Location: Auburn
Top Things to do in Auburn
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What to do and see in Auburn, New York (NY): The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States, located at the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, in Central New York. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687. It is the county seat of Cayuga County, and the site of the maximum-security Auburn Correctional Facility, as well as the William H. Seward House Museum and the house of abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
Restaurants in Auburn
1. Seward House Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 384 reviews
We invite you to visit the Seward House Museum, the historic home of William Henry Seward; New York State Senator, two time New York State Governor, US Senator, and Secretary of State during the Lincoln and Johnson administrations. Our knowledgeable staff is on-hand to provide guided tours, helping you navigate the many fascinating aspects of this beautifully preserved home. Enjoy masterpieces of American art and special exhibitions in both the historic house and the museum’s gardens.
Reviewed By Huckle54 - Chapel Hill, United States
The Seward House will satisfy both the history and non history fan in your group. The tour guides are extremely well versed and take you through the Seward family history in this 1 hour plus tour. The home is intact exactly as it was in when the Sewards lived there. I agree with other reviewers that multiple visits to this museum-home will always provide new and interesting insights into Seward and his relationship with Lincoln as well as other politicians of the time, his wife's efforts in the underground railroad and the family's relationship to Harriet Tubman. Highly recommend.
2. Merry Go Round Playhouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 133 reviews
The Rev Theatre Company (formerly FLMTF/MGR Playhouse) is professional regional theatre company, featuring professional Broadway caliber musical productions along with new musicals, presented in their earliest stages of development, in a series known as “The PiTCH.” The Rev Theatre Company shows productions at three different venues just minutes away from each other.
3. CJS Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Since 1995, family owned Finger Lakes vineyards and winery, specializing in estate dry and semi-dry food friendly wines. We produce wine from our Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, and Cayuga grapes. Our tasting room is open January - March by appointment and then weekends April through December 12:00 N - 5:00 PM at the Fosterville vineyard.
Reviewed By cecilecalica
We’re in the area looking for a winery close by. Read a lot of excellent reviews about CJS Winery. I said to my family that we should try it. We’re so glad we visited this winery. Chris our host and owner of the winery is very knowledgeable, very accommodating and really very nice. He also gave us oyster crackers, very good fresh harvest grapes from his vineyard and some chocolates for free to go with our wine tasting. He thanked us being a frontliner during this pandemic and did not charge us for the wine tasting and gave us a free wine on top of the 6 we bought as a thank you for all the hard work and dedication we all did during the pandemic. We visited 4 wineries during this visit and Chris by far and his winery is the best. We highly recommend this small private winery. You get extra attention.
4. Finger Lakes Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
A Unique Consignment Boutique featuring really cool home furnishings, upcycles, accent pieces, home decor, artisan created items, gift, boutique clothing, locally made candles, soaps & more!
5. Harriet Tubman Home
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 261 reviews
Reviewed By cathyo940 - Keene, United States
This starts in a building further back on the property. It has displays telling about Harriet Tubman’s life from being enslaved, her escape to the north, her return for her family, her work with the Underground Railroad, her work as a spy and nurse during the Civil War, her work as an abolitionist, and the founding of a home for the elderly and infirm of ALL races in Auburn, NY. Then Paul gave a 45 minute presentation of Harriet’s life. He was phenomenal, very dramatic, informative and fun! After that we were able to visit the Harriet Tubman Home which she established after her elderly, infirm mother was denied admittance to the local home because she was black. Her brick house toward the front of the property is not open yet but will be once they have the money to restore it. This little 4’11” woman accomplished so much and her indomitable spirit serves as a high bar for all of us.
6. Auburn Public Theater
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Auburn Public Theater's mission is to enrich the social, cultural, and economic growth of our region by bringing people together through affordable access to live performance, cinema, arts education, and community events. APT seeks to make the world a safer place for democracy through providing an inclusive space for diverse voices & artistic expression. Live music, Comedy, Theater, Arts Classes, Cinema & more...There is something for everyone at APT, it is a place where all are welcome! APT is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
7. Willard Chapel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By amydolan107 - Auburn, United States
Beautiful chapel filled with rich history. Wonderful, knowledgeable docents. I highly recommend visiting!!
8. Schweinfurth Art Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
The Schweinfurth Art Center is a multi-arts facility located in Auburn, New York, in the heart of the Finger Lakes. We offer more than a dozen contemporary art exhibitions each year; art classes for children and adults; quilting and fiber arts workshops; Quilting by the Lake annual conference; multi-day fine arts workshops led by nationally known artists; music, poetry, and folk arts programs; and a gift shop that offers unique items. Stop by to visit today! Masks and social distancing required. See our website for safety information.
Reviewed By kinnakeeto
This small jewel-box of a gallery on a street lined with mansions hosts superb shows, with perhaps the most notable being the annual Quilts=Art=Quilts show. This event showcases work by outstanding quilters from all over the world and the quality of the pieces is astonishing. The 2018 show really wakes up the cones in your eyes while offering plenty of food for thought as well. Upstairs, the member’s gallery awaits, with a surprising, impressive range of talent on display. The spaces are of reasonable size such that a visit here is refreshing, not exhausting. It is a very well-run facility with a charming gift shop as well. A visit here also pairs nicely with a stop at Case Labs and the Cayuga Historical Association next door, the former being where sound film originated. Check online for current exhibits.
9. The Cayuga Museum of History and Art and Case Research Lab Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
The Cayuga Museum campus operates in three buildings: the mansion, the Case Research Laboratory, and the Carriage House Theater. The mansion is home to several changing exhibits each year as well as a permanent exhibit about Auburn Correctional Facility. The Case Research Laboratory is the home of talking movies, where Theodore Case invented the first commercially successful system of sound on film, which visitors can now explore on a guided tour to learn about the history of sound film. The Carriage House Theater is a recently renovated multi-purpose space used for museum and community events. Our mission is to provide a forum for the public to realize, interact with and appreciate Cayuga County’s shared past and unfolding present to help shape a better future.
Reviewed By J3128JWchrism - Auburn, United States
The place that sound on film was invented. The workshop/lab is still there and is full of interesting camera and science gear. Inside the museum there is a Tiffany window, interesting medical devices and rotating art. worth the trip.
10. Thirsty Pug
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Specialty Craft Beer Bottle Shop. Retail, Tastings, Pints, Growlers, and Gifts
Reviewed By tjmoney44 - Pittsburgh, United States
As an avid craft beer fan, I read about Thirsty Pug online and wanted to stop in while I was in the Auburn area. This place is really cool for beer lovers. It is very small so not really a place you would spend that much time (although they do have some beers on tap and a couple places to sit). But the selection is extensive and the owner was very knowledgeable and friendly, helped me pick out a couple local IPA's that were really good. Would definitely stop back the next time I'm in the area.
