Fun things to do in Binghamton: 12 fun attractions and activities

This is a cute little zoo, but it could use some TLC. It’s on the smaller side—we spent about 45 minutes walking through and took our time. The animal selection was nice, though we did notice a strong smell around some of the enclosures. That might be because you can get closer to the animals here than at most zoos, which is both unique and surprising. I loved seeing the wolves, artic fox, red pandas, and I learned that porcupines can climb (who knew!?) It was also neat to see the peacocks full plumage open! Some areas of the grounds, like the garden statues, are a bit worn and could definitely use a refresh. That said, I really liked the little hidden shack along the walking path—it made for a cute photo op! The staff was friendly, there was no wait to get in, and the admission price is super reasonable. I think the zoo has a lot of potential to grow and probably just needs a bit more funding to really shine. I was even thinking a variety of animal encounters (even for an extra fee) might help with fundraising—but I get that it’s probably more complicated than it sounds. If you have kiddos, it’s definitely worth a quick visit!

We brought our family to the Ross Park Zoo for a few hours. It is absolutely beautiful and if you are bringing strollers, definitely take the path left and around the circuit to make it easier otherwise it is all uphill. The staff were fantastic, especially the young woman in the gift shop/admissions office. What a fantastic outing. For those with ND children- the atmosphere was very quiet when we went with very few guests on a Thursday. I had these concerns prior, so I thought that I might share- not overstimulating at all for our sensitive littles. Also the playground was a nice break in the day. 14/10, will visit again. :)

It’s such a cute zoo with surprisingly good variety of animals! This is the first time I’ve seen sand cat and pallas cat. The enclosures are all nestled among trees, the wolf enclosure especially is very spacious. It seems like the viewing areas are also well planned, I could get good pictures of pretty much all the animals. Additional note for parents: the family bathrooms are quite spacious, which is a huge plus for taking kids there.

Not bad, have bunches of animals to explore. Not really that neat but it’s a fun place to spend the day specially if you have kids or as a date with beloved ones. Just get ready to take a mountain walk for a mile. A lot of the animals felt like they are very weak or not well fed however they have a few nice and unique animals as well.

Very nice zoo. Everything was clean and all the staff was friendly and helpful. We were able to see all the animals moving around. There is plenty of shade for boot days

This zoo was much smaller than I remembered. However it has a clear 1 mile path around it. We enjoyed the penguins and it does have a small snack shack.

It’s a small zoo, but with some cool animals. You get a closer look at some of the animal than you might at bigger zoos. It’s a fairly easy walk that can be done within an hour without rushing.

What a beautiful place..... The collections, decorations, and the woodwork are beath taking. I could have stayed all night.. Also, planetarium was AEESOME TOO. There are many shows on weekends worth it and not too expensive. Staff were Awesome too. Very friendly .

Quite unique combination of historical mansion, natural history, modern art museum and more. Combined old/modern architecture of the museum is memorable and surprisingly well-fit together. Every floor of mansion is connected to modern building’s wing. It is also rare occasion for me that I liked modern art exhibitions as good as historical mansion’s visit. Taxidermy collection of local animals was one of highlight’s of the visit. Plentiful parking is on the side of the building and behind its back.

Great place for the family to visit during the Holiday Season; Beautiful collection of Christmas trees; Touring the science center and mansion was worth the time…Great experience.

Visited today for the festival of trees. As usual the Christmas trees were amazing! The mansion is beautifully decorated for the festivities and even had live music today. Its worth seeing at Christmas and family affordable! 12-2024 Return visit. I love how different things look this year. Motivates me to make this an annual christmas destination. Very fun, very inspiring.

Went here for their holiday Christmas tree set up and wow! It exceeded my expectations. Very beautiful and educational. They had so many displays with information about Christmas traditions around the world. I loved reading them and learning about other cultures. The price to enter and view this display was insanely cheap and we got to see the entire museum and mansion. The mansion is gorgeous and there are bathrooms and elevators readily available. I highly recommend this Christmas tree event. They do it every year and it's really great

It's a very worthwhile place to see with an eclectic collection. There were many beautiful prints of Windland Smith Rice Awards "Highly Honored nature photography. Each with a description. One room had a huge model train layout complete with a Drive-in theater and a garage with flickering light representing welding. Art by Linda Ciallelo and several other artists are displayed. The Nature Trek room has over 150 stuffed and mounted specimens from Lee J. Loomis. He estimated he had mounted over 10,000 birds, mammals and fish.. They are beautifully presented in several scenes in a realistic way. There are also samples of the mammal's fur to feel. The Roberson Mansion was built in 1904-1906 in Italian Renaissance Revival style. There is free off the street parking.

This place is lacking the science part of the Museum :). The planetarium closed way too early. When we went on a Thursday the last show was 2 pm for a 5 pm closing. ????? The train and town set was impressive. The mansion was amazing. The whole museum could have been more interactive. More information that’s visual and moving rather than static. The mansion is the center piece of this museum and worth a visit!!

