SYRACUSE, NY
AREA ATTRACTIONS

Visitors' Center - From I-81 northbound, take exit 18 and turn left onto Taylor Street at the end of the off-ramp. Follow Taylor to its end at Salina Street and bear right on Salina. Follow Salina to the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau at 572 S. Salina which is just after the second street (Adams) on your left).
  For more information, phone 1-800-234-4797 (toll free).

We have found the hotels in Syracuse to be about 50% more costly than those in Binghamton. But, if you must stay in Syracuse the best deal we have found (including what you get in the room) is the Econo Lodge University right off I-81 exit 18 (if northbound) or 19 (if southbound) - at the junction of I-690 and very close to downtown.
  Rooms are in the $60 to $70 range and include dataports (handy if you bring along your notebook computer as we always do), refrigerators and microwaves. The hotel completed an extensive remodeling project very recently.

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• Cedarvale Maple Syrup Co.
• Empire Expo Center
• Erie Canal Museum
• Everson Museum of Art
• Museum of Automobile History
• Museum of Science & Technology
• Onondaga Historical Association
• Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Cedarvale Maple Syrup Co. - Follow the course of the maple sap from the tree to the syrup can with a self-guided tour. You'll see how the present-day use of plastic tubing networks has increased the efficiency - and lowered the costs - of collecting the sap. Self-guided tours can be accommodated during their normal business hours. Special escorted tours are available by reservation March through October.
  Their gift shop has various maple products and handcrafted items available for sale. Business hours: Friday and Sunday, 1 to 5p; Saturday's extended hours are from 9:30a to 5p. Closed January and February.
  For more information phone 1-315-469-6422 or visit their web site: Cedarvale.
  From I-81 take exit 16-A to Brighton Avenue (do not get on I-481). Turn left on Brighton and drive south to the Seneca Turnpike (NY-173). Turn right and follow 173 to the split with NY-175. Bear left onto 175 and follow it to Cedarvale Road in Cards Corners. Turn left on Cedarvale Road and follow it (watch out for its right turn at the intersection of Rohe Rd) to Pleasant Valley Road. Turn right and the Cedarvale Maple Syrup Company is at 3769 Pleasant Valley Rd.

Empire Expo Center - This multi-purpose, 375-acre site hosts a regular progression of events, expositions and other performances - and, of course, the Great New York State Fair.
  Schedules of upcoming events are posted on their web site: ExpoCenter. Or, you may phone them at 1-800-475-FAIR (toll free).
  From I-81 exit onto I-690 westbound to exit 7. Turn right at the end of the off-ramp and follow the signs to the parking area.

Erie Canal Museum - This is one of the places along the canal where they actually weighed the boats determining the tariff for using the Erie Canal. You can tour the restored Weighblock Building (ca 1850) and learn how it functioned as a canal boat weighing station. Then you can board a 65-foot long canal boat and get a feel for life as it was on the Canal. Then, visit the Education Gallery which has some fascinating interactive exhibits, the re-created weighmaster's office plus a multi-media theater, where you can learn more about the adventurous history of the world's most successful canal.
  Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10a to 5p; Sundays from 10a to 3p. Admission: FREE! (but they sure appreciate donations)
  For more information, phone 1-315-471-0593 or visit their web page: ErieCanalMuseum.
  From I-81 northbound, take exit 18, turn left at the end of the off-ramp and go to State Street (US-11). Turn right and follow State to Erie Blvd (NY-5). Turn left and the museum is about 200 yards from the intersections on your left at 318 Erie Boulevard E. (at Montgomery St.).
  From I-81 southbound, take exit 18, turn right at the end of the off-ramp and drive down Harrison to State Street. Turn right and follow State to Erie Blvd (NY-5). Turn left and the museum is about 200 yards from the intersections on your left at 318 Erie Boulevard E. (at Montgomery St.).

