After touring the nearby Stickley factory we drove a few miles to the Fayetteville library where…read morethis gem of a museum is located on the second floor. This used to be the factory years ago. The library on the first floor is hands down the best furnished library we've been in since it was all Stickley furniture! The museum is small but well done with good displays. The curator Amanda was very helpful and enthusiastic. We learned a lot on top of the tour we just did. Highly recommend but check the days and hours that the museum is open since they are limited.

We planned to tour the Stickley Museum as an add-on rather than a focal point of our family's…read morevacation itinerary, but it turned out to be the highlight of our trip! In fact, we enjoyed it so much, we were surprised we stayed so long! And, we hope to return! I must say that our enjoyment was mainly due to the personableness and knowledgeability of the director and curator, Amanda Clifford, who communicated effectively from day one; that is, the day I emailed before the trip, and that's out of the country since we're not even Americans! We're Canadians and we're antique furniture artisans. Amanda was so attuned to our passions--perhaps sharing them even--that the three of us covered a lot of territory together at once. We felt like the tour was a real treat, being able to discourse deeply over the mechanics, aesthetics, history, sentimental values plus the current appreciation of antique furniture. We discussed the variety of woods, the types of structural techniques, the idiosyncrasy per Stickley brother, and enjoyed listening to all the fascinating stories behind specific pieces, time periods, and personalities. The visit really adds meaning to our own work! Moreover, the museum is situated above a lovely public library, which kept our kids, who preferred to do something other than to study old furniture, busy with computers and books while my husband and I toured the floor above. The librarians were friendly and accommodating. Even more, every space in that building, including the washrooms, seems to be furnished with prized pieces of Stickley antiques! The venue, including its outdoor garden and indoor cafe, has a wonderful atmosphere all around! While explaining some of the history of the Stickley company, Amanda ended up also covering information on Fayetteville, a quaint, history-preserving community, plus other cities and regions in the state of New York. Every question we asked her--be it regarding furniture, geography, history, or just plan tourist-related interests--was answered with expertise, courtesy, and thoughtfulness. Thank you, Amanda, for making the tour a thorough pleasure! We hope to return in the near future for a visit to the Stickley factory in nearby Manlius, NY, too! ------------------------------- People may not realize this as personally until they visit a museum like this one, but the pieces of wood we use as furniture in our homes are items we live with day and out, and throughout history. How we make them, use them, decorate with them, choose them, maintain them, and value them speaks a great deal about the culture from which we come and about the characters who own them. This is what makes furniture both pragmatic and personal, functional and fascinating, and why so much of ourselves as human beings is invested into antiques; hence, making a visit to the Stickley Museum so significant. (Written by the owner of "Olden Wood Revivals", a co. of artisans who specialize in restoring antique furniture in Northumberland County, Ont., Canada)

What an incredible museum!…read more If you know me, you know I have a deep love of historic architecture. Now I've seen my fair share of octagon houses - and often being volunteer-run historic sites or restrictive museums, it isn't too often I get the chance to get a complete top-to-bottom tour. However, we happened to be in the right place at the right time for the Wilcox Octagon House Museum! This place is only open on select Sundays throughout the year, all of which can be found on their website. This place is entirely volunteer-run, and the women we met who gave us a tour of the site were incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the site itself but about the intriguing things going on in the world throughout the house's lifetime. We started on the bottom floor and learned about the structure itself, and all of the changes it went through as it changed ownership from its original builders, the Wilcox's. It was very interesting to see how at one point the house had been turned into a duplex, had a remodeled 1940's kitchen, and the unique and oddly-shaped closets. My favorite fun-fact was that the house was so highly taxed when it was constructed because each room - including the tiny closets throughout the house - was taken into consideration when being taxed. As we moved throughout the house, we were able to see the super-cool wine cellar in the basement, original kitchen, plus the top floor and the gorgeous windowed overlook with an amazing view of the surrounding town of Camillus. The volunteers were very informative and friendly, and understanding of the fact that we were kind of in a rush, only because we had plans to catch a boat ride at another museum a short drive away. I am so grateful that they were incredibly accommodating of us! In short, this was an incredibly cool place to experience, and I absolutely recommend coming here if you happen to be looking for something to do on a lazy sunday. A historic home like this is truly a treasure and it always feels good to support small volunteer-run historical such as this.

2 separate events attended in May = 1 lucky girl!…read more I was lucky enough to attend the Syracuse Press Club Awards - mid May. Very crowded and lots of socializing so didn't snag many photos that night but tonight I attended a screening in the auditorium & made sure to capture some of the beauty! Toured the museum before/after event. Gorgeous, vibrant art pieces. Would love to stop in for a pottery/clay workshop. So many community events so check the website too. A great space with some iconic history! Art + architecture appreciation!!! I cannot believe the architect of this museum (legendary I.M Pei)

Beautiful Afternoon taking in some amazing artwork.See website for hours and exhibits. Also I…read morebelieve all day Wednesday and Thursdays (5-8pm) are pay what you wish. Definitely worth a visit.

