Syracuse, often known for its snowy winters and rich basketball culture, has more up its sleeves than you might think.
Step away from the beaten path of campus tours and conventional landmarks. This guide will introduce you to 15 quirky experiences that Syracuse has to offer.
Not only quirky though these are definitely some unusual things to do in Syracuse!
Get ready to dive into the unique charm of Salt City!
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Table of Contents
Onondaga Lake Park: Go for the Park, Stay for the Swans
Why Go?
Known as the “Central Park of Central New York,” Onondaga Lake Park offers a scenic view and unexpected friends—swans that gracefully glide across the water.
What's the Catch?
It’s not just a park; it’s a multi-faceted outdoor space. From skating rinks in winter to paddle boats in summer, the activities are endless.
Pro Tip
Rent a bike and explore the area on two wheels. Just don’t try to outswim the swans; they’re deceptively fast!
5 Wits: Because an Escape Room is Too Mainstream
Why Go?
This is an immersive adventure experience that offers scenarios like espionage and tomb exploration, amping up the typical escape room concept.
5Wits is an awesome amusement center that is conveniently located in Destiny Mall which is one of the largest malls in America.
What's the Catch?
Challenges here are not just about solving puzzles. They also involve physical tasks that make you feel like a true adventurer.
Pro Tip
Assemble a team with diverse skills—think Indiana Jones meets Sherlock Holmes meets an Olympic athlete.
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The MOST (Museum of Science and Technology): The Geek's Paradise
Why Go?
Sure, it’s a science museum, but with a planetarium and interactive exhibits, it’s anything but typical.
What's the Catch?
You might learn something new, and isn’t that the worst? (Sarcasm intended).
Pro Tip
Don’t miss the hands-on engineering corner, where building a mini-rocket is just another Tuesday.
The Upside Down House: Defy Gravity, and Logic
Why Go?
This architecturally rebellious structure will make you question your understanding of physics, and life as we know it. This place is called WonderWorks and is conveniently located in the Destiny Mall.
What's the Catch?
You might leave with a crick in your neck, but it’s worth the Instagram likes.
Pro Tip
Great place for a Tinder profile pic. Nothing screams “I’m unique” like standing in an upside-down kitchen.
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Tipperary Hill: Where Traffic Lights Lose Their Minds
Why Go?
A traffic light where the green light is on top—because, why not?
What's the Catch?
It’s still a traffic light, so please obey the laws.
Pro Tip
Best visited at twilight when the upside-down lights create an ethereal glow.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo: The Lesser-Known Animal Kingdom
Why Go?
It’s one of the oldest zoos in the United States and home to some unusual animals like the Andean Bear.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo is a great place for kids to get a great view of different animals from around the world!
Why settle for daytime zoo visits when you can experience a safari under the stars? Twilight at the Zoo is not just another nocturnal fantasy; it’s a reality.
What's the Catch?
You may find yourself comparing every other zoo to this one. You won’t be able to complain about the kids for once—this after-hours event is adults-only.
Pro Tip
Visit during their special night events for a unique nocturnal animal viewing experience.
Bring a flashlight; it helps you find your way and make shadow puppets if you get bored. Just kidding, you won’t be bored.
City Market: Flea Market on Steroids
Why Go?
This isn’t just a market; it’s a treasure trove of antique, local crafts, and peculiar trinkets.
What's the Catch?
Your luggage might be heavier on the return trip.
Pro Tip
Cash is king. Many vendors don’t accept cards, so come prepared.
The 24-Second Shot Clock Monument: Time’s Up for Boredom
Why Go?
Who needs a Big Ben when you’ve got a 24-Second Shot Clock?
Visit this monument to honor Syracuse’s gift to the adrenaline-pumping world of basketball. Forget dribbling away your time; this invention literally changed how the game is played.
What's the Catch?
You might feel a sudden urgency to make quick decisions in life. Just remember, unlike basketball, there’s no referee to call you out on life’s shot-clock violations.
Pro Tip
Practice your best buzzer-beater pose next to the monument and post it on social media.
You’ll not only score likes but also cement your status as a sports trivia legend. Also, if you visit at the 24-second mark of any minute, make a wish.
It won’t come true, but you’ll feel pretty darn sporty for remembering.
The Gear Factory: Create, Destroy, Repeat
Why Go?
Have you ever wanted to blend the sophistication of art with the ruggedness of a woodshop? Look no further than The Gear Factory.
It’s a wonderland where your artistic ambitions mate with machinery, producing extraordinary offspring like a robot table or a luminescent sculpture.