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Everson Museum of Art - The building was designed by famed architect I.M.Pei. The museum houses extensive collections of 19th and 20th Century American art, - including paintings, watercolors, sculptures, etc. They also have smaller collections of African, Oriental, central and South American art.
  Open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5p (Saturdays they open at 10a).
  For more information, phone 1-315-474-6064 or visit their web site: Everson.
  From I-81 northbound, take exit 18, turn left at the end of the off-ramp and go to State Street (US-11). Turn right and follow State to Harrison Street. The museum is to your right on the far corner (401 Harrison Street).
  From I-81 southbound, take exit 18, turn right at the end of the off-ramp and go 2 blocks to the museum at 401 Harrison Street.

Museum of Automobile History - In this 12,000 sq.ft. cavern with its 25-foot high ceiling is the largest collection of its kind in the world: cars, trucks, motorcycles and other objects relating to the history and develop of the automobile from the 19th century to present day. They are on the floor, on the walls and even hanging from the ceiling. One of the more interesting exhibits - especially for old-timers - is the series of 10-foot high by 20-foot wide billboards: old ads for cars many of us loved (and miss) of the 40s and 50s.
  Open Wednesday through Sunday from 10a to 5p. Closed some holidays (phone for specifics). Admission: $5; kids under 16, $3; seniors, $4.
  For more information, phone 1-315-478-2277 or visit their web page: AutoMuseum.
  From I-81 northbound, take exit 18, turn left at the end of the off-ramp and go to State Street (US-11). Turn right and follow State to Erie Boulevard (NY-5). Turn left and drive to Clinton Street. Turn right and the museum is a block and a half up at 321 North Clinton.
  From I-81 southbound, take exit 19 and follow Clinton Street to 321 North Clinton.

Museum of Science & Technology - With three floors of hands-on and other exciting and educational exhibits, the kids will not only have a great time but add to their knowledge of the world around us. Ad to the mix their 24-foot domed planetarium and the 66-goot diameter domed IMAX® theatre and you have three great reasons to spend the day.
  Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11a to 5p. IMAX® movies will play Friday and Saturday evenings until 9p.
  For more information, phone 1-315-425-9068. Phone 1-315-473-IMAX for recorded IMAX® schedules. There is a regular schedule of rates depending what and how much you would like to see. Please consult their web site: Fees. 
Home page: MOST.
  From I-81 northbound, take exit 19 onto I-690 westbound. Immediately after getting onto I-690, take exit 11 (West Street). Then take a left at the traffic light (Fayette Street). Continue to the second stop light on Fayette and turn right onto Franklin Street. The Museum is at 500 S. Franklin Street.
  From I-81 southbound, take Exit 20 (Franklin Street). The Museum is located at the end of Franklin Street (500 S. Franklin Street).

Onondaga Historical Association - Here you can view the finest regional history collection in New York State providing an overview of the area's natural, cultural and industrial history through artifacts and paintings in changing exhibitions.
  Open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4p; Saturdays from 11a to 4p.
  For more information, phone 1-315-428-1864.
  From I-81 northbound, take exit 18, turn left at the end of the off-ramp and go to State Street (US-11). Turn right and follow State to Fayette Street and turn left. Go 1 block to Montgomery Street and turn left again. The Museum is at 321 Montgomery.
  From I-81 southbound, take exit 19 and follow Clinton Street to Fayette Street and turn left. Go 4 blocks to Montgomery Street and turn right. The Museum is at 321 Montgomery.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo - Along with the usual zoo animals (some 1,000+ of them) the Rosamond Gifford Zoo presents many special exhibits, all interesting and all educational. It doesn't matter when you visit, you pretty sure to encounter some very interesting exhibits. A restaurant is on premises; you can easily spend the entire day there. They also have a gift shop which helps support the zoo.
  Open daily from 10a to 4:30p. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days.
  For more information, phone 1-315-435-8511 or visit their web site: Zoo.
  From I-81 take exit 22 (Bear Street) and follow the brown and white 'ZOO' signs.
  From I-81 southbound, get on I-690 westbound and take exit 10 (Geddes Street) and follow the brown and white 'ZOO' signs. The Zoo is at Burnet Park.

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