Most Instagrammable Day Trips in Upstate NY
When you need some R&R off campus.
by SOFIA TASOLIDES ★ NOVEMBER 1, 2021
Have a day off? Need a break from fast-paced campus life and endless amounts of work? Just want to focus on your Instagram feed? Luckily for us, upstate New York is the perfect place to escape. Adorable downtowns, apple orchards, and hiking trails are just a car ride away. This is your sign to get off campus and have a stress-free and, most importantly, photogenic day! So, here’s a list of the best upstate getaways.
Lake Ontario/Chimney Bluffs
Random isn’t it? That’s exactly what I thought when my friends and I decided to drive an hour to see one of the great lakes. We stopped a few times on our ride up to walk around to take in the scenic views of upstate New York. After passing a ton of adorable farm stands on the side of the road, we decided to check one out. They had cookies, fresh fruit, and flowers. Of course, we all snapped pics and got some delicious snacks.
On our way to the bluffs, we found an apple orchard and grabbed a few (free!) apples, and obviously took some funny pics on the way. When we finally got to the bluffs, we hiked the trail that overlooked the lake and then even hopped in the lake for a swim (the water was actually warm!). There were picnic tables and grassy areas that overlooked the lake, perfect for an aesthetic picnic and a peaceful photo-op.
Credit: Pinterest
Credit: Pinterest
Ithaca Excursion
Yes, I know it's not Syracuse, but I promise it's one of the cutest college towns. Ithaca is about an hour from our campus, so it’s definitely a day trip… but it's so worth the trek. The waterfalls are beautiful and make for great pics, whether you’re swimming or not. Like every amazing college town, there are some insane spots for foodies. Hound and Mare, the most instagrammable cafe with the best eats, The Greenhouse cafe and cocktail lounge, a tranquil and earthy spot for coffee and drinks, and The Milkstand, for breakfast, are great options.
All of these places have the most photogenic food which will obvi be a feature on your insta-story. To make it even better, Ithaca has a famous farmers market at the pavilion. There are hundreds of vendors that come out every weekend to share their fresh and homemade products. You can pose with all the flower bouquets or just in the middle of the pavilion. I promise you will get a great pic for the feed.
Credit: houndandmare.com
Credit: cityseeker.com
The Close Classics… Crazy Daisies and Beak and Skiff
If you want cute off-campus pics and don’t have a car, this is for you. As a Syracuse student, if you have never been to Crazy Daisies, you must be living under a rock. It is literally the best place to go for pictures at any season. This cute flower farm makes for amazing pictures (you can literally stand anywhere and it will look good). The food is also amazing. Who doesn’t love pizza and charcuterie boards? Of course, you have to order the mimosa flights (the flavors change depending on the season… it’s amazing). It’s only a 20-minute drive from campus, so ditch the books for a few hours and get in that r&r.
Credit: visitsyracuse.com
Embrace your inner fall! Everyone NEEDS an apple-picking post on their feed this season. It’s practically required. Thank goodness we are only 20 minutes away from the country's top-rated apple orchard. Obviously, you can walk around and pick apples for later, but the true secret about Beak and Skiff is its distillery. You can book a tasting here to try their in-house spirits (if you're of age, of course). They also have the best bakery and cafe to try different apple-themed pastries and sweets. Not only is it an escape from campus, but it’s the perfect place for pictures, too.
Credit: Syracuse.com
Now that I’ve told you all of upstate New York’s best-kept secrets, go on and take a day trip. Ditch the books, get in your car, and go! It doesn’t matter if it’s for two hours or a whole day, everyone needs a stress reliever and these spots are perfect for that. Plus, you can snap some insta pics while you're at it!
Cover Photo Credit: Pinterest