family friendly fun

Syracuse was named one of the Top 25 Places to Live for Families in the US in 2022 + 2023, and we couldn’t agree more. Discover some of the top things to do with your family while in town — it might just make you want to move here!

Family Friendly Places To Eat

Check out The Hops Spot in Armory Square for family dining. Featuring a huge game room and a variety of poutine options (think fancy, smothered French fries), keep the kids entertained and device-free at this popular downtown location. For older children and teens, head over to Three Lives , home to a rotating selection of arcade games as well as Xbox consoles. Even their menu items are game-inspired! For dining across the region, stop into any one of the several Tully’s Good Times locations. Serving up the “Best Chicken Tenders on Earth,” they’re a guaranteed crowd pleaser for any picky eater.

Family Friendly Treats

For the family with a sweet tooth, head to Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen or the Ice Cream Stand when out in downtown Syracuse. Or check out Sugar Blossom Cake Shop in the Liverpool area for decadent desserts, including cookies, macarons and cookie sammies. For a classically Upstate NY treat, head to Harrison Bakery for a half-moon cookie or go with the fan favorite — an extra large chocolate chip cookie!

Family Friendly Educational Activities

Learn something new on your visit to the area at one of our several fun and educational attractions. Step into the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (The MoST) for a lesson across the STEM disciplines. Stop by their Innovation Station and discover inventions unique to the Syracuse area, travel back in time at The Dino Zone exhibit or learn about space or wilderness with an educational film at the National Grid Exploradome. Learn about the industry that made the Syracuse area what it is today at the Erie Canal Museum , where they’re commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal’s construction through 2025. Located in downtown Syracuse, this unique historical center is housed in the 1850 National Register Weighlock Building, the only remaining structure of its kind. Discover how the Erie Canal transformed New York State and made it a center of trade and commerce for the entire nation.

Family Friendly Outdoor Activities

If your family loves all things outdoors then Syracuse is the spot for you! Enjoy educational activities at Beaver Lake yearround. Learn how to snowshoe in the winter or discover the lake via canoe or kayak during the warmer seasons. Green Lakes offers nature walks, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course, a beach in the summer and beautiful foliage in the fall. Rosamond Gifford Zoo is another popular spot for any age, and now more than ever as the zoo’s Asian elephant, Mali, welcomed twin baby elephants in November of 2022! Making history as the only known surviving elephant twins in the United States ever, visitors of all ages can experience the magic of these magnificent “little” wonders in their outdoor elephant preserve. Little ones will love the play options at the Wegmans Playground at Onondaga Lake Park , while older families can make use of the parkway with bike or skate rentals available on-site. Don’t miss out on Four Seasons Golf + Ski Center in the eastern suburbs of the city. Offering skiing, snowboarding and tubing during the winter months, it then becomes a warm weather attraction, featuring adventure mini golf, soccer, batting cages and a driving range.