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Shopping in Syracuse NY

November 28, 2012 Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel 11 Comments

A couple of weekends ago I had the lovely luxury of a weekend escape with one of my great friends. We left our husbands, kids, laundry and cooking behind and headed on a road trip to Syracuse, NY. One of my favorite things about Syracuse is that the drive is not too far, but they have everything a girls weekend could want. Shopping, dining, spas, and lots of great hotels.

 Destiny USA

The major shopping destination in Syracuse is the newly opened  Destiny USA.  Destiny USA is a combination of the old Carousel Mall melded with a massive addition and expansion.  For shoppers who visited the Carousel you will be hard pressed to recognize any similarities, except for the beautiful old Carousel that is still part of the food court area.  My friend and I really enjoyed our shopping at Destiny USA and would definitely recommend it to Canadians and Americans alike.  The mall really has something for everyone.  I was able to get a head start on some Christmas shopping and picked up a beautiful indulgence for myself.

shopping syracuse ny
Aerial View of Destiny USA’s 2.4 million square foot facility. Photo courtesy of Destiny USA

While Destiny USA’s expansion is open, not all store spaces have been filled.  The majority will be completed in early 2013.  Destiny is already a major shopping attraction, but once filled to capacity it will be unlike any mall for miles around.  I really enjoyed the open air feel of the new expansion and appreciated the small details that were included to make it feel less like an enormous facility.  The brick work, bright lighting and a stunning three story glass atrium really add to the aesthetics.

shopping in syracuse ny
Interactive touch screen mall maps make finding your way around Destiny USA easy

One of the newest features of Destiny is their new restaurant and entertainment section.  Tops for families looking for a fun time and a break from shopping is WonderWorks, a new entertainment experience for all ages.  There are over 100 exhibits combined with the Canyon Climb Ropes Course and a 4D Theatre you will be hard pressed to extract your children to leave.  Check out WonderWorks online to read more about the variety of experiences.

shopping in syracuse ny
Part of the Canyon Climb Adventure at WonderWorks

Another stand out feature of Destiny USA is it’s LEED Gold certification.  Destiny USA is the largest LEED® Certified commercial retail project in the United States. I have never been to a shopping mall that took the environment into consideration.  Being green is just another reason why I loved shopping at Destiny USA.

shopping in syracuse ny
Destiny USA is a LEED Gold Green Building

Dining at Destiny USA

While in Syracuse, we ate at a variety of establishments but my favorite was Cantina Laredo in Destiny USA.  As the wife of a Mexican chef I was admittedly leery of dining at a Mexican chain restaurant.  Once seated we were immediately brought fresh chips and salsa and ordered their specialty guacamole made table side   This is genius!  Fresh guacamole is always delicious, but having it prepared fresh at your table was a wonderful treat.  Plus, being able to customize your guacamole ingredients ensures that everyone can be a part of the guacamole creation.

Guacamole at your table = awesome.
The guacamole table side station.

For dinner I had the Cameron Pobalo Asada, a dish consisting of a thin steak wrapped around a stuffed poblano pepper. It was cooked to perfection, seasoned well and reminded me of my husband’s cooking.  I did find it a really large portion (especially after all of that amazing guacamole).  I wish I could have saved room for dessert as their dessert menu looked equally excellent.  Hopefully next time!

My dinner. Absolutely fantastic.

 

Exterior of Cantina Laredo

With many more large restaurants going into Destiny USA there were be a really large variety of food choices fitting any taste and budget.

If you are looking for a shopping trip with your family and/or good friends, Destiny USA really cannot be beat.  It comes with my highest recommendation.

 

To view my other posts on my trip to Syracuse, NY check out these links:

Mirbeau Inn and Spa

DoubleTree Hotel, Syracuse, NY

Old Friends

 

*Note* I was not paid for this post.  I did receive coupons for a complimentary appetizer and entree at Cantina Laredo.  All opinions are my own.

Check Out These Awesome Posts

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Travel NY, Road Trip, Syracuse, USA

Comments

  1. Kaity says

    November 29, 2012 at 8:47 am

    How neat! I’m originally from the Syracuse area (now living in Pittsburgh). They’ve been working on DestinyUSA for as long as I can remember- but I had NO idea it was actually open now! I hope I can visit when I go home for Christmas this year!
    Kaity recently posted..10 Reasons to Sponsor Me in DecemberMy Profile

    Reply
    • Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel says

      November 29, 2012 at 9:10 pm

      Kaity, so glad you could come by and read this post. Definitely stop by Destiny when you are home, it is a beautiful shopping mall!
      Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Shopping in Syracuse, NYMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Tara Braxton says

    November 29, 2012 at 9:10 am

    I grew up in Cortland NY so there were many trips to the Carousel Mall for me as a kid! So cool to see they have updated it!

    Tara
    Tara Braxton recently posted..Purrrrrr….My Profile

    Reply
    • Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel says

      November 29, 2012 at 9:11 pm

      Tara,

      You’d definitely be surprised by how different it looks (in a good way!)
      Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Shopping in Syracuse, NYMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Danica says

    November 29, 2012 at 9:34 am

    We’re so glad you had such a fabulous girls’ getaway in Syracuse! Let us know when you’d like to bring your husband and adorable boys to Syracuse for a family-getaway — we’ll be happy to help. :)

    Reply
    • Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel says

      November 29, 2012 at 9:11 pm

      Thank you Danica. We will definitely make a trip this Spring for some family time. :)
      Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Shopping in Syracuse, NYMy Profile

      Reply
  4. Sarah Lynn says

    November 29, 2012 at 10:51 am

    There’s a DSW there! I LOVE DSW. They really need to come to Canada…

    Your dinner looks delicious, love the guac made before your eyes.
    Sarah Lynn recently posted..Free Kidzfest returns to Yonge-Dundas SquareMy Profile

    Reply
    • Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel says

      November 29, 2012 at 9:12 pm

      Thanks Sarah! So true DSW is one of the few stores that haven’t crossed the border. Love shoe shopping!
      Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel recently posted..Shopping in Syracuse, NYMy Profile

      Reply
  5. Christine at More Than Mommies says

    December 2, 2012 at 7:49 pm

    MMMM….your dinner looked delicious. I stopped and stared at the pic with my mouth watering for a bit! :)

    Thanks for linking up with us again this week at the MTMmixer! Great to have you there.
    Christine at More Than Mommies recently posted..The Sunday Sip: Fill Up Your Cup With Leslie at Violet ImperfectionMy Profile

    Reply
  6. Cheryl says

    December 18, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    You had me at the table side guacamole. The steak sounds pretty awesome too. And the shopping! Ok looks like I will have to visit one day.
    Cheryl recently posted..Meet the Blogger: Lisa from Bites for BabiesMy Profile

    Reply

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