A beautiful gem of a chapel! Best seen on a sunny day which beautifies the windows! The docent…read morewasn't in the day we went but Sydney sid a fabulous job sharing the history! Also there are two cute shoppes off the vestibule!

Hidden gem! Only complete Tiffany chapel in the world. Stunning on a sunny day. Only catch is the…read morehours of operation. Rivals any museum exhibit of Tiffany.

We've had a wonderful experience every time we've gone to Woznica Orchards. Their team puts a lot…read moreof love & heart into the produce they grow which you can taste in every bite of what you bring home. They're always kind & accommodating so never be afraid to reach out or ask the team questions. This still- let's say young- orchard still packs an awesome punch of having space to have fun, pick some delicious apples & appreciate nature comfortably

If you're looking for a no fuss and no frills apple picking experience, this is a hidden gem! Some…read moreof the other orchards get super hectic in Autumn. This orchard is small, a single acre with a couple rows of trees for picking at a time. Just that and a farm stand, but the owners (and their parents) are at the entrance every weekend and will greet you warmly. The fruit is low to the ground, so kiddos can easily pick it. It's not too crowded, and very mellow, laid-back vibes. I came when honeycrisp apples were ripe, and let me tell you, these were some of the BEST apples I have eaten. They're only open on weekends. This season, they've also started to team up and do some events with other businesses like coffee trucks. Very cool, worth checking out!

The Museum at the Creamery (Skaneateles Historical Society) was the hidden gem of our trip to…read moreSkaneateles! It's a block off of W. Genesee Street and very easy to walk to from the main part of town! The docent there, David, was so friendly and knowledgeable! He took the time to chat with us and show us around the museum. There are two parts to the museum - one focusing on the boats, and one focusing on the history of Skaneateles. Both were very interesting! Lots of pictures and artifacts to go along with the information. There is also a model of the lake that tells you about different spots around the lake and shows the watershed. No official admission fee, but there is a suggested donation of $5. Well worth the visit!

Make sure that Dave gives you the Tour! His wealth of knowledge and presentation are excellent.read more

If you are looking for something fun to do the 2nd weekend in December head out to the real Beford…read moreFalls, aka Seneca Falls NY the town that inspired the movie. From a parade, to food, to shops and vendors, to cosplayers walking around the street in costume, this festival made for an enjoyable day. There was quite a variety of things to do including visiting the bridge that looks just like the one for a movie, with a real life saving a suicide attempt story to boot. We chatted with Bert, who was out writing tickets on cars and getting to know all the visitors. There were free horse drawn carriage rides, and free tastings of roasted chestnuts which I had never had before. The It's a Wonderful Life Museum is open and was packed as people checked out the information, pictures, and toys they had. Besides the many things to do the big appeal of this festival is just how much it feels like the real Bedford Falls. So many shops opened up their doors and offered free snacks and free hot chocolate bars to visitors and locals alike. Everyone was so friendly, from the local townspeople and vendors to the guests and visitors as well. To me, this encompasses the exact feel of the movie. There were some great food options, from Mrs. Martini's spaghetti dinner and trivia which we missed as it was on Friday night, to local restaurants bringing out tents and serving their best chilis, hotdogs and burgers, and tacos outside, there was something for everyone. The bars and restaurants were also fully staffed indoors if you needed a break from the cold. My husband and I really enjoyed our time in Bedford Falls, if you are looking for something fun and different to do on the 2nd weekend in December, make the trip out to Seneca Falls to feel the It's a Wonderful Life spirit!

Nice little spot to cut your own tree. They also have some nice pre cut trees. Two fields full of…read moremixed variety trees. Also alpacas and horses reside, they came to greet us as we walked through the field. If I was more patient, we could have waited for them to pick the tree up with an atv and trailer, but I opted to drag it out. They provide saws, and all trees are one price, and much lower than many of the places around, under 40 bucks! For $2 more, they will send your tree through a bailer for easier transport and bringing it inside. I even saw them tie one to the roof for another family. The owners and family are quite knowledgeable and will offer to show you a specific variety of tree and sends you on your way with excellent instructions to make sure your tree lasts the duration. Definitely check them out, great local business.

Cut your own with a great selection of lovely trees plus donkeys and alpacasto befriend. We've been…read moregoing since my daughter was born and they've always had really sweet, genuine staff to help with anything. Today my kid lost her white stuffed rabbit in the snow and was inconsolable with grief -- these folks put up signs and kept an eye out and got Bunny home for bed, thereby saving Christmas. They've always gone beyond in large and small ways and I look forward to visiting every December. Thanks RHF!!!