VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Is there really nothing to do in Syracuse? Local leaders say no.
Ku’ulei Kahale: Ku’ulei Kahale, NCC News. I have a question. Have you ever looked up Syracuse on any of your social media?Well, whether it’s X, Instagram, or TikTok, there seems to be one common consensus.. that there’s nothing to do in Syracuse.So today we’re going to go on a MythBuster and show you exactly what there is within this city, and our first stop was the number one tool used to find these things out. Visit Syracuse.
Elizabeth Judge: I think there’s so much going on here, and maybe people that think things like that, you know, that there isn’t that much to do. They just haven’t gotten out. They haven’t explored. They haven’t seen what’s new.
Kahale: So that’s exactly what we set out to do. From local coffee shops like Pausa Coffee to family attractions like the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and even a night at the NBT Bank Stadium with the Syracuse Mets. But Syracuse’s story goes beyond entertainment. The city earned its nickname “The Salt City,” thanks to a booming salt industry that helped shape the region’s history. That history can still be found today at landmarks like Tipperary Hill and its famous upside-down traffic light. And for those looking to get outside, Onondaga Lake Park offers miles of trails, waterfront views, and even a chance to spot bald eagles. With just the few places that I was able to take you to today, now you get to be the judge. Does Syracuse have things to do? In Syracuse, Ku’ulei Kahale, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Spend a few minutes scrolling through social media, and you’ll likely come across a familiar criticism of Syracuse: there’s nothing to do.
But local tourism leaders and business owners say that perception doesn’t match reality.
“I think there’s so much going on here,” said Elizabeth Judge, chief marketing officer for Visit Syracuse. “Maybe people that think there isn’t that much to do just haven’t gotten out, they haven’t explored, they haven’t seen what’s new.”
Judge points to the area’s attractions, restaurants, parks, and festivals as examples of activities available throughout the year.
The region is home to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, which welcomed the only twin Asian elephants in the Western Hemisphere in 2022.
Syracuse is also home to Destiny USA, one of the largest shopping malls in the United States, bringing visitors from across the region.
Syracuse’s culture and history can still be seen today. At the Salt Museum, visitors can learn how Syracuse earned the nickname “The Salt City” from the natural salt springs around Onondaga Lake. By the 1800s, the area had become one of the nation’s leading salt-producing regions.
Another stop, Tipperary Hill, celebrates the city’s Irish heritage through its famous upside-down traffic light.
The viewpoint also doesn’t match what some business owners see firsthand.
Antoine Smith, owner of Big Fellas BBQ, said customers often tell him they made the trip to Syracuse specifically for his food.
“It’s hard for me because people tell me they come to Syracuse just for my food,” Smith said.
For Judge, experiences like those are part of what makes Syracuse unique.
“We’re small enough that we’re very open and welcoming, but big enough where you can find anything to do,” she said.
Whether it’s local restaurants, family attractions, outdoor recreation, or the city’s history, supporters of Syracuse say the city offers more than many people realize.
The question is whether people are willing to get out and explore it.