a good festival, you’re in luck! Summertime serves up an abundance of festivals and events in Syracuse, from food-fests like Taste of Syracuse, to those focused on music like the New York State Blues Festival, Syracuse International Jazz Fest or CNY Jazz in the City, to ones geared toward enthusiasms of all sorts, from crafts to bacon. You’ll discover a vibrant mix of cultural festivals, too, celebrating the diversity of the region’s population.
Speaking of festivals … the Great New York State Fair is America’s first and longest-running state fair and one of the biggest. With 13 days’ worth of performances, it features hundreds of rides and games, food vendors galore, art, animals and exhibits. Brace yourself, but enjoy the ride!
Fresh From the Farm
The Central New York Regional Market is one of the largest public markets on the East Coast, functioning as a retail destination and wholesale distribution center.
Ripe peaches, home-baked goods, fresh cheese—there’s lots to love at a farmer’s market, and a lot of farmer’s markets in the area to love! Check out the CNY Regional Market, which spans more than 60 acres, is open year-round and hosts 300 vendors. Then find your way to one of the many local farms, and pick your own strawberries!
Salt City Discovery
Westcott’s proximity to campus makes it a vibrant and trendy hub of culture, cuisine and community.
The City of Syracuse is full of treasures. Check out the renowned ceramic collection at the Everson Museum of Art, watch elephants at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, enjoy the many local restaurants downtown, catch a game with the Syracuse Mets—or just relax by the fountain in Clinton Square.
Not far from campus, you’ll find the bustling neighborhood of Westcott. With quaint shops, restaurants and cafes and exciting nightlife, there’s something for everyone.
Get Involved!
The century-old Dr. E.M. Mills Rose Garden, located in Thorden Park next to campus, is one of the largest gardens of its kind in the Northeast.
To really get to know a place, get involved! Consider helping at Thornden Park’s Dr. E.M. Rose Garden or Pete’s Giving Garden, which supplies produce to on-campus food pantries for students; supporting the Skä•noñh, Great Law of Peace Center, where visitors learn about native peoples of the region; or working with La Casita Cultural Center, which hosts community programs centered on Latino art, culture and dual-language literacy. The Community Folk Art Center provides studio classes and exhibitions to promote artists of the African Diaspora, and the Intercultural Collective brings together people of diverse backgrounds to find community and support.
Other on campus community resources include Hendricks Chapel and the Shaw Center, where students can gain experiential leadership through community engagement.
