I’m an award-winning travel photographer, drone expert, author, lecturer and social media influencer who recently graduated from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. During my travels to 75+ countries and all 50 U.S. states, I was named Young Travel Photographer of the Year, a World’s Top Travel Photographer by Condé Nast Traveler and a Rising Star by Instagram.
A cozy gem along a bustling Erie Boulevard, Mello Vello is part relaxing cafe, part bike shop. It’s the perfect spot for light bites to start a quiet morning or heartier plates before embarking on a day of adventure. Once you’re satiated, Steve will set you up with gear and point you in the direction of the best nearby trails.
An abandoned stone quarry provides a rugged backcountry retreat for hikers and bikers alike. Steps away from Syracuse University campus, Skytop and its massive pit, feels totally tucked away. It has open trails for the beginner cyclist and drops and jumps for the more advanced, weaving through forests and past graffitied ruins.
Happy hour at this German-style Biergarten usually comes with unlimited peanuts and a captivating game up on the big screen. Near the heart of downtown, Wolff’s has a variety of European and local lagers on tap for an ideal post-ride unwind. At its busiest, the bar feels like a scene out of Oktoberfest.
Ribs, pulled pork, brisket and all the classic fixins your heart can handle (including Syracuse’s famous salt potatoes) are served at this legendary local joint where live music is often played and the crowd is always lively. As a barbeque fanatic, Dinosaur is bone and finger-licking good with a vibrant atmosphere to boot.
The Marriott is at the center of the city’s excitement, a quick stroll from Dinosaur BBQ and Armory Square -- a burgeoning neighborhood home to a museum and a theater, complete with tasty restaurant options and countless shops that are all within walking distance.
As the sun breaks over the treetops at dawn, Labrador Pond’s stillness is only interrupted by the ripples of our canoe paddles. With stunning foliage on all sides in the autumn months, the hollow sits in the valley of two peaks, providing easy access to hiking trails to animate the rest of our morning.
A short jaunt into the woods brings you to the foot of a trickling waterfall. Tinker is made special by the ice climbing opportunities it affords in winter and the rocky cave that allows you to stand behind its veil year round. If you’re more intrepid, continue into the hills to reach a hang glider launch site. At the top you’ll find a magnificent overlook across the gorge and beyond.
Beak & Skiff and Abbott Farms are classic fall excursions. Wander through acres of orchards to pluck the shiniest apple and climb a nearby wooden ladder when the best fruits seem out-of-reach. Whether you pick-it or buy it, they got it -- there’s a dozen types of apples to choose from, in addition to homemade ciders (hard too), breads and more.
The Finger Lakes are Central New York’s answer to Sonoma Valley. On a slope overlooking a lake, Anyela’s Vineyard provides a picturesque tableau to enjoy freshly bottled wines and an assortment of thoughtfully paired cheeses. I enjoyed a sweet white and was sure to take home an extra bottle as a gift. This is wine country.
This upscale inn and restaurant from 1807 provides snug diggs to explore a storybook village. Right out front, Skaneatles’ waterfront is adorned with gazebos, twinkling storefronts, hungry ducks and a memorable pier. Make sure to sneak out back for a warm and doughy bite of stretch bread at Patisserie.
Knifelike clay pinnacles, stretching 150 feet into the sky, span the sandy shores of a Great Lake. This dramatic formation, a remnant of the last ice age, is really not what you’d expect to see in this part of the world. About an hour out of the city, the park is a terrific place to hike or cool off on the banks of Lake Ontario.