Things To Do in Syracuse NY

Principal among Syracuse's attractions is the Museum of Science & Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St. (tel. 315/425-0747; www.most.org), which is located in an old armory and filled on three levels with terrific interactive science exhibits, science demonstrations, simulator rides that will entertain both youngsters and their parents, a cool domed IMAX theater, and a planetarium. It's open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Museum-only admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors and children under 12; planetarium admission $2 extra; combination IMAX/museum ticket, $11 adults, $9 seniors and children under 12. For IMAX showtimes and tickets, call tel. 315/473-IMAX.

The Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. E. (Rte. 5) at Montgomery Street (tel. 315/471-0593; www.eriecanalmuseum.org; Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-3pm; free admission), is in the original 1850 weigh-lock building designed to determine tolls for boats on the canal. It may not be the most exciting museum you've ever visited, but it makes for an interesting historical stop, depicting as it does six vignettes of 19th-century life along the canal. The Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St. (tel. 315/474-6064; www.everson.org; Tues-Fri and Sun, noon-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm; suggested donation $5), was the first building designed by noted architect I. M. Pei. It contains a superb collection of American ceramics. Architecture buffs may want to go from Everson to one of the finest Art Deco buildings in Syracuse, the Niagara-Mohawk building on North Franklin Street, a miniature Chrysler Building that's illuminated at night.

Finally, while visiting a bakery might not seem like much of an attraction, the Columbus Baking Company, 502 Pearl St. (tel. 315/422-2913), is an old-style, family-owned and -operated Italian bakery that continues to make only four types of artisanal, traditional Italian bread (with no preservatives), as it has for over a century. The deep, old-school ovens are right out of the movie Moonstruck.