Exploring Syracuse: A Guide to Your Next Natural Retreat

If you’re looking for a place to unwind and escape from everyday life, Syracuse offers an abundance of opportunities to connect with nature and practice a little self-care.

From relaxing at a spa and indulging in fresh food, to hiking in the wilderness and enjoying the beautiful outdoors, Syracuse is the perfect place for a retreat.

Check out this three-day, two-night itinerary to plan your next natural retreat and leave feeling invigorated, and in-tune with your best self.

Day 1

Take a Historic Stroll Downtown

Stroll through historic Clinton Square, taking in the stunning architecture and vibrant atmosphere. This area boasts a beautiful panoramic of buildings and features from the 19th & early 20th centuries. Once the city's original town center, Clinton Square and nearby Armory and Hanover Squares, are home to trendy shops, salons, restaurants, pubs, and other small businesses to peruse. Year-round, the area hosts may of Syracuse’s annual festivals and events. In the winter, the area welcomes the spirit of the season with holiday festivities and the popular ice-skating rink.

Indulge in a Plant-Based Goodness

Enjoy fresh Mediterranean dishes at the first Lebanese restaurant in Syracuse, NY, Byblos Mediterranean Café. Emphasizing fresh ingredients and flavors, their menu includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, making it an excellent choice for those with wellness in mind.

Or indulge in fast-casual vegan comfort food with a variety of plant-based options at Strong Hearts. Their menu is filled with plant-based options, including sandwiches, burgers, salads, indulgent desserts, and health-focused smoothies. The cafe is committed to animal, earth, and human liberation, providing a vibrant, activist-driven dining experience in a modern space.

Bike, Run or Walk Along the Erie Canal

Take a leisurely bike ride, run or walk along the scenic trail found within the Old Erie Canal State Park. A historic trail that stretches across New York State, the section running through Syracuse provides flat, well-maintained paths perfect for long distance running or biking, with mile markers along the route. The trail runs alongside the Erie Canal, offering picturesque views and a tranquil experience. It’s an ideal trail for those looking to log some miles while enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

Unwind at an Infrared Sauna

Unwind with an infrared sauna session at Saunacuse, the area’s premiere infrared studio. Offering full spectrum infrared in a luxury spa-like setting, these treatments are designed to promote relaxation, detoxification, weight loss, and a plethora of other health benefits. Each private sauna session includes Chromotherapy Light Therapy to help encourage deep healing while activating the sweat glands and eliminating toxins.

End In Eden

Experience upscale-casual dining with locally sourced, wood-fired cuisine at Eden! With a mission to highlight the best food producers, farmers, brewers, distillers and foragers in New York State, Eden’s menu changes with the seasons, ensuring everything is sourced locally and sustainably.

Check-In to Relaxation

The Parkview Hotel is in the heart of it all, between Syracuse University and Downtown Syracuse, offering travelers the perfect combination of comfort and service in a boutique hotel that’s clearly individual. Whether relaxing by the cozy lobby fireplace or heading out your door for a light stroll, their friendly and helpful staff will greet you at every opportunity showing you what true hospitality looks like.

Day 2

Nourish Your Mind, Body & Soul

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Hope Café, where every meal helps provide for those in need. Hope Café is a community lounge and means of financial support for a local non-profit, The People Project—with each purchase providing for two more in need and feeding over 10,000 people each month. A fusion of Peruvian, Italian, and American food and drinks, the menu is as inspired as the cause.

Find Your Center in Nature

Discover the beauty of Labrador Hollow State Unique Area. Near Tully and accessible from Route 91, this natural retreat was formed thousands of years ago by glaciers. Labrador Hollow is home to many rare and endangered flora and fauna thanks in part to its kettle lake which sits 350 feet above sea level and is dominated by hills of 2,000 feet. This creates a shady environment for plant life that is most characteristic of high mountain bogs. Activities at Labrador Hollow include fall leaf-peeping, hiking, canoeing (launching at designated areas), birdwatching and fishing in permitted areas.

Located in Labrador Hollow State Unique Area, hike to the beautiful Tinker Falls, featuring 50 feet of overhanging falls, flowing into a 30-foot rocky cascade. The scenic overlook trail allows visitors to go behind the falls and see the waterfall from all angles. The Tinker Falls trail is accessible and easy to hike, which makes it perfect for hikers of all skill levels.

