As green summer leaves fade to the yellows and oranges of fall, the outdoors in central New York could not be a better place to take in natural beauty. From waterfalls, to parks and even farms, the region has tons of outdoor activities to offer.

Skaneateles
A small town located about 40 minutes from Syracuse University’s campus offers all visitors striking views of the lake and a quaint town center. Even the drive is a scenic ride through central New York’s forestry. The town sits on the North Shore of Skaneateles Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, and has a magnificent view of the water. The Skaneateles Marina offers visitors the opportunity to rent out boats or kayaks to enjoy time on the pristine water.

Beyond the views, Skaneateles also has a picturesque shopping area near the water, with local stores selling anything from antiques to candy. The streets are lively as people move in and out of businesses like Drooz and Company, a general store, and Vermont Green Mountain Specialty Co., a local candy outlet.

If you’re looking to save some money, simply walking through the historic neighborhoods of Skaneateles can be refreshing. Many of the houses are grand and exemplary of classic Northeastern architecture.

Buttermilk Falls
The Syracuse area is surrounded by waterfalls, including Buttermilk Falls, which is located 40 minutes outside of the city. The waterfall is named after its source, the Buttermilk Creek, and flows all the way to Cayuga lake in a terraced way that adds a distinctive feel.

The park also offers a variety of amenities, including hiking, campsites, fishing, hunting and shelter rentals, according to the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Agency. Hiking at this park can be mildly difficult, as hikers have to climb a good amount of stairs to get to the top of the waterfall. But in the end, the effort is worth it as hikers can look down at where they started and marvel at the meandering waterfall.

For those less willing to climb all the stairs, the bottom of the park still offers a serene location, with picnic benches and a small pool of water to give visitors a peaceful place to eat and relax.

To enter the park, cars are required to pay a $9 fee from 6 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Camping at the park is also available for $15-$19 a night.

For more waterfall adventures check out The Daily Orange’s top picks.

Sweet Farm
If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary this fall, try taking a tour of Sweet Farm in Himrod, NY, about an hour and a half away from campus. The farm is “the first non-profit sanctuary in the world to address the global climate impacts of factory farming across animals, the plants, and the planet,” according to Sweet Farm’s website.

Sheika and Dolly chillaxing in the sunshine.

A photo posted by thesweetfarm

Tours of the sanctuary are offered every Saturday and Sunday, where visitors will see rescued farm animals and over 150 different crops grown. The tours highlight the mission of Sweet Farm which is to create a more sustainable way to farm and produce farms.

To sign up for a tour visit their website and tickets cost $15.

Watkins Glen State Park
For more ambitious explorers, Watkins Glen State Park, voted third in the USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Poll for Best State Park, is a magnificent trip to the south of Syracuse. Located about an hour and 45 minutes away from campus, this park follows the Glen’s stream for two miles as it descends 400 feet and contains 19 waterfalls.

Park’s path brings visitors over and under the falls for a truly immersive experience in the nature around them. The stream flows through intricate rocky pools, adding an exciting element to any hike taken down the glen.

Watkins Glen offers visitors the chance to go hiking, fishing or camping on the grounds and allows pets on the ground. Entering the park is $10 per vehicle, and the base rate for camp sites is $18-$30 per night.

Published on August 31, 2022 at 11:02 pm