Upstate & Central New York Summer Day Trips

Yesterday was the "unofficial" start of summer. You made it through the chilly winter and rainy spring. Now, with warmer weather on the horizon, you're probably thinking about a fun daytrip. There's so much to do here in Upstate and Central New York, from the underground mysteries of Howe Caverns in Schoharie County to honoring the biggest boxing legends of all time at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota. All within just a short driving distance -

According to AAA and NewYorkUpstate.com,  here are a list of a few daytrips the whole family will enjoy -

In Utica:

• There's the 15K Boilermaker Road Race. It happens the second Sunday of every July and brings in runners from all over the world. In its almost 40 year history, the Boilermaker has almost become a Utica area holiday.
• If you're interested in art exhibitions and collections, check out the annual arts festival at Munson-Williams Proctor Arts Institute. It's the area's longest summertime celebration. Six full days of sidewalk art, live music, antique autos and so much more. This year it runs from June 27 - July 2.
• For the kids, we have the Utica Zoo and Utica Children's Museum: The zoo has several hundred animals from almost 300 different species. The Utica Children's Museum located at 311 Main Street at Union Station has 4 floors of exhibits and hours of fun and learning for kids of all ages.
• Saranac Brewery Tours: Located on Varick Street is the Saranac Brewery. The brewery offers tours through the facility.  After the tour, try pints or flights in the 1888 Tavern.
• Saranac Thursdays: Every Thursday night during the summer months in Utica is Saranac Thursdays. It's located in front of the Saranac/FX Matt Brewery on the west side of the city and includes a different band, a lot of beer and a whole lot of fun.

National Baseball Hall of Fame: Located about 40 miles south of Utica in Cooperstown is the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Each year, more than 40 Hall of Famers return for Hall of Fame Weekend and the Induction Ceremony. This year the ceremony will be held July 30 at the Clark Sports Center. The event is free and will be broadcast live on MLB Network.

Old Forge: There's  something for everyone here. Attractions include McCauley Mountain Scenic Chairlift, Adirondack Scenic Railroad, Calypso's Cove, and much more.

• Billed as New York's Largest Water Theme Park, Enchanted Forest Water Safari certainly lives up to it's name. With more than 50 rides and attractions including 32 heated outdoor water rides, you would see why it's "Where the Fun Never Stops"

Howe Caverns: About an hour and a half drive from Utica, Howe Caverns in Schoharie County is the largest cave open to the public in the northeast. The cave is 156 feet below ground and features an underground lake, limestone caverns and more. Take the tour, you won't be disappointed.

International Boxing Hall of Fame: Just a short drive down the New York State Thruway from both Utica and Syracuse is "Boxing's Hometown".  It's the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY.  Boxers currently in the HOF include Muhammed Ali, Hector Camacho, Riddick Bowe, Sugar Ray Robinson, Mike Tyson and many others.  Their annual Hall of Fame Weekend is June 8th - 11th. This year, Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield among others will be inducted.

Sylvan Beach:  On the eastern shore of Oneida Lake is Sylvan Beach. It's the perfect day trip. Sylvan Beach not only has some great restaurants like Eddie's & Harpoon Eddie's but also Sylvan Beach Amusement Park. It includes a bunch of rides and an arcade.

These are just a few ideas for a summer day trip. Upstate and Central New York has so many other places to visit and enjoy this time of year. It's as easy as a quick internet search.

Have a safe and fun summer!