Many associate New York state with the bright lights of Times Square or mountainous regions like the Adirondacks or Catskills, but one of New York’s best kept secrets is in Oneida County. Sylvan Beach is a tiny beach town with a big personality; there are so many fun things to do in this part of New York state, and since it’s relatively small, many of them can be done in just a day or two. Here are 8 things to do in Sylvan Beach for your next summer getaway.
1. Eat Breakfast At The Blend At The Beach
You’ll need to fuel up before your long day in the sun, so start the day off right at The Blend. The Blend serves coffee, açai and other fruit bowls, and smoothies. The fruit used is fresh and full of flavor, and their açai bowl feels just the right amount of naughty with thick swirls of nutella on it. It doesn’t hurt that they offer the fruit bowls in a carved out pineapple, and their smoothies in a pineapple “cup.”
- Address: 1129 Main St, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
2. Hit The Beach
Sylvan Beach is a beach after all, so obviously, you need to make time to actually go to the beach. Being one of the only beaches in the area, Sylvan Beach can get extremely crowded on most summer days. My advice is to get there early; it doesn’t usually fill up until around noon or so, so if you get there around 9:30/10am, you’ll have the beach somewhat to yourself for at least a few hours. What I love about being on the beach is that Sylvan Beach is all about community; everyone seems to mingle and talk to each other, and it always feels like an all-day party.
3. Rent A Boat From Sylvan Beach Supply Co. At The Cove
You’ll notice Sylvan Beach has a huge community of boaters, and you know the old saying, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Sylvan Beach is located on Oneida Lake, which is the largest lake within New York state, with a surface area of 79.8 square miles. You can boat all the way over to Syracuse or all the way down to Three-Mile Bay, where boaters frequently park and get in the water to hang out with each other.
If you don’t have access to a boat, luckily, Sylvan Beach Supply Co. provides rentals for pontoons, paddleboards, ski boats, kayaks, and more. To rent, you’ll need to take the boater’s safety test and become certified. The course is free and can be done online, and proof of certification will be required when renting. Prices for rentals vary based on time of year rented, hours needed, and of course, your choice of vehicle/equipment.
- Address: 750 Pioneer Ave, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
4. Grab A Bite At The Crazy Clam
If you’re looking for one of the best bites in Sylvan Beach, look no further than the Crazy Clam. The Crazy Clam is conveniently located right alongside the harbor, so it’s a great spot to park your boat and jump out to grab a bite to eat. “The Clam,” as locals call it, has a large menu with irresistible offerings such as lobster poutine fries, steamed clams, a wide variety of pastas and burgers (one with, you guessed it, fried clams on top), and a selection of po’boys. To me, it is sinister to go to a place called the Crazy Clam and not order clams. Their steamed clams are a requirement for an appetizer, and if you want to really be blown away, try their fried clam po’boy. Bold statement, but the clam po’boy might just be my favorite bite in Sylvan Beach.
- Address: 2392 Spencer Ave, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
5. Get Ice Cream At What’s The Scoop
What’s a summer day without a scoop of ice cream? Beat the heat at What’s The Scoop, Sylvan Beach’s dedicated ice cream shop. They have a wide variety of flavors, but my favorites are Panda Paws (vanilla with peanut butter cups and a thick fudge swirl) and chocolate peanut butter. They also have a wide variety of non-dairy and fat-free options, and serve innovative ice cream “nachos” and an ice cream flight, featuring four flavors for those who can’t decide on just one.
- Address: 604 Main St, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
6. Watch Live Music At Harpoon Eddie’s
As your summer day starts to transform into a summer night, it’s time to grab a drink and catch some live music. Harpoon Eddie’s is one of the most popular bars in Sylvan Beach, not only due to its stunning views of the water (it’s also one of the best places to catch the sunset), but because of their offering of live entertainment every night. Harpoon Eddie’s is a full-service restaurant and their food is great, but there’s a reason they’re known for their rum runner drinks. Sip one of these fruity, boozy concoctions while you catch a local band.
- Address: 611 Park Ave, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
7. Eat Shrimp & Drink “Chicken Wine” At The Canal View Cafe
A fantastic dinner option in Sylvan Beach is The Canal View Cafe. Opened in 1977, this family-run establishment gets busy for a reason. Their food is top-notch and it won’t even remotely break the bank. While their food is great no matter what day of the week it is, on Wednesdays, it’s “shrimp night,” where shrimp is 89 cents a pop. You can choose from flavors like spicy marinara, buffalo, scampi, battered, cajun, and shrimp cocktail, with a minimum of six shrimp per flavor. My personal favorites are the buffalo, scampi, and spicy marinara, but they’re all fantastic, especially if you pair it with their “chicken wine,” which is your choice of house wine served in a chicken pitcher. Yes, a pitcher shaped like a chicken filled with wine. Dinner doesn’t get better than that.
- Address: 9 Canal St, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
8. Hit The Slots And Get Dessert (And A Cocktail) At The Lake House
As your long summer day starts to wrap itself up, you’ll need to go get at least one more dessert or one more cocktail (or my vote, both) at The Lake House at Sylvan Beach. Sit outside and catch the sunset, which happens somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00PM on most summer nights, while you indulge in the churro funnel cake sundae dessert. The Lake House makes some of the best cocktails in Sylvan Beach, so grab a martini or a margarita, and then go try your chance at the slots at their casino. Hey, after such a great day in Sylvan Beach, what do you got to lose?
- Address: 301 Park Ave, Sylvan Beach, NY 13157
DISCLAIMER: Visit Oneida County sponsored this post.
DISCLAIMER II: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!
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