Author: Courtney Kless

It feels like there’s a national day for just about everything—even lighthouses! (FYI, National Lighthouse Day falls on Aug. 7.) You can celebrate all month long at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum.It runs boat tours to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse between mid-June and September.“It’s just a great experience because people can see the Oswego community from a different perspective: out on a boat looking into the harbor, up the river,” said Executive Director Mercedes Niess. “It’s pretty spectacular.”Constructed in 1934, the 57-foot lighthouse stands near the meeting point of the Oswego River and Lake Ontario. If you’re planning…

The summer months in Central New York are packed with festivals and special events.Skaneateles has two you won’t want to miss.Curbstone Festival and Sidewalk Sales – July 11-13The first is the Curbstone Festival.“I think of it as a really cool outdoor market,” said Hilary Fenner, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce. “You get to shop at the same places, but you get to do it at a time when you get to be outside and enjoy the beautiful weather…It’s also a chance to shop from businesses that maybe you have heard of but haven’t been able to…

Planning a getaway this summer? Look no further than Cooperstown! The village is famous for its baseball history, but it has a lot more to offer families. Here are a few places you should add to your itinerary: Museums and Historical Sites National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum No visit to Cooperstown is complete without a stop at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. It boasts a collection of more than 40,000 artifacts (like bats, balls, gloves, and uniforms), but the highlight is the plaque gallery, where you can see tributes to some of the game’s biggest…

Travel back in time during a performance by Syracuse Shakespeare-In-The-Park.It all began during a lunch conversation more than two decades ago, when two couples, who both adored Shakespeare, realized there weren’t many opportunities to see his works performed outdoors in the Elizabethan tradition. So, they decided to create one. In 2003, Syracuse Shakespeare-In-The-Park presented its first show, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, in Thornden Park.To this day, it is the only organization in Central New York that focuses exclusively on the famed playwright and poet.“Our mission statement revolves around preserving Shakespeare’s language and making it accessible and available,” said Dan Stevens,…

From its parks and nature centers to its museums, history is everywhere in Canastota. Plus, the village is a quick drive down the New York State Thruway from Syracuse, making it a great place to take the kids for the day. Here are a few of the must-see attractions:Museums and Historical SitesCanastota Canal Town MuseumThe village owed its growth, in part, to the construction of the Erie Canal. Learn more about that era through the Canastota Canal Town Museum’s two floors of exhibits, then walk across the street to view a section of the Old Erie Canal.Where: 122 Canal St.More…

Adventure is closer than you think!Travel around the world or explore the solar system from a seat in the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)’s National Grid ExploraDome.The museum has been teaching children – and adults – about science and technology for the past four decades (it opened on Nov. 15, 1981, and moved to the Syracuse Armory building in the early 1990s after outgrowing its original space). For more than half of that time, the MOST has offered educational programming in its domed theatre, covering everything from space travel to dinosaurs to backyard science. Beginning in…

Located about 25 minutes east of Syracuse, the village of Chittenango is probably best known as the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, the author who famously penned The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The town celebrates its connection to the iconic tale each year with Oz-Stravaganza, hailed by its website as the “largest and longest running Wizard of Oz themed festival in the world” (this year’s event is scheduled for May 31-June 2). Here are a few other things you can do while you’re in town:Museums and Historical SitesAll Things Oz MuseumOf course, a visit to Chittenango wouldn’t be complete without…

For the past decade, fashion and philanthropy have come together at Syracuse Fashion Week.Lisa Butler is the driving force behind the event. A clothing designer, she has owned shops in Manlius and downtown Syracuse, specializing in custom couture, special occasion gowns, and wedding gowns.“My background is not only in design, but in theatre, so I love doing shows,” said Butler. “Back in 2010, somewhere around there, I started doing fashion shows for myself. During the shows, people would come up to me and say, ‘I’d like to join your show, I’m a designer or I have a small boutique.’ And…

Camillus was established in 1799, taking its name from Marcus Furius Camillus, a Roman general (it’s actually the only town in the country with that name, according to its website). Today, Camillus is full of history. Here are a few places you should add to your itinerary: Museums and Historical Sites Wilcox Octagon House The Wilson Octagon House is “one of the few octagon homes left in the Eastern part of the United States that is restored and has public access to all of its levels,” per its website. Tours are available on select Sundays from April to November. Where:…

Sandra Sabene grew up in the art industry (her mother and grandfather were both artists and she attended a lot of shows), so opening a gallery felt natural to her.In 2002, she established the Liverpool Art Center, initially envisioned as space to showcase the work of more than 50 local artists.“It was fairly easy to open up a gallery, but the customers coming in were asking me about art education – learning to paint, learning different mediums,” said Sabene. “They were enjoying the artwork, but they really wanted to express themselves. So, within a year of opening, I transitioned into…