a taste of the Finger Lakes

Camillus, a popular suburb west of Syracuse, was part of the former Central New York Military Tract. Industrial development was promoted by the Erie Canal and the railroad line linking Syracuse to Auburn. Today you will find an interesting look at Erie Canal history at the Erie Canal Park and Sims Store Museum. Of historic note: On January 17, 1852, a call for a Free-Soil meeting in Camillus Village pulled in three hundred and thirty-six document signers. The meeting is claimed as the first in the United States distinctly created on the lines of what later became the Republican Party. It opposed the Fugitive Slave law and the admission of slave states. The Camillus area offers great shopping opportunities in three distinct areas, including: Township 5, a multiuse center; The Town of Camillus along West Genesee Street (Route 5) with top name retailers at Camillus Commons and Fairmount Fair Shopping Center; and the Village of Camillus with unique shops and boutiques.

5399 West Genesee St., Camillus Formerly the site of the camillus Mall, Walmart and Lowe’s demolished the mall and built their stores on the site. the openair complex also has restaurants (Wendy’s, Denny’s, applebee’s), Verizon and a grocery store. across the street look for a plaza of smaller shops and restaurants.

5750 Devoe Road, Camillus 315-488-3409 or 315-748-2278; eriecanalcamillus.com Get to know the beauty of the erie canal and the lifestyle and engineering ingenuity that made it possible. Dedicated volunteers working with local government have undertaken the historic preservation of seven miles of the abandoned erie canal. Within the park, every structure that is needed to operate a canal is represented, including: the remains of the original erie canal, the first enlargement, a replica of Sim’s Store, a replica of a lock shanty, a canal feeder, culvert 59, the nine Mile creek aqueduct, and Gere Lock.

Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct is a restored stone and wood aqueduct of the erie canal over nine Mile creek. it was built in 1841 and was listed on the national register of Historic Places in 1976. the towpath part of the structure has four arches of 30 feet each. it is an impressive part of the erie canal Park experience.

Sims’ Museum is a replica of the original Sims canal store, constructed by John Sims prior to 1860. the store was stocked with anything the canal fleet needed in the way of medicines, cooking tools, food & water, kerosene & coal, apparel, animal feed & equipment, and hardware. the Erie Canal Park is open year-round for picnicking, hiking, jogging, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, and non-motorized craft boating and canoeing on the canal. Hours: Sims Store Museum is open Saturday year-round, noon-4 p.m. and May-october, Wednesday & thursday, noon-4 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. canal Boat tours are available Sundays, May-columbus Day weekend with sailings at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. call for details and reservations and to check on coViD protocols.

Page 20 | 2021 Vacationer Camillus

The Wilcox ocTagon house, Camillus

1 Pool Road, Camillus 315-487-2170; camillusrecreation.com Hot, humid summer day? Head to camillus Splash Pad water park and cool off. You will also find a picnic shelter, new playground area and a wooded trail system. Free admission. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. call or visit the website to make sure coViD closings have been lifted.

Syracuse-Camillus Tru by Hilton Syracuse- Camillus 116 Township Blvd Camillus NY 13031 Email: syrru_tru@hilton.com FOR RESERVATIONS call

Tru by Hilton Syracuse- Camillus Syracuse-Camillus Hey.You. www.syracusecamillus.trubyhilton.com www.township5.ComSyracuse-Camillus Syracuse-Camillus Syracuse-Camillus 116 Township Blvd Syracuse-Camillus Hey.You. Camillus NY 13031 Email: syrru_tru@hilton.com FOR RESERVATIONS call www.syracusecamillus.trubyhilton.com www.township5.Com Tru by Hilton is a game-changing hotel brand providing a Phone: 315-314-8676 Tru by Hilton is a game-changing hotel brand providing a simplified and spirited approach that is grounded in value for business and leisure travelers. The brand is modern and functional, offering social connectivity re-imagined public spaces, including an open lobby comprised of four areas where guests can work, play, lounge, and eat. 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Hey.You. www.syracusecamillus.trubyhilton.com www.township5.Com Tru by Hilton is a game-changing hotel brand providing a simplified and spirited approach that is grounded in value for business and leisure travelers. The brand is modern and functional, offering social connectivity re-imagined public spaces, including an open lobby comprised of four areas where guests can work, play, lounge, and eat. Designed to appeal cross-generationally, guests enjoy complimentary amenities, including a free Build Your Own ‘Top It’ breakfast, coffee, and tea; smaller, more modern, and efficiently designed guestrooms with oversized windows for natural light; a multifunctional fitness center, state of the art indoor sport court, fast WI-Fi. Premium snacks, light meal options and single-serve wine and beer are available for purchase at our 24/7 Eat & Sip market. Vacationer 2021, 05/21/21, Camillus, 3039; 1st proof www.syracusecamillus.trubyhilton.com www.township5.com

5420 West Genesee Sr., Camillus 315-488-7800; octagonhouseofcamillus.org the Wilcox octagon House, built in 1856 according to the then trend-setting ideas of journalist and phrenologist orson Fowler, is listed on the national registry of Historic Places. it is one of the few remaining in the eastern United States that has been restored. Unique to this house is the beautiful central staircase that travels through five floors and up 62 stairs to the cupola where you can view the camillus landscape. Hours: Museum tours 1-5 p.m., Sunday, april-november. call for 2021 open hours and coViD protocols.

3501-3597 W. Genesee St., Syracuse 716-886-1100; www.visitsyracuse.com an open-air plaza filled with top retailers, home décor, fashion, accessories and more. Stores include target, Michaels, Marshalls, talbots outlet, Dress Barn, ULta, core Life, Panera, Five Guys Burgers, Wegman’s and more.

2290 W. Genesee Turnpike, Camillus 315-672-3166; innbetween.com enjoy classic, elegant, and romantic dining in this traditional american fine dining establishment led by award-winning chef christopher cesta and located in a 19th century farmhouse between camillus and elbridge. Specialties including lobster bisque, beef wellington, boneless roast duck, and a variety of fresh seafood shipped directly from Boston Harbor. check the website for more mouth-watering information. call for reservations and coViD precautions.