


Hands-on exhibits at the Sci-Tech Center of Northern New York make science fun even for those who dozed through physics class. Thompson Park offers that rare combination of manicured gardens and actual zoo animals, with the New York State Zoo housing creatures that somehow thrive despite the legendary winter snowfall. The Public Square Historic District stands as testament to the city's surprising past wealth - there was a time when Watertown claimed more millionaires per capita than anywhere in America. Fort Drum brings military families who've discovered the city's unpretentious restaurants, while Canadian shoppers cross the border for Salmon Run Mall. In winter, locals embrace the inevitable at Dry Hill Ski Area, where learning to navigate snow is practically a birthright.

