Local Attractions

Stay Near Upscale Shopping & Top Attractions in Downtown Syracuse

Upscale shopping, fascinating museums and some of the most enticing restaurants that Central New York has to offer – you’ll find all this and more just steps from the Jefferson Clinton Hotel.

Our convenient location in downtown Syracuse’s Armory Square makes us the ideal home base for exploring all of the city’s top attractions. Delve into history at the Onondaga Historical Society Museum, explore the quaint architecture found in Clinton Square or catch a show at the Oncenter Complex.

Explore the businesses and attractions in Syracuse and the surrounding area:

Colleges and Universities

When you stay at the Jefferson Clinton Hotel, you’ll find yourself conveniently located near many of the area’s colleges and universities. In fact, Syracuse University has an Armory Square presence just 3 blocks away in the Warehouse.

  • Syracuse University Warehouse - 3 blocks
  • Syracuse University main campus - 1.2 miles
  • SUNY ESF - 1.2 miles
  • Le Moyne College - 3 miles
  • Onondaga Community College - 5 miles
  • St. Joseph College of Nursing - 3 miles
  • SUNY Upstate Medical University - 1 mile

Area Shopping

Armory Square features some of the area’s most unique shopping. From designer clothes to handmade artwork, you’ll find a great gift to bring home. If you are looking for one of the largest shopping and entertainment venues in the northeast, we have that too. Plus, outlet shopping is just a scenic drive to wine country.

The Great Outdoors

Central New York is home to some fantastic state parks and outdoor entertainment venues. You can find more information below.

The Syracuse Creekwalk is a 2.6 mile trail starting in Armory Square and ending at Onondaga lake. You can walk, run or bike the trail year-round. And when you stay at the Jefferson Clinton Hotel you can even borrow a bike when the weather is good!

  • Clinton Square - 3 blocks

Clinton Square is just 3 blocks from our back door and is home to festivals during the summer months. In the wintertime, you can enjoy the outdoor ice rink with skate rentals available.

  • The Inner Harbor - 2 miles

The Inner Harbor is located just 2 miles from the Jefferson Clinton hotel and features walking and biking trails and an outdoor stage for live performances.

Onondaga Lake Park is just 5 miles from the Jefferson Clinton Hotel and features walking/biking trails, bicycle rentals, a skate park, the Salt Museum, the Wegmans playground, boat rentals, the Wegmans good dog park, tram rides and is home to several events, such as high-speed boat races to antique festivals.

The Erie Canal features miles of walkway to run, walk or bike. The trail can be picked up on the South of Shopping town Mall and takes you straight to Green Lakes State Park (13 Miles) with walking trails, a golf course and beaches with lifeguards.

Museums, Theaters, Art and Performance Venues

From museums to comedy to opera and the symphony, Syracuse really delivers when it comes to the Arts. And when you stay with the Jefferson Clinton Hotel you’ll find yourself right in the middle of it all!

Visiting Syracuse for Business

When you are visiting Syracuse for business, stay at the Jefferson Clinton Hotel and enjoy Armory Square after you are done working. We are conveniently located adjacent to the downtown business district, close to hospitals and Syracuse University.

If you would like to arrange for a negotiated rate please contact our sales office. We also offer the JCH Club for those businesses with fewer travel needs. Please contact us for more information.

NEWS FEED

Article List

With Additions to NY State Fair and New Tourism Site, Upstate Region Looks to Draw Visitors

This summer, Upstate New York is looking to draw visitors from near and far with the creation of a new tourism site and a series of changes and updates to the New York State Fair.

According to the Post-Standard, NewYorkUpstate.com, which launched on May 12, offers comprehensive travel information to both in-state and out-of-state tourists visiting the Upstate region.

The site, produced by Syracuse Media Group, features schedules of events taking place from Albany to Buffalo, along with information on camping, dining, music, the weather forecast and even information about rest stops along the NYS Thruway.

"Upstate New York with all its beauty and vitality is the most underrated geography in the nation," Syracuse Media Group President Tim Kennedy said in a statement.

Tourism is a surprisingly huge economic force in Upstate New York; in 2012, Upstate tourism brought more than $23 billion to the region, about 40% of the state's overall tourism revenue. The tourism industry is the state's fifth-largest employer, as well.

Locals are welcomed to share tips and recommendations on the best attractions and sightseeing opportunities in their hometown on the site, the Post-Standard reports. With a whopping 91% of Americans currently active on social media in some way, NewYorkUpstate.com is a fantastic way to draw attention online to the countless things to see and do throughout Syracuse and the rest of the Upstate region.

Tourism season in Upstate New York undoubtedly reaches its peak during the New York State Fair, which boasts a myriad of foods, games, amusements and rides -- not to mention some of the biggest names in entertainment -- each August.

This year's State Fair will be one unlike any other. Fair organizers recently announced a slew of changes to the 2015 fair -- one of which will allow vendors to serve alcohol until 11 p.m. The previous cut-off time had been 10 p.m.

The 2015 State Fair will also be the first year a vegan and vegetarian-only food vendor has set up shop in the International Pavilion, and organizers are also looking for a vendor to sell kosher food as well.

With plenty of changes in store for the State Fair and a renewed initiative to promote tourism throughout the Upstate region, there are countless opportunities for Upstate to show off all the things that make it great.

92-Year-Old SU Alumnus Finishes 26.2-Mile Race, Becomes the Oldest Female to Ever Finish

It takes a lot to be a runner, but one thing that's not necessarily required is youth. A 92-year-old Syracuse alumnus recently crossed the finishing line of the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego marathon, making Harriette Thompson of SU's class of 1947 the oldest female to ever finish a competitive 26.2-mile race. She did so with a time of 7:24:36.

According to Runner's World, runners need to have and do certain things before competing in a marathon. They need to have supportive, lightweight shoes and Coolmax or nylon running clothes. Many runners like to carb-load for three days leading up to the marathon. Drinking water is important, too. A healthy person is capable of drinking about three gallons (48 cups) of water per day, and while runners certainly don't need to drink that much water every day, they do need to consume extra amounts.

Such assets and preparation certainly helped Thompson to cross that Californian finish line, but it was the love for her son that pushed her through the grueling test of endurance.

"When I got to about mile 21 I was thinking, 'Am I crazy?'" Thompson told The Daily Orange. "I try to stay positive and keep thinking this is a good cause. I have a son now that has cancer. I am running for him, and I am also running for all the people that supported me."

Throughout her long life, the nonagenarian has accomplished quite a bit. She's traveled the world as a classical pianist, performed three times at Carnegie Hall, given birth to five children (and now has 10 grandchildren), and raised over $100,000 for charity in less than 20 years. Now she can add world record holder to her list of achievements.

"People say I am an inspiration," said Thompson. "I was so pleased to hear that. Some of them came up to me, and said I was the reason why they raced. That was a very satisfying thing, inspiring other people."

Anyone feeling motivated by Thompson's amazing accomplishment can participate in one of Syracuse area's many upcoming races. On July 4, there's the Cazenovia July 4th Foot Races, as well as the Teal There's a Cure 5K. There's also the Lavender 5K on July 12, Ramp It Up 5K on July 18, Pirate 5K Rum Runner on July 19, the Forest Frolic Trail Runs on July 19, the Fillmore 5K on July 25, and more.