



Wander through the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, where American masterpieces hang in galleries that feel refreshingly uncrowded. The Stanley Theatre's ornate interior transports you to a time when movie palaces were actually palaces. Locals debate the merits of 'chicken riggies' versus 'tomato pie' with the passion normally reserved for sports rivalries. The Utica Zoo punches above its weight with exhibits that let you get surprisingly close to the residents. Refugees have transformed this former textile powerhouse into a culinary United Nations. After exploring the Saranac Brewery, head to the Adirondack foothills where hiking trails offer views that explain why this region inspired the Hudson River School painters.

