{"id":6360,"date":"2026-04-22T15:52:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T19:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/?p=6360"},"modified":"2026-04-22T16:39:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T20:39:09","slug":"plan-your-syracuse-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/2026\/04\/22\/plan-your-syracuse-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Plan Your Syracuse Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and students have finally <\/em>made their way out of hibernation to enjoy the Syracuse sun again. It\u2019s safe to say winter is officially over and summer weather is here to stay! Whether  you\u2019re looking for outdoor activities to pass the time before the semester ends or you\u2019re opting to spend more time in Central New York in the coming months, take a peek at our list of warm-weather adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drumlins Country Club <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just a short trip from campus, Drumlins Country Club<\/a> is a hub for summer activity. Whether you want to play a round of golf on the public West Course, hit the tennis courts or cool off at the swim club, there\u2019s something for everyone! And don’t forget to stop by \u2019CUSE Scoops<\/a>, their seasonal ice cream shop, for a post-activity treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore Nearby Waterfalls <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Central New York is especially famous for its waterfalls, several of which are just a short drive from the Syracuse University campus! Pratt\u2019s Falls Park<\/a>, located only 20 minutes away from the University, offers a stunning 137-foot drop and scenic hiking trails that are perfect for a quick weekend trip. Similarly, Chittenango Falls State Park<\/a> is only slightly farther away and features a massive 167-foot cascade with a winding trail leading to a picturesque footbridge at its base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for a longer adventure, Carpenter Falls<\/a> is located about 40 minutes from campus, near Skaneateles Lake<\/a>, and is 90 feet in elevation with more rugged terrain. Additionally, an 80-minute trip to Ithaca rewards hikers with Taughannock Falls<\/a>, which stands at 215 feet\u2014taller than Niagara Falls\u2014and features an accessible gorge trail that leads directly to the base of the massive cataract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spend a Day at the Lake <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For a classic lake day, head to Green Lakes State Park<\/a> to see the striking blue-green water of its glacial lakes. There\u2019s a two-mile trail around the lake for a chill, sunny-day stroll, alongside beaches and docks perfect for tanning. Skaneateles Lake<\/a> also offers clear waters for boating and a lakeside park perfect for relaxing with a view.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for more variety, Oneida Lake<\/a> is a 25-minute drive away and is known for its shallow, warmer waters and vibrant boating scene at Sylvan Beach<\/a>. Onondaga Lake<\/a> is the closest option, located just 10 minutes from campus; while not for swimming, it features the Onondaga Lake Park<\/a>, which has miles of paved trails for biking or skating and a great view of the Syracuse skyline. The park also features pickleball courts, a playground and other recreational activities.\u00a0 For those willing to drive about 40 minutes south, Otisco Lake<\/a> offers a more secluded, quiet atmosphere perfect for fishing or a peaceful afternoon by the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit Local Farmers Markets <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Support local vendors and grab fresh produce at the CNY Regional Market<\/a>, which is open year-round on Saturdays from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. The same market space also hosts a Sunday Flea Market, with plenty of antiques on display. The City of Syracuse also hosts a Downtown Syracuse Farmers Market<\/a> on Tuesdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. each year from June through October. For something closer to the University, the Syracuse Eastside Farmers Market<\/a> on Euclid Avenue runs every Wednesday afternoon from 2-6 p.m. starting in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan a Picnic <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you want the absolute best view of the Syracuse skyline, head to Thornden Park<\/a>. The historic water tower (actually the Elon P. Stewart Reservoir<\/a>) sits on one of the city’s highest points. The sprawling grassy lawn surrounding the tower is the perfect spot to lay down a blanket for a sunset picnic! Afterward, you can go for a stroll or head over to the Westcott neighborhood for a sweet treat. Check out local favorites like Recess Coffee<\/a> or Yeti Frozen Yogurt and Cafe<\/a> for a late-night bite!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attend Festivals and Fairs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kick off festival season May 8-9 with the area\u2019s annual Food Truck Battle<\/a> at the New York State Fairgrounds, where you\u2019ll find 50+ locally owned food trucks from Syracuse, Utica, Rochester and beyond, as well as live music and an Artisan Village. In June, head over to St. Sophia\u2019s Greek Cultural Festival<\/a>, where you can find some of the best authentic Greek food and music in the city. As the weather heats up in July, head back to the Fairgrounds for Syracuse Nationals<\/a>, one of the largest car shows in the country, or take a trip downtown to the Northeast Jazz Festival<\/a>, which brings live performances, specialty food and craft drinks to Syracuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a true local tradition, don’t miss the Skaneateles Curbstone Festival<\/a> in mid-July for sidewalk sales and street performers along the lake. And of course, no Syracuse summer is complete without attending the Great New York State Fair<\/a>, running from Aug. 26 through Labor Day, offering everything from famous 25-cent milk to top-tier concert lineups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how you decide to spend your summer, make sure to have fun and be safe! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by Kate Jackson \u201926, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is for reference purposes only and is not deemed an endorsement by Syracuse University.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and students have finally made their way out of hibernation to enjoy the Syracuse sun again. It\u2019s safe to say winter is officially over and summer weather is here to stay! Whether  you\u2019re looking for outdoor activities to pass the time before the semester ends or you\u2019re…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":367,"featured_media":6362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[78,7],"class_list":["post-6360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beyond-the-hill","tag-off-campus","tag-things-to-do"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/367"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6360"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6373,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6360\/revisions\/6373"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}