With spring break around the corner, many people are searching for affordable and relaxing trips. To have an amazing adventure, travelers don't need to break the bank this spring break or even leave their home state! Why not explore New York State through a classic road trip this spring? Regardless of if you are from nearby or not, upstate New York has a lot to see. From incredible nature to a vast history, there are plenty of memorials, museums, and hikes to explore on a New York State road trip. And to add to the list of destinations: there are plenty of public art displays to explore! Murals and sculptures alike are available for New York State explorers interested in seeing a little bit more of the region's culture. Here are 10 recommendations.
10 Buffalo's Shark Girl
Shark Girl is a public statue in downtown Buffalo that is not a stranger to tourists. An Albright Knox Art Gallery initiative, Shark Girl, was created in 2013 by artist Casey Riordan and lives at Canalside. When visiting and taking photos with her this spring, visitors can also explore the waterfront, the Naval & Military Park, and ice skating on these last cold days.
- Location: Canalside neighborhood in Downtown Buffalo 14203
Shark Girl is also a hometown favorite among locals!
9 Imani Olear's Her Voice Carries Mural
This Rochester mural is part of a nationwide mural initiative called Her Voice Carries, whose mission is to uplift the voices of women while documenting storytelling. The project, which includes other Rochester murals as well, has spread from the Western New York region to Massachusett's. Imani Olear's mural is about radiating love and alludes, through the pose, to Olear's relationship with yoga.
- Location: 71 Parkway - Charles Settlement House, North West Quadrant of Rochester, NY
8 VINE’s Binghamton Urban Farm Mural
Painted by young summer employees, this upstate mural spreads sunshine and joy through the small and central city of Binghamton. VINE, the organization associated with this mural, focuses on community gardens and urban agriculture to address sustainable food security and food community throughout Binghamton. New York State is full of farming, but VINE is rare in its urban approach.
- Location: 16 Tudor St, Binghamton, NY 13901
7 Syracuse's Be Yourself Mural
Painted by artist Ally Walker in 2019, Be Yourself is a colorful and upbeat mural reminding those who pass by it to celebrate their own identity. Walker's inspiration came from her own dedication to mental health and suicide awareness. The mural is on the side of XO Taco & Tequilla Bar and nearby many other great restaurants, making it a great place to stop by while exploring upstate New York this spring! One nearby restaurant is the upstate vegan chain Strong Hearts.
- Location: 713 E Fayette St, Syracuse, NY 13210
6 Griffis Sculpture Park
In this woodland park, 250 sculptures by Larry Griffis, Jr. and other international artists stand within beautiful hiking trails. This is an incredible park to check out as the seasons change and temperatures rise. Since it is a private park, admission fees are required at $5 per adult and $3 per child. For a sneak peek or for those interested from afar, virtual visits are offered on their official website.
- Location: 6902 Mill Valley Rd, East Otto, NY 14729
5 Williamsville's Tanglewood
In the suburbs of Buffalo, Tanglewood is another sculpture in the Public Art Collection of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Created from painted pieces of driftwood that washed up to an Ontario beach, this piece was created by artist Shayne Dark in 2006. It is currently on display at Bassett Park, but it was formerly located at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens.
- Location: 359 Klein Rd, Williamsville, NY 14221
4 Utica's Players Theatre Mural
Created at the end of 2022, this mural on the side of Players Theatre in downtown Utica celebrates the theatrical life of the upstate city. The mural is 30 feet by 50 feet and displays nine theaters associated with downtown Utica: Olympic, Stanley, Avon, Utica, Colonial, Hippodrome, Oneida, Orpheum, and Majestic. Players Theatre brings shows to downtown Utica and offers opportunities for artistic locals to get involved in theater!
- Location: 1108 State St, Utica, NY 13502
3 Freedom Wall
Made possible through the Albright-Knox Art Gallery Public Art Initiative and Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, Freedom Wall is on the East Side of Buffalo and celebrates upstate's African American history. The wall includes portraits of 28 significant civil rights activists, including Malcolm X, Frank Merriweather, Angela Davis, and many others. After taking in the mural, head to the Colored Musicians Club & Jazz Museum to continue learning about national and local Black history.
- Location: E Ferry St & Michigan Ave Buffalo, NY 14209
2 Ithaca Votes Murals
Created in 2020, Ithaca Votes was an initiative that combined public art with civil duty. Several murals were created across the city to encourage community members to head to the polls for election season. The project was commissioned by the delicious company Ithaca Hummus! While in Ithaca, there are plenty of hikes to check out. Even in early spring, when temperatures can still be cold, Ithaca is gorgeous to wander through; in fact, Ithaca is one of the best New York cities to visit, even in winter weather.
- Location: Various murals across the city!
1 Syracuse's Clinton Serenade
This Syracuse mural re-imagines the city's downtown a century ago in a distinct and glaring shade of blue. The water in the mural is the Erie Canal, which is responsible for a large portion of New York State's history. The beautiful downtown depicted may be historic, but Syracuse's current downtown has a lot to offer visitors as well. This city is a great long-weekend getaway.
- Location: 126 N Salina St, Syracuse, NY 13202
This mural is visible from the NY-690, a major highway that might be already included in a New York state road trip!