Utica, New York SperlingViews

Utica and its surrounding area is an overlooked gem that offers much to residents and visitors. The community is very athletic with a variety of outdoor and indoor activities to participate in. There are many beautiful golf courses, lakes within minutes and one within 35 minutes that offers bars, restaurants, music, on the waterfront, rivers, places to swim, fish, kayak(whitewater also),boat, waterski, run, bike, hike, roller blade, dirt bike, play tennis(for free),a small ski area within the city, and larger ski areas in the surrounding area, snowmobiling, cross county skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, softball, volleyball, bowling, rock climbing, ice skating, fish and game clubs etc. A variety of athletic events with particpants from all parts of the world. We have a small zoo that has a variety of animals, reptiles, etc. and I challenge anyone to identify every species in this zoo. Several museums, Munsun Williams, Fountain Elms, Oneida County Historical, Running Hall of Fame, Sculpture Space. We have motorcycle and car enthusiasts. Theater and the Arts, World Class mucicals, plays, operas, orchestra, ballet, musicains. And food, where do I begin, Polish, Italian, Jamaicain, Bosnian, Vietnames, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Japanese. A Internationally known Brewery that brews beer for vendors around the world. Nightlife, Saranac Thursdays that brings in bands for a minimal charge with more entertainment, and free bands, and DJs. Jazz Nights, many bars and restaurants offering happy hours, bands in the parks for all ages, Turning Stone Casino about 35 minutes away that brings in nationally know recording artists. The countryside is beautiful rolling hills, four seasons, with the Erie Canal within the city and a treed bike trail along it that goes on for miles in both directions. Music offered at Lock 20 in the summer. I could go on and on. Yes it is a city/area that has fallen on hard economic times, but if you can't find something to do here, you're just not getting off the couch.

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Great place to grow up and great place to come bac - 2/5/2012

The food is the best in the country, great parks, a zoo, it's own ski hill and great culture with the Stanley and Museum. Plus it's the gateway to the Adirondacks. I just moved back after being gone since 1990 and I am glad I did.[read more...]

living in Utica - 6/26/2009

Weather is wet and the winters are long. hard to get in an outdoor routine.[read more...]

Most corrupt, vial city in New York State - 4/21/2009

Utica is one of the worst cities in New York State. Politics owns the city, there is no opportunity for growth, the crime rate is on the rise and the influx of pedophile offenders and drug dealers accounts for the exodus that is occurring. I am a life long resident who is looking for a better quality of life out of this mess of a city.[read more...]

Athletic, cultural, beautiful landscape - 8/23/2008

Utica and its surrounding area is an overlooked gem that offers much to residents and visitors. The community is very athletic with a variety of outdoor and indoor activities to participate in. There are many beautiful golf courses, lakes within minutes and one within 35 minutes that offers bars, restaurants, music, on the waterfront, rivers, places to swim, fish, kayak(whitewater also),boat, waterski, run, bike, hike, roller blade, dirt bike, play tennis(for free),a small ski area within the city, and larger ski areas in the surrounding area, snowmobiling, cross county skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, softball, volleyball, bowling, rock climbing, ice skating, fish and game clubs etc. A variety of athletic events with particpants from all parts of the world. We have a small zoo that has a variety of animals, reptiles, etc. and I challenge anyone to identify every species in this zoo. Several museums, Munsun Williams, Fountain Elms, Oneida County Historical, Running Hall of Fame, Sculpture Space. We have motorcycle and car enthusiasts. Theater and the Arts, World Class mucicals, plays, operas, orchestra, ballet, musicains. And food, where do I begin, Polish, Italian, Jamaicain, Bosnian, Vietnames, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Japanese. A Internationally known Brewery that brews beer for vendors around the world. Nightlife, Saranac Thursdays that brings in bands for a minimal charge with more entertainment, and free bands, and DJs. Jazz Nights, many bars and restaurants offering happy hours, bands in the parks for all ages, Turning Stone Casino about 35 minutes away that brings in nationally know recording artists. The countryside is beautiful rolling hills, four seasons, with the Erie Canal within the city and a treed bike trail along it that goes on for miles in both directions. Music offered at Lock 20 in the summer. I could go on and on. Yes it is a city/area that has fallen on hard economic times, but if you can't find something to do here, you're just not getting off the couch.[read more...]

Don't Do It! - 6/24/2007

I moved here from Albany. If ever there was a city that should be shut down...it's this one. Utica lacks a capacity for growth. Clusters of "hopefulls" try to "re-vitalize" areas that are beyond repair. Unfortunately, this city is the by-product of industries that have pulled out, politicians that have tossed ethics in the trash, and an overall discouraged community. If passing through, take some time to enjoy Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute. Spend a few hours, then get the heck out. I'm leaving in a month. The sad truth is, this city is begging for a merciful death.[read more...]

A Very Nice Place - 6/24/2006

This is a nice town. Several colleges and universities, great ethnic restaurants (Italian, Greek, Lebanese) that are nothing short of world-class, and a beautiful housing stock. Nationally renowned arts museum ensures a vibrant cultural life and a grand old theater brings in Broadway plays and leading musicians. Also very close to the leading attractions in Upstate New York: 25 minutes from the Adirondacks, 35 minutes from the Catskills, 45 minutes from the Finger Lakes.[read more...]

Utica - 6/23/2006

Lived there a while, wanted to get out, jobs were limited, always talking about economic developement but never attracted anything... not much to do there, I have been gone for 2-3 years and they have added new stores/restaurants but not much else. sales tax at one time was the highest in the country at 10.25% on the dollar Winters are long and cold normally Loved spring, summer and fall, rolling hills and slower paced lifestyle cheap housing and adirondacks are only 30 minutes north[read more...]

Must leave Utica Ny - 4/17/2006

My boyfriend and I are desperately searching for a new place to call home. I would love to be within a couple hundred miles or less of NYC, but it seems that things are bad all over NYS. Is anyone in Springfield Mass or is there a hidden treasure somewhere that I'm missing?? Utica it seems will not be improving no matter how we hope. We are in our 30's, artistic and would love some sort of night life (restaurants etc...) Help and don't come here!!![read more...]

Utica - 11/2/2005

Very depressing town.[read more...]