Nestled at the base of the Adirondack Mountains, Utica is a bustling city on the banks of the Mohawk River. It was settled by European-Americans from New England during the American Revolution and later flourished as a stopover between Albany and Syracuse for travellers on the Erie and Chenango canals.
Things to do in Utica
One of Utica’s most important cultural institutions is the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, which comprises a museum and a school of art. Admire its International-style building designed by Philip Johnson (which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places) before stepping inside to explore the skylight-illuminated interior. A highlight of the museum’s collection is Thomas Cole’s series “The Voyage of Life”.
Travelling with kids? They’ll love spending a day at the Utica Zoo, which was founded in 1914 in Roscoe Cockling Park. It exhibits animals from around the globe, including white-handed gibbons, Hartmann’s mountain zebras and Brazilian flying cockroaches. Up-close encounters are available with the zoo’s Bactrian camels and Nigerian goats.
No visit to Utica is complete without riding the Adirondack Railroad, a scenic journey that follows part of the 1892-built Mohawk, Adirondack and Northern Railroad. Watch the forests and streams roll by as you travel to Old Forge, a charming hamlet clustered with independent boutiques and cafes. From here, you can hire a rail bike to explore the Adirondack Mountains under your own steam.
Getting around Utica
Utica is around a one-hour drive from Syracuse and Syracuse Hancock International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Long-distance trains connect to the Utica railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Utica can easily be explored on foot.