Where to step into CNY spring off-campus
Stepping into CNY spring
Springtime blooms with fun endeavors for students off-campus.
Nothing beats a spring in Syracuse after a long winter.
Just imagine the campus lawn packed with blankets and hammocks. Sunshine on your face as you walk across the Quad. Cars are driving by blasting music while students play outside on pong tables.
“What I love most about springtime in Syracuse is finally walking outside without a jacket and finally seeing the sun after months of gray,” said Josie Smith, an SU junior and publicity chair of Syracuse University Outing Club. “I love seeing more people just outside.”
For Khoi Tran, a master’s student studying environmental engineering, the spring is one of the best times to explore Syracuse, especially when final exams approach.
“Besides final exams, people usually have a lot of free days where they just could go out and do anything and take a break from studying,” Tran, also a longtime member of SUOC, said.
While seeing the sun on campus is fun, here are a few spots to retreat to this spring and get off-campus:
Hiking in Clark Reservation State Park
Clark Reservation State Park is just 15 minutes from Syracuse University’s campus and offers five beginner trails to explore. The park is known for its picturesque meromictic lake and rugged cliffs. The state park is a perfect place to visit on a spring day.
Brian Moore, a Friends of Clark Reservation board member, said the park offers 6.2 miles of trails with different kinds of terrain. All the trails are interconnected, so it is really hard to get lost. All the hikes are suitable for beginners, he said, though some can get moderately hard at best.
Moore recommends Cliff Trail because hikers can see the lake, especially in the spring season when leaves aren’t blocking the view.
“Cliff Trail is definitely the most popular,” he said. “You can see the lake, you can see everything.”
His personal favorite, though, is the Long Trail, which he said is very serene. The trail travels about 0.56 miles, but visitors can also explore the 0.3 mile extension that leads to the boundary of the park.
“If finals are coming and you need to just unwind and relax, it is a perfect spot to go,” Moore said.
Parking is free at Clarke Reservation State Park until Labor Day. Round-trip transportation to the park is also available through the Barnes Center at The Arch’s Day Hiking Series for $5-10 on April 5 and April 18.
Score fresh produce at CNY Regional Market
CNY Regional Market spans 50 acres with over 400 vendors. Visitors can find fresh produce, handmade crafts and specialty foods from local farmers and artisans.
Smith said that her friends recently visited the market, which is about a 10 minute drive from campus. She’s purchased fresh fruit from the market and added that artisans typically sell crafts there.
The market is open year-round every Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enjoy blooming buds at Crazy Daisies
Whether you have a green thumb or a grumbling stomach, Crazy Daisies offers plant shopping, live music, workshops, cocktails and, of course, yummy bites!
Its Garden Center is home to six greenhouses with a variety of plants, ranging from house plants to herbs. Crazy Daisies also offers a variety of activities such as flower pot workshops, sourdough making classes and even yoga classes.
The cafe offers from-scratch booking with fresh ingredients, whether from what they grow onsite or from other local farms and businesses. On the weekends, the cafe serves breakfast classics, as well as a pizza, salad and smash burger menu.
Crazy Daisies officially opens its greenhouses and Garden Cafe the third week of April, though it hosts a few “sneak peek” events before fully reopening for the spring season.
Mountain bike at Morgan Hill State Forest
Morgan Hill State Forest offers 15 miles of trails for mountain bikers and hikers with varying levels of difficulty.
The forest, situated about 40 minutes from campus, tends to be a spot for more serious bikers, hikers and backpackers.
Smith said SUOC is planning to start running its biking trips again in the spring, adding that Morgan Hill State Forest has a lot to offer.
“As it gets warmer and the trails get drier, it’s nice to get out there and just get moving, especially with some friends,” Smith said.
Even though the semester is flying by, there’s still a few more weeks left to take advantage this spring of all that Syracuse has to offer, from hikes to farmer’s markets!
is a digital producer for The NewsHouse.