2 separate events attended in May = 1 lucky girl!…read more I was lucky enough to attend the Syracuse Press Club Awards - mid May. Very crowded and lots of socializing so didn't snag many photos that night but tonight I attended a screening in the auditorium & made sure to capture some of the beauty! Toured the museum before/after event. Gorgeous, vibrant art pieces. Would love to stop in for a pottery/clay workshop. So many community events so check the website too. A great space with some iconic history! Art + architecture appreciation!!! I cannot believe the architect of this museum (legendary I.M Pei)

Beautiful Afternoon taking in some amazing artwork.See website for hours and exhibits. Also I…read morebelieve all day Wednesday and Thursdays (5-8pm) are pay what you wish. Definitely worth a visit.

After touring the nearby Stickley factory we drove a few miles to the Fayetteville library where…read morethis gem of a museum is located on the second floor. This used to be the factory years ago. The library on the first floor is hands down the best furnished library we've been in since it was all Stickley furniture! The museum is small but well done with good displays. The curator Amanda was very helpful and enthusiastic. We learned a lot on top of the tour we just did. Highly recommend but check the days and hours that the museum is open since they are limited.

We planned to tour the Stickley Museum as an add-on rather than a focal point of our family's…read morevacation itinerary, but it turned out to be the highlight of our trip! In fact, we enjoyed it so much, we were surprised we stayed so long! And, we hope to return! I must say that our enjoyment was mainly due to the personableness and knowledgeability of the director and curator, Amanda Clifford, who communicated effectively from day one; that is, the day I emailed before the trip, and that's out of the country since we're not even Americans! We're Canadians and we're antique furniture artisans. Amanda was so attuned to our passions--perhaps sharing them even--that the three of us covered a lot of territory together at once. We felt like the tour was a real treat, being able to discourse deeply over the mechanics, aesthetics, history, sentimental values plus the current appreciation of antique furniture. We discussed the variety of woods, the types of structural techniques, the idiosyncrasy per Stickley brother, and enjoyed listening to all the fascinating stories behind specific pieces, time periods, and personalities. The visit really adds meaning to our own work! Moreover, the museum is situated above a lovely public library, which kept our kids, who preferred to do something other than to study old furniture, busy with computers and books while my husband and I toured the floor above. The librarians were friendly and accommodating. Even more, every space in that building, including the washrooms, seems to be furnished with prized pieces of Stickley antiques! The venue, including its outdoor garden and indoor cafe, has a wonderful atmosphere all around! While explaining some of the history of the Stickley company, Amanda ended up also covering information on Fayetteville, a quaint, history-preserving community, plus other cities and regions in the state of New York. Every question we asked her--be it regarding furniture, geography, history, or just plan tourist-related interests--was answered with expertise, courtesy, and thoughtfulness. Thank you, Amanda, for making the tour a thorough pleasure! We hope to return in the near future for a visit to the Stickley factory in nearby Manlius, NY, too! ------------------------------- People may not realize this as personally until they visit a museum like this one, but the pieces of wood we use as furniture in our homes are items we live with day and out, and throughout history. How we make them, use them, decorate with them, choose them, maintain them, and value them speaks a great deal about the culture from which we come and about the characters who own them. This is what makes furniture both pragmatic and personal, functional and fascinating, and why so much of ourselves as human beings is invested into antiques; hence, making a visit to the Stickley Museum so significant. (Written by the owner of "Olden Wood Revivals", a co. of artisans who specialize in restoring antique furniture in Northumberland County, Ont., Canada)