This is where your Pinterest dreams come to life, and you walk out with a masterpiece that’s part van Gogh, part Bob the Builder.
What's the Catch?
Ah, yes, the catch. While it’s tempting to hike in and simply soak up the creative aura, remember: this isn’t a hipster coffee shop.
You’re expected to build, paint, or hammer something into existence.
And no, crafting the perfect Instagram Story of you ‘being all creative’ doesn’t count. The Gear Factory demands actual sweat equity.
If you aren’t prepared to engage in some artistic labor, you might want to stick to the museums.
Pro Tip
This place has more tools than a 1980s hair band with hair spray.
But, hey, if you’ve never picked up a drill before and think it’s some space gun, please, for the love of art, ask for help.
There are experienced craftspeople willing to guide you.
Safety goggles may not be the height of fashion, but they’re better than an eye patch—unless you’re going for a pirate-chic look. Either way, your digits will thank you.
The World's Smallest Church in Oneida: Holy Matrimony on a Mini Scale
Why Go?
For those who’ve dreamed of a fairytale wedding without the grandiosity—or perhaps just looking to exclude pesky in-laws—Cross Island Chapel is your sanctuary.
Built in 1989, this 29-square-foot structure proves that size doesn’t matter when love is in the air.
Picture saying your vows with a congregation that’s barely larger than the cast of a sitcom intro—just you, your better half, and a preacher. Oh, and it’s slap bang in the middle of a pond.
What's the Catch?
“Intimate” is the name of the game. Forget the entourage; this place maxes out at a party of three.
Also, you better be fond of rowing or at least willing to embrace the quaintly rustic mode of arrival. No limos here—just a rowboat to paddle your way into wedded bliss.
Pro Tip
Check the wedding schedule in advance. Turns out, the appeal of a micro-wedding in the world’s smallest chapel has made it an unexpectedly hot ticket.
You might have to book your “weird” but wonderful nuptials well in advance.
Also, make sure your camera has a panoramic setting; capturing the whole place in one shot could be a stretch.
Clinton Square Ice Rink: Glide into Fun
Why Go?
It’s outdoor skating, but in a historic square.
Top Rated Winter Jackets
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What's the Catch?
You’ll wish you had practiced your pirouettes.
Pro Tip
Go during the evening when the surrounding buildings are illuminated, adding an extra layer of magic.
NBT Bank Stadium: For the Love of Minor League Baseball
Why Go?
Catch a Syracuse Mets game and soak up the raw enthusiasm of minor league baseball.
What's the Catch?
You might become a lifelong Mets fan.
Pro Tip
Thursdays are usually promotional nights. Think cheaper beers and free merchandise.
The Tree of 40 Fruits: The Eccentric Arboreal Experience You Never Knew You Needed
Why Go?
You may think a tree is just a tree, but have you ever been to a botanical party with a VIP guest list of cherries, peaches, nectarines, and plums?
The Tree of 40 Fruits at Syracuse University is not your average bark and leaf affair.
Curated by artist and professor Sam Van Aken, this tree serves you a cornucopia of fruits each season, making it an Instagrammable living canvas for all your #FruitGoals.
What's the Catch?
Yes, there is such a thing as a fruit connoisseur, and you’re dangerously close to becoming one.
What starts as a casual visit might lead you down a rabbit hole of grafting techniques, orchard preservation, and deep musings about the role of art in agriculture. Oh, and you may leave with an insatiable craving for fruit salads.
Pro Tip
Timing is everything. Visit in the spring to witness a kaleidoscope of pink, white, and red blossoms that’ll turn your Instagram feed into a floral fantasia.
Or arrive in the summer to pluck the bounty—just make sure you can identify the 40 types of fruits because mistaking a nectarine for a peach is the botanical faux pas you never want to commit.
This tree is what would happen if a botanical garden and an art exhibit had a baby. It’s a horticultural extravaganza and a feast for the senses, literally.
Sprung from the visionary mind of Sam Van Aken, the tree is an enigma, an artwork, and a preservation project all in one.
Beginning its life in 2011 on the SU campus, the Tree of 40 Fruits—or as we like to call it, “Tree 75″—is the epitome of agricultural fusion.
Conclusion
Syracuse is more than just a pit stop on the I-90; it’s a detour-worthy destination packed with quirky attractions, hidden gems, and conversation-starting curiosities.
No need to be a standard tourist in Syracuse; with this guide, you’re now a certified off-path adventurer.
So go on, challenge the ordinary, and let Syracuse surprise you one unusual experience at a time.
