Your Syracuse spring semester bucket list

Your Syracuse semester bucket list

Wondering what to do this spring in Syracuse? Here are our top 10 picks.
Published: April 10, 2023

Spring has finally returned to Syracuse, causing students and residents alike to exit hibernation and start exploring the university and the surrounding area. While campus offers lots of great options for things to do and places to hang out during the short warm month we have left of this semester, the city and upstate New York as a whole have so much to offer once the windchill goes away.

Looking for ways to spend your final few weekends of the Spring 2023 semester? Here’s a bucket list of 10 activities to do.

1. Picnic with friends in Thornden Park

This one isn’t quite off campus but the hill on Thornden Park has some of the best sunsets and views of the city. Located behind Dellplain, the park is an ideal picnic spot and a popular spot for students and residents alike to spend time when the weather gets warm.

Pick up some Chipotle or Bleu Monkey from Marshall Street or even pack an elaborate charcuterie board and bring it up there with friends or your significant other. You can’t beat a great view and even better company.

 

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Pro Tip: Make sure to bring a picnic blanket– ideally one with a waterproof layer. It is the season of April showers after all, and the grass could be wet.

2. Go wine tasting at Anyela’s Vineyard

For those 21+, Anyela’s Vineyard brings aspects of the Napa Valley wine-tasting experience to upstate New York. Just a 40-minute drive away in Skaneateles the vineyard offers a white wine feature tasting, red wine feature tasting, and a blended feature tasting. Each individual tasting is $20 and comes with four wines.

Glass of white wine at Anyela's Vineyard

Pro Tip: The vineyard also makes sparkling wines and dessert wines – definitely give them a try!

3. Get hot pot at Red Chili

A somewhat hidden gem of Syracuse is Red Chili, an Asian restaurant on Eerie Boulevard that serves dim sum, classic Szechuan food, and hot pot. Everything here is delicious (my personal favorite is the xiao long bao) but the hot pot is an especially unique experience if you want to switch it up. You cook the ingredients yourself in a soup bowl that is heated by heating devices built right into the table.

Pro Tip: If you’re not feeling hot pot get a variety of meals and share family style! The portions are generous and you’ll want to try it all.

4. Darty on a sunny day

This one probably isn’t a shock … ASAP Rocky and Drake can be heard radiating across campus whenever it warms up and people bring out their pong tables. But it doesn’t hurt to remind you that all you need is your friends, the beverage of your choice and some games to have a good time in the sunshine.

Pro Tip: Always have a backup set of pong balls – they tend to get lost easily.

5. Check out DROOZ + Company for spring treats

Another great Skaneateles find is DROOZ + Company. The upscale general store sells everything from backpacks to hand cream to home decor and is a shopper’s dream. Spend as much time as you want checking out the shelves – they always add new goodies for holidays such as Easter and July Fourth.

DROOZ + Company in Skaneateles

Pro Tip: The DROOZ + Co. trucker hats are a great investment for the beach.

6. Stroll around Green Lakes State Park

If springtime has you itching to stretch your legs, take a drive to Green Lakes State Park. The water is always shimmery and amazing to look at while you hike around the lake and catch up on your favorite podcast or chat with friends.

Pro Tip: This is also a great place to go if you miss your dog since the trail is pet friendly and you’ll definitely get to belly scratch some pups.

7. Watch an SU lacrosse game

The Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse team is currently the #1 lacrosse team in the country. Enough said.

Their next home game is April 20 against Boston College in the Dome and tickets are free to students!

Pro Tip: The men’s lacrosse team has no more home games but you can watch them on ESPN+ and ESPNU depending on the game.

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8. Make a flower arrangement

All the blooming flowers spring brings don’t have to be exclusive to the outdoors. Go to Trader Joe’s or Wegmans to pick out different flowers and then arrange them in a bouquet for your room. You can even pick the flowers outside yourself if you don’t want to schlep to the supermarket.

Pro Tip: The carnations at Trader Joe’s last up to two weeks!

9. Trivia!

Salt City Market downtown has trivia nights at the Salt City Bar every Monday night at 7 p.m. They are one of multiple venues that host weekly or monthly trivia. Get a drink and test your knowledge while also being able to get food from the market’s vendors.

Pro Tip: Big in Burma, Soulutions, and Farm Girl + Catalpa are the only vendors closed on Mondays.

 

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10. Sit outside with a coffee at Recess

The Westcott neighborhood brings an artsy laid-back vibe to the university area and one of its pillars is Recess Coffee. While there’s usually a line it’s worth it for craft coffees, teas, and smoothies along with various sandwiches and pastries. Have a leisurely breakfast outside at one of their picnic tables on a warm day and just soak in the coffee shop aesthetic.

Pro Tip: They change their seasonal menu every so often with unique coffee creations relating to the seasons.