UTICA-ROME-VERONA & SYLVAN BEACH CENTRAL NEW YORK’S GETAWAY REGION Sunflower Selfie Project See page 7 for details. Wagner Farms OFFICIAL 2020 ONEIDA COUNTY TRAVEL GUIDE | TheGetawayRegion.com Greetings and Welcome Contents 2020 Utica ...................................4 to Central New York Rome ..................................6 The greater Utica, Rome, Verona and Sylvan Beach North Country ...........................8 areas define Central New York’s Getaway Region. Southern Hills ..........................10 Situated in the foothills of the Adirondacks, we are Sylvan-Verona Beach ....................12 easily accessible via NYS Thruway (I-90) Exits 31 to Signature Events .......................14 34, by AMTRAK, and air service to Hancock Interna- Must See Attractions ....................18 tional Airport in nearby Syracuse. Food ................................. 20 Relax and enjoy a getaway immersed in cultural Craft Beverage Trail .....................22 experiences, family fun, history, great outdoor Nightlife ...............................24 escapes, and the fresh local flavors of our diverse Arts & Culture ......................... 26 culinary scene. Cities bustling with international flair, Historic Sites .......................... 28 quaint villages, year-round attractions, events and activities make us the perfect Haunted History ....................... 30 Central New York getaway. Agritourism ............................32 We proudly produced this travel guide with the Utica Observer Dispatch. Each Barn Quilt Trail. .33 year, thousands of readers express pride in our local communities by voting for Cheese Trail ........................... 34 their favorite picks in the Best of the Best Community Choice Awards. Look for Shopping ............................. 36 the golden #1 icon on page 20 and plan to include some of our local dishes into Outdoor Adventure .................... 40 your next Central New York getaway! Fishing ............................... 43 Whether you are here on vacation, a business trip, or visiting friends and family, Camping ............................. 44 we thank you for spending time with us and invite you to return again soon. Golf .................................. 46 Sports and Sporting .................... 48 Safe travels. Winter Sports .......................... 50 #ocnewyork Spas & Wellness ........................52 Where to stay ..........................54 Kelly Blazosky, President Relocation ............................ 60 Oneida County Tourism Community Services & Transportation. .61 On The Cover: Sunflower photo: Wagner Farms Distances to Oneida County Sunflower selfie: Sarah Desarro City Miles Hours Creative Director: Jeannine Papelino Albany, NY 90 1.5 IntreXDesign & Associates Atlantic City, NJ 353 5.5 Map Illustration: Price Design, page 3 Binghamton, NY 101 2 Publisher: Observer Dispatch, Utica Boston, MA 261 4 Photo Credit: Buffalo, NY 198 3 Page 4 Utica opener: Matt Ossowski Burlington, VT 188 4 Page 7 Bottom couple photo: Rebecca Schor Page 8 North Country: Anthony Narkon Cleveland, OH 383 6 Page 9 Pixley Falls: Steve Friedman Concord, NH 240 4.5 Page 12 Opening photo: Dana Nimey-Olney Page 13 Children dancing: Oneida Indian Nation Cooperstown, NY 40 1 Page 13 Verona Beach: Chris Penree Hartford, CT 205 3 Page 14 Events opener: Nancy Ford Photography Harrisburg, PA 280 4.5 Page 19 The Stanley Theatre: Paul Citone Page 25 Selfie girls: Mark Simon Montreal, Quebec 247 4.5 Page 27 Top right male photo: Megan Pamela New York City, NY 240 4 Page 29 Sears Museum: Sterling Oddo Page 36 Top right women photo: Jeremy Ackerma Niagara Falls, NY 210 3.5 Page 48 Photo: Ride for Missing Children: Ottawa, Ontario 192 3.5 Dana Nimey-Olney Philadelphia, PA 280 5 ® I LOVE NEW YORK logo is a registered trademark/ service mark of the NYS Dept. of Economic Devel- Pittsburgh, PA 410 6 opment, used with permission. Providence, RI 254 4 PLEASE NOTE: We want you to experience the best that Oneida County has to offer. However, please under- Rochester, NY 136 2 stand that changes often occur with attractions. Hours change, days of operation change and, unfor- Scranton, PA 157 3 tunately, some attractions close. So, to ensure your visit will be unforgettable, please contact Oneida Syracuse, NY 54 1 County Tourism and/or the attraction before your trip, Toronto, Ontario 290 5 to verify the attraction will be open when you visit. For more information on events and attractions visit Washington, DC 399 7 TheGetawayRegion.com. © 2020 Oneida County Tourism Watertown, NY 82 2 2 (800) 426-3132 thegetawayregion.com 3 A Day In Utica Attractions • Utica Children’s Museum (open Thurs-Sun*)—Hands-on and play based exploration & seasonal events! 