151. RUNapalooza

Two of my favorite things to do is 1) Run & 2) Listen to great music…. not always in that order…

So imagine my surprise when I learned of this great chance to experience two of my favorite things come together as one!

RUNapalooza is a 5k music festival….doesn’t get any easier than that!

With thousands of people expected to participate, RUNapalooza is guaranteed to be one of the most exciting 5k’s in the area. It is tomorrow, June 1st, at OCC and will feature 6 really fantastic local bands along the course route.

You can bet that I’ll be running this 5k…rain or shine! And I’m excited to pass by some local favorites like JUST JOE, The Mike McKay Band, The First Born Suns and more!

Registration is still open for those who have save it until the last minute, and will be $35. With that you’ll get a t-shirt, beer, access to the concert, and more! Guys…this is seriously going to be so much fun!

Tip: Not much of a runner? No worries…come cheer the runners on anyways! They’ll have beer available for spectators and a concert immediately following the race!

150. Wegmans Good Dog Park

Is there anything better than taking your dog to the park to play with other pups?

I think not.

With nice weather brings lots of people to parks and recreational places, and with them they bring their dogs…but finally, the dogs are the ones with all the attention and playtime is on their time.

The Wegmans Good Dog Park is one of the only parks in Syracuse that is specifically designed with the dog in mind. It’s 40,000 square feet of dog playground heaven.  Dogs are allowed within the fenced in space without a leash to run up obstacles and play with their dog friends. This is a really great park to take your dog to…especially if it can play nice with other dogs!

There are a few rules associated with the park, such as:

• Your dog may not be in heat, sick, have parasites or be younger than four months old.
• Dogs must have tags and up-to-date on shots and a valid license.
• No food allowed in the dog park.

For more information on the rules of the park, click here.

Tip: Don’t forget to clean up after your pet, there are stations located throughout just in case you forget some bags!

location: 49 Cold Springs Trail, Liverpool, NY

149. Burnet Park Golf Course

For anyone that has any sort of coordination, I’m sure they’ve tried golf…whether it’s mini golf or regular size golf, you’ve probably held some sort of club in your hand…

I think after many failed attempts at being a great golfer, I’m sticking to Mini Golf…but for those of you interested in a quick 9, designed with beginners in mind, Burnet Park has the best golf course for you. It’s located right on Tipp Hill…home to many bars, festivals and fun events.

With 9 holes, the largest one maxing out at 250 yards, this is a great course to learn on…not to mention, it’s open till 9 and it’s only $6 to play. Did I mention, this is one of the oldest courses in New York State? How cool is that?! …and it also has some of the best views of the city, too!

Who knows, maybe I’ll dust off my clubs and check this course out…but for anyone within spitting distance, beware of flying golf balls!

Tip: The first hole features the country’s only “shamrock” shaped bunker!

location: Avery and Coleridge Avenue

148. Fairmount Glen Miniature Golf

When it comes to the nicer weather Syracuse has to offer, it is noted that many people enjoy being outside at nighttime. We spend all day in our cubicles wishing to be outside. I personally, love doing outdoor evening activities. Give me a nice patio with some lights, a bonfire, a concert, or even a mini golf course and I’ll probably have the time of my life.

When it comes to Miniature Golf in Syracuse, however, there’s one place that is the epitome of classic course. That’s Fairmount Glen.

This Miniature Golf Course has been around since the 1940s when it was located on what is now the campus of West Genny High School. The history is quite fascinating, actually.

This is by far the best Miniature Golf Course in town, and it’s really fun to go to with a group of friends. A single game is $7.50, 2 hours all-you-can-play is $11.50.

Tip: They’re open until midnight on the weekends.

location: 210 Onondaga Road

147. Fair Haven Beach

Happy Memorial Day, y’all!

This weekend is a big weekend in Syracuse. Did anyone go to the watchfire last night?

This weekend marks the first weekend of the year the beaches in the area are open for business. That means it’s the marker of the first day of unofficial summer!

I was a bit disappointed with the weather this weekend, but all-in-all, today is a beautiful day. Even if you don’t plan on swimming, head to the beach with your family.

Fair Haven is one of my favorite places to go because there’s so much to do there. You can camp, you can grill, you can swim, boat, dive and hike…you can do tons of activities. So even if the water is too cold, you’re never going to be lacking in things to do at Fair Haven.

Lots of families throughout the summer will pack the car and head to Fair Haven where they’ll pop open the tent and bust out some hot dogs to enjoy a traditional summer weekend. It’s a relaxing place, and lots of people like going there.  It’s just a tad-bit north of Syracuse, but a 30 minute drive to get out of town and enjoy a weekend with friends and family is 100% worth it.

Tip: Fair Haven qualifies for the Empire Pass, just like Chittenango Falls and Clark Reservation. It’s worth investing in if you’re going to be frequenting the parks. You can pick one up online. 

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146. Limp Lizard

Memorial day brings a few things to mind…1) Being outside 2) BBQ’s 3) Friends & Family 4) Recognizing those who protect and defend this great country. (in no particular order).