Morgan Hill State Forest and Labrador Hollow Unique Area are often referred to as one and the same—known as the Hill and Hollow unit. A visit to both locations will contrast the striking scenery from Labrador Hollow with the rugged wildness of Morgan Hill, which offers an extra challenge for more serious hikers and backpackers.

Enjoy a Loft-y Lunch

Enjoy fine dining in a relaxed and rustic atmosphere overlooking scenic Otisco Lake and the Vesper Hills Golf Club with a visit to The Loft. Featuring a custom menu with creative specialties, the chefs create every detail with the visitor in mind. The choices range from delicious cuts of beef to -- sold out most Fridays -- fried fish.

Set Off on a Serene Paddle

Take a peaceful afternoon stroll along the eastern-most Finger Lakes at Otisco Lake Campgrounds. Rent a kayak for serene views and paddle off into the peaceful waters.

Savor Lakeside Comfort

Located on the edge of Otisco Lake, Amber Inn Tavern offers everything from comfort food favorites to healthy dining options. They offer a variety of craft cocktails, beer and wine and occasional live music.

Gaze Into the Night Sky

If time permits, plan a stop at the Darling Hill Observatory and gaze at the wonders of the night sky on a clear summer night. Built in 1971 with funds generously provided by the Rosemond Gifford Foundation, the observatory is located on seven acres of land at a rural location away from the burden of artificial light. A volunteer staff operates a nine-foot-long telescope which delivers stunning views of the planets, the moon, galaxies, and star clusters which are all but invisible to city dwellers during the public hours, once a month.

Day 3

Get Cozy at Phoebe's

Phoebe’s Restaurant & Coffee Lounge is a downtown Syracuse favorite known for its cozy, eclectic vibe and elevated comfort food. Serving everything from hearty brunch classics to flavorful dinner plates, Phoebe’s blends fresh ingredients with creative, made-from-scratch recipes. Guests can enjoy craft cocktails, local beers, and specialty coffees in a warm, inviting space that feels both relaxed and lively. It’s a go-to spot for casual meals, weekend brunch, and lingering conversations in the heart of the city.

Experience a Luxury Spa

Indulge in luxurious spa treatments at Mirbeau Inn & Spa. Relax in their resting area, designed to be a quiet oasis for personal reflection and private meditation. Lounge in the Aqua Terrace, an outdoor paradise offering a large hot spa pool, with massage jets, waterfall, over-sized fireplace, and snack and drink bar. It’s the perfect place to unwind and disconnect from the stress of everyday life.

Continue to Wine-Down

Enjoy a refined lunch at the Bistro & Wine Bar at Mirbeau Inn & Spa. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch, the menus draw inspiration from the cuisine found throughout bistros in France, infused with local flavors of the Finger Lakes to deliver in-season, sustainable, and locally sourced dishes. Reflective of Mirbeau's spa atmosphere, the restaurant is classically elegant, and the outdoor patio overlooks Monet Gardens, which is heated during the colder months.

Unleash Your Creative Self

Participate in a hands-on clay pottery class at Papavero Clay Studio and unleash your most creative self! Ran by studio potters Jeremy Randall and Sarah Panzarella, classes at Papavero are designed to allow anyone from the beginner to the experienced person to go away at the end of a session with objects that they have designed, made, finished and fired. Whether you haven't touched clay since grade school or have a home studio and are looking to join a community of casual makers, there are opportunities for everyone.

Enjoy a Peaceful & Picturesque Afternoon

Explore the picturesque and lakeside Village of Skaneateles. Stroll through the charming downtown and check out local shops and boutiques. Relax by the peaceful waters of Skaneateles Lake or take a cruise along the water (during the warmer months). Enjoy a final dinner lakeside at The Bluewater Grill, sample some surf at Doug’s Fish Fry (voted Best Fish Fry by Syracuse.com Best of CNY), or savor a classic meal at the historic Sherwood Inn.

Explore more of Syracuse's natural spaces and places to relax, refresh and rejuvenate with the Visit Syracuse tour app. It's your gateway to uncovering even more of the area's scenic wonders and ensuring your next visit is just as incredible as the last.

Plan your Syracuse natural retreat and get ready to experience healthful treats, stunning scenery, and charming towns and relaxing outdoor adventures.