Moreland & Sons Signs

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 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.

Lovers of the outdoors will not want to miss the chance to experience Beaver Lake Nature Center. Located a short 15-minute drive northwest of Syracuse in Baldwinsville, the center features 9 miles of trails that offer the opportunity to see over 200 species of birds and over 800 varieties of plants. Also, the 200-acre glacial lake is a true wonder to behold. During the warmer months, you can choose to get a closer look at the lake's natural beauty by exploring from a canoe.