Nature and history intertwine to create something special at the Camillus Erie Canal Park. This 300-acre park is located between Albany and Buffalo, at the midpoint of the Erie Canal. The expansive area features seven miles of trails that are used for hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding in the warmer months of the year and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter. Also, don't miss the chance to stop into Sim's Store Museum which is a replica of an actual canal-side store that can be found in the center of the park.
Inspiration is everywhere when you explore the many fine exhibits and attractions at the Everson Museum of Art. The building itself is considered a work of art, as this sleek building was completed in 1968 following the design of I.M. Pei. Inside, you'll find several impressive collections of 18th century American portraits, African and Latin folk art, contemporary photography as well as a highly impressive collection of ceramics.
The Onondaga Historical Association Museum is one of the largest and most respected regional facilities in the area. It has amazing stories to tell, some of which reach back to include over 300 years of natural, cultural, artistic and industrial history that are all presented in a wide variety of exhibits. One of the museum's largest and most popular exhibits is the Underground Railroad exhibit and Syracuse's role in its establishment. Unlike various other museums, this is a non-interactive, “look-don't-touch” facility, so parents with small children are advised to monitor them closely.
Syracuse's nickname as “The Salt City” is just one of the stories you'll uncover when you visit the Salt Museum. The facility was built with timbers from an actual 19th century salt warehouse. The venue explains how in the mid-1800s, “boiling blocks” were used to boil salt water and evaporate the brine which left the salt behind. Syracuse went on to become the national leader in the production of salt, and the museum traces the many aspects of this unique area history. Visitors can see artifacts and attractions like wooden barrels, kettles, a saltworkers “neighborhood” and a full-scale reproduction boiling block.
The Erie Canal Museum traces history back to the mid-1800s when “weigh-lock” buildings were located along the length of the canal, and used to determine the toll that passing boats had to pay to get through the area between Albany and Buffalo. This museum is a National Register Landmark weigh lock building that features several interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations as well as actual artifacts that all tell the detailed story of how tolls were originally calculated.