This is such a unique and cool park! It's about a half an hour drive from Syracuse, in Cazenovia,…read morewhich is a super cute town with lots of nice small businesses to explore. This place is the ultimate solution if you kinda feel like going to a museum but also want to be outdoors and go to the park, and can't choose. The park itself is stunning. It's an outdoor art park that has sculptures spread out around the grounds. There are multiple trails, some gravel and some grass. Some truly stunning views, with the lake visible in the distance at some high points. You'll wander through fields and woods and hills and happen upon other-wordly shapes and statues. The pieces are spread out, but not so much that you get overly tired hunting for them. Some are in clusters, but every now and then you'll just happen upon another one. Stumbling on another sculpture kind of makes you feel like an archaeologist or explorer uncovering ruins of ancient civilizations. It's got a very ethereal feeling. My favorite sculpture was giant metal flowers that kind of looked like a gate, but there were a lot of cool figures in different styles and mediums. The only downside I saw was that the paper maps available at the entrance had a QR code with more info about the artists and art, but I didn't see any paper or sign descriptions anywhere, which I thought would be helpful for folks who don't have phones or always run out of their data halfway through the month (guilty.) I understand that perhaps pieces change often, but it still would be nice to have more options for deeper context. Nonetheless, it was still super fun to wander and gander. I came early on a weekend morning and there was another car or two, but mostly the park seemed empty and it was extremely serene. Love it, wish it was closer. If I lived down the road I'd probably be here every day.

Beautiful hidden gem less than 30 minutes from Syracuse! Over 4 miles worth of trails to discover,…read moreand 1.4 miles of artistic sculptures. Very easy terrain suitable for all ages. The max elevation gain is only 141 feet. Lots of fun sculptures to discover, public restrooms (although Porta potties), picnic tables for dining and more.

This was an unexpected gem of an art museum in the heart of Utica. We came here on a half-day trip…read morefrom Cooperstown (1 hour away on rural roads) for a brief visit and had modest expectations. The MWPAI has two main buildings and includes a lovely collection of paintings and sculptures. The highlight of the museum is the set of paintings by Thomas Cole on the top floor of the main building. These works illustrate various stages in one's life cycle from youth to middle-age to older-age. I was impressed by the quality of the collection here and a visiting exhibit of works by a contemporary artist from Atlanta. We arrived around 11:30am on a Thursday and went immediately to the Terrace Cafe after a quick restroom stop. The cafe is open from 11am to 3pm Tuesdays through Saturdays and has outdoor seating. I was impressed by the quality of our bistro-style lunch prepared by a professional chef. We enjoyed some iced tea and the fried deviled eggs with horseradish, dijon and scallions as an appetizer. My 13-year old son devoured his MWP burger (mustard-whiskey-peppercorn glaze), while I had the Saratoga Quiche which was light and refreshing. We were too full for dessert. Who knew that Utica could provide an elegant yet affordable lunch with a lovely outdoor view? Be sure to ask the waiter for recommendations on main dishes and appetizers. Although the service can be a bit slow, it's a delightful spot for a leisurely lunch where you can relax and unwind. My wife, teenage sons (15 yrs, 13 yrs) and I really enjoyed our short day trip to Utica. MWPAI was a highlight along with Utica Coffee Roasters and the half-moon cookies from Hemstrought Bakery.

It has 2 sections, main building for art exhibit, the other section is a historical residence of…read morethe donor. All items has descriptions in details. The museum is not big and easy to navigate. Artworks are world class, so amazing. Worth to visit even though I had a short trip.

The Syracuse University Art Museum, located on SU's campus it's a small museum, occupying part of a…read morefloor in Shaffer Hall. The collection is well curated, showing a variety of mediums and perspectives. A lot of the exhibits rotate so that the vast art collection at SU can be seen, as having the ability to bring in traveling exhibits. Most of what I saw while I was there would be on display until March 2022. Wandering through the rooms I found myself moved by the visiting exhibit in the first couple of room, which was "Per(Sister) Incarcerated Women of Louisiana". It had a variety of mediums conveying the stories of women in prison. It felt really accessible, art which would reach and communicate clearly to anyone. "Reckonings: American Art and the Slow Violence of Climate Crisis", was a handful of images brought together by SU students from the 1800 through mid-1900s which had a really thought provoking commentary on art as a reflection of climate change and human treatment of the environment. The work on display of Mary Petty made me laugh, and again think deeper about the time and context in which she was creating her illustrations. More traditional and global work can be found in the Collection Highlights. If on campus to visit the museum on the weekend you can use the College Lot for free. It's only a block from the museum so it's quite convenient. For the size the Art Museum delivers a lot and it is well worth a visit.

