I've Lived in New York My Whole Life-This Is the Most Charming and Underrated City in the State

"Although it has a reputation as a spirited college town at heart, Syracuse, New York, rewards travelers with so much more than game-day energy. Nicknamed "Salt City" for the 19th-century industry that once defined it, this small city layers rich history with a young, hip edge. You'll find the old Syracuse on your plate in its iconic salt potatoes, family-run Italian bakeries in Little Italy, and long-time institutions like Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Pastabilities."

"Anchored by Syracuse University, the city hums with youthful spirit, from buzzy Marshall Street to the roar of the JMA Wireless Dome, where Orange basketball games regularly draw some of the largest crowds in college hoops. In its charming downtown, you'll notice brick-and-stone architecture framing theaters, indie shops, and Armory Square's nightlife. Just beyond, neighborhoods like Westcott and Tipperary Hill have eclectic cafés, Irish pubs, and live music haunts."

Syracuse, nicknamed Salt City, combines 19th-century industrial heritage with a youthful, hip energy. Signature local foods include salt potatoes, family-run Little Italy bakeries, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and Pastabilities, alongside newer international offerings at Salt City Market. Syracuse University fuels a spirited atmosphere around Marshall Street and the JMA Wireless Dome, drawing large crowds for Orange basketball. Downtown features brick-and-stone architecture, theaters, indie shops, and Armory Square nightlife. Neighborhoods such as Westcott and Tipperary Hill offer cafés, Irish pubs, and live music. Nearby outdoor options include Green Lakes State Park, Skaneateles, Finger Lakes wineries, and Song Mountain Resort. Festivals run year-round.

Read at Travel + Leisure