The call of the wild is heard loud and clear the minute you set foot in Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park. This incredible 36-acre zoo houses nearly 1,000 animals in some truly impressive natural habitats and attractions. Among the many exotic birds, lions, tigers and monkeys, the zoo is best known for its widely recognized Humboldt Penguin Breeding Program.
Visiting Sainte Marie Among the Iroquois is like watching a history book come to life. Be transported back to the 1600s when the local Iroquois tribe invited the French to build a mission on the banks of Onondaga Lake. The site is now a living history museum that features an interpretive center with actors in period costumes who talk about what their lives are like at the mission in 1650. They also demonstrate daily activities of the time that include carpentry, blacksmithing, cooking and more.
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.
If you are in need of striking up a really great time with family or friends, then head out to AMF Strike N Spare Lanes in Syracuse. This state of the art bowling facility offers not only regulation lanes and electronic scoring but also a great arcade, concession area and pro shop that offers something for bowlers of all ages and skill levels.