Finally made a trip here!!! Kids spring break. Perfect rainy day escape for an energy burn for…read morecurious minds. Our MOST membership got us in free (saved about $60) Free parking on site You can bring a cooler and eat in Community area (tables and plenty of seating) Great outdoor space for kids to run around Area for water play, Lego building and a cool weather and tornado section Reptiles/snakes/fish section & even got to meet a reptile which was a bonus!

We took our kids (3 years old and 11 months) to check this place out. What a find!…read more There's a lot of really cool science concepts that they definitely don't understand yet, but they still had so much fun exploring. We spent hours here! There is a section specifically for little, which they loved! The water table and the pet/vet section especially. In the "big kid" sections our 3 year old loved seeing all the fish and lizards, the little penny black hole and the vacuum tubes with the Pom-poms. Even the outdoor area was a blast! So many cute and clever ways for kids to learn and play. We had the hardest time getting him to leave. I ended up convincing him we could get a stuffy at their gift shop to take with us. Never thought I'd buy a stuffed white blood cell, but here we are! Again, super cool! Lastly, the staff was all so pleasant and nice, which is always extra appreciated in a kid-centered place.

This was our first experience here, and it was a positive one. First, check Groupon for discounts…read more We found a great deal that was a significant discount from standard entry cost. The theater shows are... okay. Our kids weren't that impressed. If included in your ticket price (ours were, via the Groupon) it's fun to see, but I wouldn't pay extra for them. There is a lot of hands-on / interactive activities, which was well-received. However there is still a lot of empty floor space, which seems it could benefit from more exhibits or interactive displays. Maybe one day. Overall, if passing through, or visiting Syracuse, it's a great place to pass at least half a day (with kids; without kids it's not that interesting).

Great experience at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology. We went on a Sunday…read moreand it was not crowded, which made it easy to walk around and enjoy the exhibits at our own pace. There are a lot of informative and interactive areas, including exhibits on memory, energy, plate tectonics, Earth science, the geodynamo, chip chemistry, and the Micron memory megafab. I especially liked that the museum had enough depth for adults to actually learn something, while still being very kid-friendly with hands-on displays and play areas for younger children. My only small gripe is that a few of the exhibits and interactive devices felt older or worn, and some were not fully functional during our visit. Given the age of the museum and how much hands-on use these exhibits probably get from younger visitors, it is understandable. Hopefully they continue repairing and refreshing them, because the museum itself is definitely worth supporting and revisiting. The building itself is also pretty cool, with a historic exterior and a spacious multi-level layout inside. Overall, this is a great educational stop for families, kids, and adults who enjoy science, technology, and learning something new. Highly recommended.

I absolutely loved Sonnenberg! The conservatory and gardens…read morewere beyond amazing. I really enjoyed walking through and taking in all of the beauty. They even have a section in the greenhouse with plants for sale. The mansion is of course just as great to walk through and take a little escape back in time. So many beautiful things and views. They do have a little cafe and gift shop/winery on the grounds. I highly recommend coming here if you get the chance!

It's a nice peaceful attraction to stroll the gardens and check out the mansion. There were binders…read moreof photos in the mansion to see what different rooms used to look like. Rooms were set up well with interesting garments and objects. You can look at some pretty closely. Some parts of the property remain dilapidated, like the pool. Some of the gardens weren't available for viewing. For example, we didn't see anything in the pansy garden area.

Well worth a visit for anyone interested in American history. It was hot but our tour guide Ally…read morewas unflappable, entertaining and gave us a fantastic experience. The history of the house and the Seward family was very interesting and Ally knew about every painting and object our group asked about.

