Outdoor activities and restaurants to enjoy Labor Day

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Labor Day is the last campus-wide day off Syracuse University students have in the fall semester until the Thanksgiving break. While fall offers beautiful foliage that covers the campus in red, yellow and orange leaves, SU students should enjoy the beautiful scenery and dining experiences that the last days of summer in Syracuse have to offer. The Daily Orange has compiled a list of outdoor activities and restaurants that SU students can visit today.

Bec et Skiff apple orchards – LaFayette

The weather might not be ideal for flannels just yet, but it’s not too early to go apple picking with your friends. There are plenty of apple orchards to choose from in the central New York City area, but Beak and Skiff is a reliable choice because it offers an up-to-date picture of what’s available and in stock. LaFayette Orchard – about a 25-minute drive from campus – opens for “pick-your-yourself” apples at 10 am, and the last cart goes to the field at 5 pm. Skiff tasting room, bakery and café, doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Chittenango Falls State Park – Cazenovia

Equipped with five different trails to follow – each under a mile – and a 167-foot waterfall, Chittenango Falls State Park is a hidden gem in the greater Syracuse area. With many accessible streams above the waterfall for swimming and a large tree cover, the state park is a great place to cool off. Located just off Route 13, it also has a picnic area with space to throw a soccer ball or pass a soccer ball. For students looking for calmer waters, Lake Cazenovia is a short drive further south on Route 13. The nearly four-mile-long lake is ideal for fishing, swimming, and boating.

Green Lakes State Park – Fayetteville

Green Lakes State Park is a great place to enjoy the cool fall breeze while taking a gentle hike. The Green Lake to Round Lake Trail is an approximately three mile loop that takes you around the park’s two glacial lakes. This trail is almost entirely flat and has lots of great photo opportunities and the occasional benches if you need a break.

Retirement – Liverpool

If you’re looking to eat out – the Labor Day evening forecast calls for sunny skies – but don’t want to experience the long wait times of bustling downtown Syracuse, consider making the trip. about 10 minutes to The Retreat in Liverpool. Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., The Retreat serves American classics like burgers, steak sandwiches and seafood in a lodge-like building.

Cayuga Waterfront Trail – Ithaca

On the south shore of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, the Waterfront Trail is almost entirely paved and makes a great destination for an afternoon walk, run, or bike ride. It stretches for eight miles, starting at the eastern end of Stewart Park and ending at the western end of Cass Park.

Along the way are the Ithaca Bike Rental, Newman Municipal Golf Course, Ithaca Farmer’s Market – open weekends until fall, for those who want to wait – the Hangar Theater and the Ithaca dog park. Dining options include Ithaca Bakery, Purity Ice Cream, and the Boatyard Grill, all a few blocks away at various points along the trail. And if you’re still up for more exercise, the Cayuga Waterfront Trail connects to the Black Diamond Trail, which stretches eight miles to Taughannock Falls State Park in Trumansburg.