Maeve
I’ve organized my favorite places/ activities in the Binghamton area based on season, with a separate section for restaurants and food:)
Fall:
Cider Mill
Going to the Cider Mill is one of my favorite things to do in Binghamton during the fall! Just stepping inside will make you want to bake apple pies all day and buy three new flannels. There are cider samples, donuts for sale, and you can witness the cider making process in the back. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely order a cider slushy as well.
Walk through the nature preserve while the leaves are changing!
It feels like fall only lasts for three days here, but in that three-day period before the leaves fall I highly recommend taking a walk/ hike through the nature preserve. The leaves are seriously so beautiful. If you really want your mind to be blown, try going during golden hour.
Apple Picking! (Apple Hills or Russell Farms)
What would fall in upstate New York be without apple picking?? Luckily the Binghamton area has a few orchards available. I’ve only been to Russell Farms, and can attest to their fabulous apples, cider, donuts, and store, but I’ve heard great things about Apple Hills as well. It’s my understanding that Apple Hills has baby animals, and if the prospect of baby goats doesn’t convince you to go apple picking I don’t know what will.
Both locations are a bit of a drive away (about 20-30 minutes), but the drive is beautiful with all of the leaves changing:)
Haunted Houses
As someone who is perpetually scared by their own shadow, I can’t speak from experience, but have heard great things about the haunted houses in and around Binghamton in the fall!
Reaper's Revenge (in Pennsylvania)
Winter:
Binghamton Devils Hockey (AHL NJ Devils Team) game
Traying! (sledding with trays from the dining hall)
The best hills on campus are behind Hinman and in Mountainview
Ice skating at Broome Community College
Spring:
Visit the Cutler Botanic Gardens
The “Blake”A super pretty lake found in Nathaniel Cole Park:) You can swim or walk around in the surrounding trails!
Hammock!
My personal favorite way to study outside- you can find hammocks strewn across campus on most quads/ grassy areas. If you have your own, try exploring the nature preserve to find a spot!
Library Rave at the beginning of finals week - The annual Library Rave is a fabulous way to blow off steam when you can practically feel your cortisol levels rising before finals. It takes place in the parking area under Bartle! You can’t miss it, just follow the music.
Year Round:
Regal Theater or AMC for a movie night
First Friday: A Binghamton tradition that was established in the early 2000! On the first Friday of every month, local art spaces open their doors to the public, and restaurants have special deals. Specifics on upcoming First Fridays can be found here!
Ithaca Gorges - SO pretty! There are also some great hikes in the area.
Any of the shows being performed at the Anderson Center.
Wegman's (no explanation needed, it's a beautiful experience).
Volunteering Opportunities:
Check out the CCE’s (Center for Civic Engagement) website for year round volunteering opportunities!
VINES: Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Gardens
VINES hosts community work days almost every week! Visit their website to get more information and sign up!
NoMa: North of Main Community Center
NoMa needs students’ to help maintain their community center! The center is open every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11-2pm. Contact their Coordinator Brandy at missbrandybrown@yahoo.com if you’re interested in helping out!
Restaurants/ Food:
(in no particular order)
Lost Dog
Chances are, Lost Dog is the first restaurant you’ll hear about upon moving to Binghamton. The praise is for good reason, though. Lost Dog has a huge variety of food, and almost everyone will be able to find something they enjoy. I love their curries, and of course their penne alla vodka. Another fabulous aspect of Lost Dog’s menu is the abundance of vegan/ allergen friendly foods! I recently had their vegan peanut butter/ chocolate pie and OH my gosh I think I self actualized while eating it.
Chris’ Diner
Sometimes, in life, you go to brunch to order really aesthetically pleasing avocado toast and take pretty pictures of your friends across the table. (I do this almost weekly). Other times, though, you want to roll out of bed, go to a diner probably still wearing your pajamas, and stuff your face with a giant plate of hash browns. Chris’ Diner can provide this experience for you. Everyone who works there is super nice, and the food comes out really quickly. The portions are massive, and it’s impossible to leave hungry. It gets busy, especially on weekend mornings, but the wait is never too long. Be sure to bring cash- they don’t accept cards. (There’s also an ATM in the back if you’re stuck).
The Colonial
The Colonial is a Binghamton staple. I’ve never had a bad experience there, but be sure to make a reservation/ avoid rush hour, it’s usually busy. If you have the opportunity, try to go during the winter to witness their ridiculously cute holiday decorations.
For those feeling a bit adventurous, I recommend ordering the PB&J burger. I can’t speak from experience, but it’s been described to me as “infuriatingly good”. A personal favorite of mine is their falafel burger. I’ve ordered it about 17 billion times at this point and have yet to get tired of it.
Citrea
I’ve only been to Citrea once, and it was over a year ago, but I still think about the french toast I ordered there. It’s my understanding that Citrea is known for their brunch, and I can confirm it’s a fabulous experience. If you go when the weather is nice, you can sit outside by the river!
U-Club
I haven’t included descriptions for these since most of them are chains and most people already have an idea what to expect, but U-club is always a great (and convenient) option for food:)
Chipotle
Corelife
Coppertop
Tully’s
Subway
Five Guys
Insomnia Cookies
Cold Stone
Strange Brew
AMAZING coffee!!!! My usual order is their Cortado, which is made with equal amounts of espresso and milk. It’s ~fabulous~. I haven’t ordered much food from Strange Brew, but I’ve been told that their bagels are amazing as well. If you get there early enough, you can snag a seat and study next to their giant windows, but unfortunately seats usually fill up quickly.
Starbucks- for loyal customers such as myself, here is a list of the Starbucks locations in and around campus:
Starbucks truck- located outside of the Rockefeller Center in Hinman, open 8am-8pm
Inside target (on Vestal Parkway)
In University Plaza (U-Club), also on Vestal Parkway
Sugar Lips
Getting ice cream from Sugar Lips is an absolute must during your time at Binghamton. It’s on Riverside Dr., about a 7 minute drive from campus. They’re only open while the weather is nice, so be sure to go in early fall or late spring. There are approximately 7,270,906 flavors, many of which are homemade, along with a variety of vegan options:) (Not the gross kind of vegan ice cream either, I promise).
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