We recently visited this museum, and I can truly say it is worth a visit. From the very beginning, the atmosphere draws you in and makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. Our guide was outstanding — knowledgeable, engaging, and ready to answer every question. The way he presented the historical facts made the entire experience both informative and captivating. Being inside the house itself felt surprisingly comfortable, as if the history around you came alive. You could really appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of everything on display. I thoroughly enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a visit. The guide was exceptional, and thanks to him you genuinely feel immersed in history. Thank you, Helen

Beautiful preserved mansion in Binghamton that conveys the spirit of gilded age. Mansion is brick constructed not only on exterior but also its interior walls. Guided tour was quite informative. There is ample parking next to the mansion and near the library. Area might be sketchy though as I saw person shooting up drugs in mid-day at library’s parking lot.

Awesome little museum. It’s a miracle that so much of its history gets preserved til today (thank you, Monday Afternoon Club). I am mesmerized by the vintage furniture and the abundance of shapes in this house. Animal elements ranging from fish, squirrels, birds, griffins, lions fill in the nooks of this house. Adorable! I hope more people get to visit Phelps Museum and to see how women’s club is involved in the story of this house. Tour guide Joe knows the inside out of this house, thank you for leading us through history!

The Phelps Mansion is a magnificent Gilded Age home located in Binghamton, NY. The house was built in 1872 by architect Isaac Perry, who also worked on the NY State Capitol building. The mansion was owned by Binghamton businessman Sherman Phelps. Altogether, the house has 9 bedrooms, four bathrooms, a full kitchen, and has fireplaces in almost every room. Some of the best highlights of the house are the wood carvings that can be seen in different rooms. The staircase is also a stand out because of its large size and black walnut woodwork. You will also notice that most of the rooms are very “tall” and have high walls and ceilings. Most rooms also have large mirrors to create a brighter atmosphere. The dining room is one of the best rooms in the house with its long dining table and intricate wood carvings located around it. The library also is unique with its fireplace. Many other rooms in the house are decorated with artifacts from Binghamton’s history. Be sure to check out the paintings throughout the house as well. Most of the furniture in the house is not original to it, but the house goes out of its way to depict what the house would have looked like when it was first built and at the height of style. The Phelps Mansion offers both guided tours and self-guided audio tours. It is best to buy a ticket on their website for a tour. It is possible to buy a ticket at the door. The Mansion does a great job exhibiting the history of Sherman Phelps and his family, but Binghamton as well. This is a great place to visit in Binghamton.

The house is absolutely spectacular. I have already been there twice and intend to go back. The staff is super nice and very informative. Can't wait to return and see the house during the holidays (I've heard it gets decorated). Truly, this piece of history has hit the jackpot when it comes to being preserved and kept as it would have been when it was built. Others are not so lucky. But, I'm sure glad some are. Stepping into this house is almost like stepping into the world of any history lovers dreams. All of the furniture is antique. The woodwork is utterly impressive. And the house has a very rich (no pun intended) history. As a bonus, even the bathrooms that visitors can use are quite nicely decorated, beautiful, and clean. One hundred percent would recommend that people visit. Edit: Went to see it decorated for Christmas and it was gorgeous.

My husband and I immensely enjoyed our house tour with Joe, our very knowledgeable, easy-to-understand tour guide. The property is well-maintained and happily will be preserved as a reminder of Binghamton’s rich past history. Being from New Jersey, I knew nothing of the area at all and this tour enlightened my curiosity.

Absolutely my favorite historical place in Binghamton. Their programs are wonderful. The docents are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the house and its history. I've come back repeatedly and learned something new every time!

My sons 1st performance, such a great atmosphere.. thank you, can't wait for more..

Fantastic museum — absolutely worth a visit if you’re in the area. Bonus points for the unexpected exhibits dedicated to The Twilight Zone and IBM.

what a surprise! it’s a beautiful jewel of a house and well worth the $5 personal tour! do not leave binghamton without seeing this house.

Hidden gem in Binghamton, visited with my friend and had such a wonderful evening. Definitely recommend for people interested in art and architecture. The interior is lavish in the dining and living room and austere in bedrooms(hidden behind shut doors). I especially like the maidens room and am intrigued by her story (born in Pittsburgh and moved here for a better life). Didn’t have enough time to try the grassroots coffee, maybe save for the next time.

Wanted to come here for awhile. We are from several hours out of town & it was worth every minute to see the Bundy. Tom was our friendly guide and his knowledge was amazing! He truly enjoys his work and it shows. House was beautiful & the Rod Serling exhibit was fun. Family loved it, be sure to take pictures you never know who will be there in spirit...

Great museum in town. Great artifacts, ,& history. I really loved the Twlight Zone & Rod Serling portion along with the 1930s Barber shopn

They do a lot of shows here, I mainly go when my little sister performs in the drag shows hosted there periodically. I love how LGBTQ+ friendly it is!!

Got to admit this place is pretty cool for an arcade center! Certainly enjoyed the visit here so far!

This arcade is absolutely phenomenal, especially if you’re a fan of racing games. Cruisin’ USA, Cruisin’ Exotica, Crazy Taxi, Ridge Racer 2, Hydro Thunder, and at least 4 or 5 other absolute bangers. Dozens of pinball tables. Oh and a vintage game store. Absolutely wild quality here. Could easily spend half a day just playing all these games.

