What to do in the Syracuse area this weekend? Why not check out one of the many Onondaga County Parks. One advantage to living in Central New York is the abundance of public parks. There are many activities to enjoy at each park, no matter what you like to do.
Beaver Lake Nature Center
Open year round at 7:30 am. Admission is $3 per car or $24 for an annual pass.
There are many things to enjoy at Beaver Lake Nature Center you can go canoeing or kayaking, bring your own or rent one. Canoes and solo kayaks are available on a first come first basis, $8 for the first hour and $2 for each additional half hour. You can also go hiking through one of the many winding trails throughout the park. You can walk, bike, or ski the trails as there are over 9 miles of maintained trails. Beaver Lake is a 200 acre glacial lake that is a migratory stop for thousands of Canadian geese.
Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery
Carpenter’s Brooks is open April 16 – September 30 9am – 6pm and admission is free. There is a fish production for farm pond stocking, Fishing programs for families, seniors, and specials needs group. June 19 and 26 there is public fishing from 9:30 – 11:30am, bait, rods & reels will be provided and it costs $5 per person. You can have a fish ‘n party at the shelter. Erie Canalway Go to one of the many parks along the Erie Canal. You can have a picnic and enjoy the use of picnic tables, charcoal grills, and playgrounds. Also you can follow the trail along the canal and bike, walk, run, or cross country ski year round.
Highland Forest
Open daily April through February at 8:30am. Admission is $1 and 21 years and under are FREE.
So many things to do here! You can go hiking or walking through the wooded trails of Highland. Youth group camping, cabins rent from $29 to $140 and there are tenting areas available as well. Picnics, meetings, and weddings have all been held at one of the picnic shelters available. Mountain biking is another option. There is also bow and deer hunting in the Fall and turkey hunting in the Spring. June through August the Pioneer Museum is open on weekends from 1:00 – 4:00.
Hopkins Road Park
A six diamond complex of which there are five tournament quality softball fields and a fenced baseball field. There is a wide assortment of leagues available every night of the week and on weekends as well.
Jamesville Beach Park
Park is open year round dusk to dawn. Beach opens May 29 to September 6 weekends 11 – 7, weekdays June 1 til September 3, hours vary. Beach admission is $5 per vehicle on weekends and $4 for weekdays. A season pass is also available for $31.50.
Don’t want to do the beach? There is still more to enjoy. There are a few shelters to reserve for your party. Boat rentals are available, paddle boats, row boats, canoes, and kayaks. Horseshoe pits and you don’t need to bring your own shoes. Volleyball courts are available. There is also a disc golf course open April to October during park hours, bring your own discs or rent them for $3 a set. Fishing is available along the shore as well.
Oneida Shores Park
Oneida shores is open year round. Beach is open May 29 to Spetember 6. Beach season admission is $4 a vehicle on weekdays and $5 on weekends, non beach hours admission is free. You can also launch your boats here into Oneida Lake rates vary from $4 to $8.50 depending on type and size of boat, season passes are also available. Camping is available sites range from $20 - $28 a night. There are also a few shelters you can rent out to host a party.
Onondaga Lake Park
Open year round. So much to do here, archery, boat rentals, butterfly garden of HOPE, commemorative bench program, equipment rentals, friends of historic Onondaga lake, fishing, get moving CNY, historic sites, kickball, lights on the lake, long branch park, marina and boat launch, salt museum, shelter rental, skatepark, trails, wegmans good dog park, and wegmans playground.
There are more parks available and will write about them in a future blog. As always for all of your Syracuse Real estate needs check out my website.
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