311 Main St • Utica Zoo & Utica Energy Zone— Open 363 days a year! 1 Utica Zoo Way • Munson-Williams-Proctor Museum of Art (closed Mondays) Browse the permanent collection & special exhibits! in the nation. F X Matt began brewing in 310 Genesee St 1888 and is famous for its award win- • Saranac Brewery (closed Sundays ning Saranac brand of beers. Be sure to & Mondays)—Take a tour & stop include a Saranac Thursday concert on in the tavern. Family-friendly! your summer concert series bucket list. 830 Varick Street Craft beverages aren’t the city’s only Coffee & Breakfast praiseworthy consumable. Visitors flock • Utica Coffee Roasting (UCR)— Utica to Utica for its unique array of cuisine. Coffee & pastries . Instagram- worthy art murals behind UCR! Starts with You Visit our history, 92 Genesee St • Character Coffee—Cute, cozy endulge in our unique coffee shop. Try a seasonal latte! istory. Unique culinary. Legacy brewing. Sports. Cultural Situated in Roscoe Conkling Park, cuisine, take part in 171 Genesee St diversity. The arts. If you’re a lover of any of these, you the Energy Zone will serve as an Comets game or a Utica City Football • Wisk Utica—Breakfast, and need to experience Utica. Settled during the French additional entrance to its neighbor, the Utica Zoo. Accredited cultural activities and Club match at Adirondack Bank Center. homemade baked goods. Hand Indian War as old Fort Schuyler, the Utica of yesterday is by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Utica Zoo boasts On the second Sunday in July, runners 53 Franklin Square evident throughout its extraordinary landmarks and original more than 40 acres of natural environments and carefully explore our great from around the globe convene for • Top of the Morning Cafe—Classic architecture. Today’s Utica is a vibrant mix of cultures that curated habitats for 200+ animals ranging from majestic the Utica Boilermaker Road Race. The outdoors. American diner! create a community bustling with international flair that’s African Lions to the exotic Red Panda. Utica Zoo is open 363 entire city celebrates with a giant post 414 Trenton Rd ever present in the arts and culture scene. Marvel at the days a year and offers a variety of behind-the-scenes animal race party at the F X Matt Brewery. priceless works of art by the world’s masters at Munson- encounters. The city’s character—defined by rich Utica’s is proud of its rich Irish Lunch & Dinner Ideas Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. Cheer, laugh and cry along Connect with nature while relaxing aboard the Adirondack history, agriculture and diversity—is heritage. The Irish Cultural Center and • Babe’s at Harbor Point B—Literally with your favorite Broadway show at The Stanley. Scenic Railroad for an excursion deep into the Adirondack reflected in hundreds of ethnic and Five Points Pub is built on the site of the something for everyone! Utica is the “best big little city” in so many ways. Park. Covering more than six million acres of northern New American eateries. Farmers and artisans original St. Patrick’s Church on Columbia 80 N Genesee St Multi-cultural events and diversity keep this ever York State, the Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the gather to sell produce and goods each Street in Utica. The center features an • Tavolo by Chesterfield—Home changing city progressing forward. New York United States. From late spring through mid-December, the week at the Oneida County Public authentic Victorian-style Irish Pub built of the original greens Morelle and State has been a leader in power generation. train departs Utica’s historic Union Station offering themed Market. Those with a passion for the in Dublin, Ireland and installed on-site chicken riggies. MUST TRY! The Utica Energy Zone, opening summer of excursions for wine and beer tastings, fall foliage tours, the great outdoors will enjoy a round of 18 by Irish craftsmen. It's the center 131 N Genesee St 2020, will host state-of-the-art interactive Polar Express and more! holes at Valley View Golf Course, a Robert of activity for the Great • Ocean Blue—Elevated seafood, exhibits focusing on the past, present and Sip on a pint of Utica Club—the nation’s first beer licensed Trent Jones design, or a bike ride along American Irish Festival craft cocktails & more. Have drinks future of New York’s energy system, including and sold after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. Craft beer the legendary Erie Canalway Trail. held in September. on the roof deck in the summer! STEM programming for students of all ages. connoisseurs and history-seekers alike can tour the F X Matt U-ti-ca! loves AHL Hockey and MASL 118 Columbia St Landmarc Building Brewing Company, one of the oldest family-owned breweries Soccer! Catch the excitement of a *Hours subject to change Did You Know . and Parkway System is on the The year 2020 marks the 150th managed by the Central New York National Register of Historic Places celebration of the birth of Frederick Conservancy. Utica is the smallest city and covers a land mass equal to nearly Law Olmsted, Jr., author of the mission in the country to have an Olmsted de- 70% of Manhattan’s Central Park (designed statement and language that established signed park system, which includes the by Olmsted, Sr.). Utica’s Olmsted Trail our National Park Service and designer Parkway, Conkling Park, F.T. Proctor Park will launch in the summer of 2020. Visit of Utica’s Park and Parkway System now and T.R.