With the weather as dreary as can be I’m trying to make the best of it. I’m going to do every thing I can to stay excited about this unofficial summertime threshold. So, with that in mind I think it’s important to list one place that popped into my head when I thought of getting BBQ.

Limp Lizard.

Limp Lizard has 3 locations around town. Onondaga Blvd, Liverpool and North Syracuse and does a really fantastic job of keeping it all very consistent, they might have different menus but their bbq ribs, chicken, brisket, and all the other delicious things on their menu are guaranteed to be worth every cent.

My favorite location is in Liverpool. Sitting out on the patio (!!) enjoying BBQ in nice weather is exactly what a doctor will order someone who is seeking eternal bliss to do.

Tip: Try the mac & cheese as a side, it is really good!

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145. The MOST

Deep in the heart of Armory Square sits a haunting building, massive in size and features it’s home to an old armory. It’s dynamic size and structure watches over Syracuse, it protects it…it’s awareness leads to innovation and creativity. It’s the coolest place around, by far.

After years of different uses, it settled in as a Science Museum. Now, the building gets hundreds of visitors per day, curious about cells and robots and the most hands on interesting activities in town. This building is The MOST.

Personally, I’m just plain old awful at Science. I never understood any part of it…and the only time I can really get a grasp on the way Science works is when it’s hands on…not to mention, it’s really fun to experiment with all the cool tools there!

The MOST is great, it’s a fantastic activity for people of all ages, and even caters to the older crowd too, like Tap into the MOST, an IMAX theater –the only one in town, a planetarium (!!!) and they’re always bringing really awesome features around…like interactive exhibits on Robots!

The MOST is open throughout the week (closed on Mondays & Tuesdays) and the prices vary for what you’re interested in discovering. Click here for more details.

There’s so much stuff that goes on at The MOST that my suggestion to you is to try it out for yourself…walk around, feel the learning around you and take in the gigantic structure of the old Armory while you’re at it.

Tip: Museum Week is just around the corner, Buy 1 admission get 1 free the week of June 12-16.

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144. The Retreat

Now that the weather is getting warmer, and I’m basically obsessed with spending as much time outside as possible, I’m on the quest for the best patio in Syracuse. (Suggestions strongly recommended).

A few immediately came to mind, but the one I felt should be highlighted on my “Perfect Patio” search, is The Retreat.

The Retreat is situated right in the heart of downtown Liverpool. Steps away from Onondaga Lake Park, Cobblestone, and Heid’s, it’s got a vast menu (their clam chowder is pretty good, too!), a huge outdoor dining space and quite the nightlife with drink specials, and live music throughout the week.  This is also a great place to catch sporting event’s too…they’ve got lots of TVs!

On those hot summer nights when you can’t imagine being in a hot steamy crowded bar, hit up the Retreat’s Patio…it’s huge and you’re bound to have fun one way or another.

Tip: Like them on facebook to learn about daily specials and entertainment!

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143. Midway Drive-in Theater

We all know I’m a sucker for things with the slightest bit of history involved. Give me a good black and white photo and you’ve basically grabbed my attention.

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to drive a little bit out of Syracuse to Fulton and watch a movie at the Drive-in theater. It’s a timeless tradition, it’s a remembrance of long ago…which we all know I really enjoy!

I have been to this theater a few times, and each time I can guarantee it’ll be just as how it’s always been. You drive in with your car, cramming as many people as you can in the backseat…legally of course…you pay at the gate, find your perfect spot, tune your radio to 87.9FM, pull out your blankets and chairs and watch the movie outside.  Throughout the evening you’ll wander around, perhaps make a few friends at the concession stand…it will definitely be worth your money to go to a movie at the drive-in.

I love this place. It’s so awesome. And, it’s so cheap! $7 for an adult to see 2 movies?! Shows start at dusk, and they run through the evening. They’ve got their schedule here.

Tip: Saturday & Sunday they show Triple Feature Films. Thursday Friday & Monday are double feature.

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142. Saunacuse

Rejuvination is what we’re all looking for after this past winter, and now that summer is within our reach it’s time to get movin!

A really unique business here in Syracuse is Saunacuse…first of all, anyone that can combine Syracuse and their business name is sweet, so there’s no surprise that Saunacuse is a really cool place to go. Everytime I drove by it on Hiawatha Blvd I always just thought it was a place where you went to go buy saunas, but it’s actually a private sauna relaxation place. Sounds sweet!

It’s also not that expensive, for a 30 minute session you can expect to spend about $20. They’ve got reasonable prices, and introductory packages.

Essentially, you are given the option of spending 30-40 minutes in an infrared Sauna, single or double, to detoxify your body. If you’ve ever been to a spa, it’s essentially the same thing. Only, the cool thing about Saunacuse is how private it is. You can spend some time relaxing, burning calories, and focusing on your health. In my opinion, it’s a great thing for everyone to do…it’s interesting and different, and a great way to detox your body.

Tip: You’re definitely going to need water, bring your own or buy some but it’s strongly recommended that you hydrate!

location: 835 Hiawatha Blvd