William Seward could have been the US President instead of Abraham Lincoln at that time - did you…read moreknow that? Lincoln was selected by their political party to run. Candidacy was not in Seward fate. True. Yet, after the election Mr. Seward worked alongside President Lincoln. Much unrecognized credit goes to Seward for promoting forward thinking policies at the time. Seward may be best known for his contribution as US Secretary of State in the purchase of the Alaskan territory from the Russian Empire in 1868. Termed "Sewards Folly" as at the time many skeptics who thought it unworthy for the US to purchase Alaska for $7 million dollars. Seward went to his grave firmly believing that one day in the future it will prove to be a very good decision. Alaska, rich with oil and natural resources, later was appreciated as an asset. Willam Seward held office as a governor of New York and Senator of New York. He was also a US Senator. And a US Secretary of State. This and many other interesting and historical facts are to be learned when you tour the Seward House Museum in Auburn, NY. Our tour-guide was enthusiastic. Fantastic wealth of knowledge. He gave us so much information in a fun and lighthearted way, about Mr. Seward, his family members, his political involvement, and his contributions to ending slavery. Amazing tour, and beautiful historic home where almost every artifact is the original. Beautiful wood work in the home. Lovely China dishes and stately decor. Did you know that the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman had a stop in the basement of this now historic home? It sure did. The Seward family housed and protected slaves seeking freedom right in this very home. Harriet Tubman, a slave from Maryland who became a famous freedom fighter, finally settled in Auburn, NY in 1859. Harriet Tubman practiced her faith and continued to fight for human rights and dignity until she died in 1913. There is a National Historical Park dedicated to Harriet Tubman in Auburn that would be worth visiting on a future trip.

I didn't know much about Syracuse on the whole other than they have a university. And that the Erie…read moreCanal passed through here when it was a major mode of transportation. I am glad that I came to this museum as it added to my knowledge of the Erie Canal. More than I thought I knew. Do check out the website ahead of time. It has some important information. One such thing is parking, if you are lucky enough, you will be able to snag a spot reserved for the museum parking in the city lot located across the street from the museum. Find the spots that are labeled "Visitor Center Parking," this place doubles as the visitor center as well. Otherwise, there is street parking available at a small cost. Also from the website you will find the hours and price for admission. Admission here is technically "pay-what-you-wish" meaning it can be whatever you feel an admission is. But they suggest $12 at the time of me writing this review. Once inside you will be greeted right away. The staff here is mostly volunteers but definitely know their stuff when it comes to the canal. I was given the layout of the museum and suggested where to go first. The museum is two floors and it is suggested to go through the first floor first, unless you need to use the restroom, those are upstairs. If that is what you need, you can start upstairs. I started off by just checking out the first areas of the exhibits and was approached by another volunteer who took me on quick once through about the canal and important dates and events that marked the opening of the canal. You also find out that the street in front of the museum is named Erie Boulevard because that was once the canal route. That is until it was rerouted. The things you learn when you just listen. Then I was sent on my way to make it through the museum. I went slow and took a lot of pictures so I could go back to them in case I missed something. I really enjoyed the set up of this museum. You go through an explanatory phase of the museum and then you get to explore set ups and walk through displays. Take some time to explore the canal boat as you can walk through it and see what it was like to travel by canal. Believe it or not, people still travel through the canal for leisure travel and they have had visitors here that have shown up via the canals. Once you complete the first floor, trek upstairs and take a look at the displays of the businesses of the day. Bar, pottery place, general store, and theater. All meticulously put together and showing what it was like back in the heyday. After you have taken in everything in the museum you can head outside and take in a bit more. On the canal side of the building you can view the boat inside and what the weigh station looked like. Street side there are a few things to check. Their garden area is beautiful and a nice place to catch some rest. Fun fact, Syracuse was a major stop on the canal because of all the salt. Hence their nickname The Salt City.

Whether you're a Syracuse resident or just visiting, the Erie Canal Museum is a must see…read more The Museum is small but mighty. It packs fun and education all into one place. Meander around the self guided museum to see a variety of exhibits including a boat you can actually sit in! The museum is great for all ages; young and old. The staff is super friendly and the admission price won't break the bank.