Family Adventure

Quick and easy 3-day getaway for the entire family!

Day 1

  • Become a prospector at the Herkimer Diamond Mines, Middleville. Prospect for quartz crystals on your own or call ahead for a guided tour. Keep what you find! https://herkimerdiamond.com
  • Dine and Shop at https://gemsalongthemohawk.com/
  • Home of the famous Waterfront Grill and Rocky’s Quick Grille which offers various flavors of local foods.  Dine inside or waterside at the dock while enjoying life on the canal.
  • The Waterfront Grille is a gem of a local culinary experience.  Smoke-free and open year-round, the restaurant has been a tremendous success since opening in November 2002. For more information please call (315) 717-0700 visit www.waterfrontgrille.net for reservations and menus.
  • Drive back to Utica and get wild at the Utica Zoo! With over 40 acres and 99 species of animals, there's something for everyone. Don’t miss the Red Pandas! (www.uticazoo.org)
  • Enjoy dinner at one of our kid-friendly local eateries!
  • Overnight In Utica

Day 2

Go North! Nature walks, four wheeling and snowmobiling!
  • Take a family walk to Pixley Falls, near Boonville – an easy walk to a beautiful waterfall, get ice cream at Mercer’s Dairy ( try the wine ice cream!) eat at the Boonville Hotel and enjoy the outdoors with various four wheeling and snowmobiling trails with family friendly skiing and snowboarding nearby.
  • Explore Munson-Williams-Proctor Museum of Art, Utica. Browse the permanent collection, special exhibits, and make your own masterpiece in the Art Odyssey Interactive Gallery! (www.mwpai.org)
  • Discover history in Rome at Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome. Relive a day in the life of a Revolutionary War hero. Explore this full scale reconstructed fortification; a National treasure. (www.nps.gov/fost)
  • Overnight in Rome or Sylvan Beach

Day 3

Summer sand, Year-Round Fishing

  • Hit the Beach! Enjoy a fun-filled day at Verona Beach State Park or relax on the public beach in the Village of Sylvan Beach. Two miles of soft sandy beaches along the eastern shore of Oneida Lake. (nysparks.com)
  • Gone Fishing! Ice fishing for yellow perch is very popular on Oneida Lake and normally takes place around deep-water flats in 30-40 feet of water. Oneida Lake is a fantastic bass fishing location, and numerous bass fishing tournaments are held each year on the lake.
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Getaway Guide

Attractions

Jul. 28 2025
Utica Zoo Dino Discovery
Utica Zoo Dino Discovery

Utica Zoo Dino Discovery

Get ready for an adventure millions of years in the making—dinosaurs have officially arrived at the Utica Zoo! Running through October 19, the Dino Discovery exhibit invites visitors to travel back in time for a journey into the prehistoric era. This internationally acclaimed exhibit is one of the zoo’s most ambitious and immersive experiences to… Read more
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