Staff was decent! An amazing amount of games. A decent bit where slightly over priced but worth the money for the finds and to help a local business. The arcade section was to die for. Pinball and retro arcade machines wall to wall. Felt like I was walking back into the 80's

Talk about a walk down memory lane! You can really make your money go far playing these older games! Highly recommend

Had issue with a game. They let me return it to exchange for a different copy. Played some pinball games afterwards with my 4 year old who is obsessed with their Jurassic Park pinball machine! The atmosphere seems nice and inviting. I've brought my kids here 3 times and every time is a win! It's a nice place to go when you are bored, sitting at home with the kids. ♥️

Where else can you go to play this many old school Atari and Nintendo games and tons of antique pinball machines. All the vintage console systems available for purchase and pretty much any game for them you could want.

Wow...Didn't know a place like this existed. The "store" part of this place is simply amazing. For someone like me, who grew up in the 90's, this was a very nostalgic experience. They sell tons of games, consoles and accessories, ranging from the 80's through the 2010's. They had old Atari, original NES and Sega consoles and games, as well as newer PS4 equipment and games. So many rare things to see you only thought were available on eBay. The arcade portion is equally as impressive. Again, I think those who grew up in the 80's - 2000's will truly appreciate this place as many of the arcades there are from that era. There isn't really anything newer than 2005 in there. There are lots of pinballs as well that looked cool. You can change your dollar bills for token (4 tokens for $1) and most games cost 1-2 tokens to play. My only gripe was that a bunch of games I played (more than half of the 8-10 I tried) had faulty controllers. Either the joysticks or buttons were unresponsive. Again, I'm not sure if the younger generation can appreciate this place as most of this place is for an "older - now 30's and 40's crowd". There aren't really any newer games there. I would like to return with my brothers (30 y/o and 40 y/o) who I both know would love this place. I was told parking on the street in the front is fine.

We went here today around 1:00 and spent $10 on parking and $20 for admission and it wasn’t worth $1. The food was extremely limited in choices, none of the rides were operating and no balloons were around (except toy ones being sold). Ridiculous. I have been to the Spiedie Fest years ago and this is not it. Don’t waste your money.

10 dollars to park in a shuttle lot, 10 dollars a person for admission, just for flea market quality vendors and limited free entertainment. Balloon launch was an hour late with no communication about the delay, then attempts to get the balloons up didn't work, so they canceled the launches, again with no announcement. Should've asked for my money back at the gate

I go as an employee or to explore the concerts ONLY anymore. It's not a bad little fest, but it has just gone incredibly downhill in my eyes and the organizers are only just opening up to the idea of change it seems. No rides and very few child friendly games, which are scarce to begin with. Mainly it is an adult friendly moneypit for food and trinkets. Seriously, it is a costly attraction. I will concede though the balloon launch is beautiful, it creates a stunning view above the Bevier Street Bridge, and that they have gotten some amazing artists and musicians over the years. No matter what I feel however, the spiedie fest is a staple here in Binghamton, and the event attracts people from all over the country (along with new and returning BU students), encouraging them to boost the micro economy it creates over the weekend. I wish more local vendors were capable of joining such an event. So go, have fun, leave the younger kiddos at home, and be prepared to spend all of your paycheck if you'd like a gift and some food. I recommend the funnel cakes and the thc vape pens! ;)

We're not going this year (and probably ever, anymore) they have priced themselves out of my range... ticket prices have essentially doubled. Last year weekend passes for $60 included two tickets to every show, daily admission, and on-site parking. This year weekend pass for $60 includes one ticket to each show, admission and no onsite parking.

Never going back again. We had a 7am Balloon ride scheduled for Sunday. These were the only balloons we got to touch (see pic). This is a very disorganized and dead festival. There wasn't even a call back nor could i leave a voicemail (it was full). The excuse at the desk was that the Friday and Saturday rides needed to go up first- so they bump all the Sunday rides? 🤷‍♀️The Billy Currington concert was cancelled, the food was sub-par, and poor communication from those "incharge". You'd think after 37 years they would get "it" together.

It was fantastic, the food was good the music was great . Hunter hayes was excellent. He put on a great show

Will never attend again. Disorganized from the very start of our afternoon. Paid to park off site, flaggers sitting down didn't seem to be bothered to get up to direct traffic. Once arrived at park, if they're were signs directing you to events, the family didn't see them. Glorified vendor event, tent city. Came to see the balloons. Not 1 on site. Kind of a big deal to plan a day and the main event wasn't there, even triple checked and asked we had correct times from noon to 4. So after spending $100 for a family of 4 to park, pay tickets to walk around and have lunch we got to get back on the bus to be returned not to the original pick up point of the bus , but at the back of parking lot and had to walk. Just to watch the bus drive away and park at the original pick up point. What a horrible day.

I attended a wedding in the garden and then the reception here. The place is beautiful, the staff was phenomenal and sooo helpful! I was very impressed!!

This place is absolutely perfect for young kids! They had just set up Halloween decorations and it was so cute and themed. Its almost like a big circle with a big playground situation in the middle and a lot of themed areas surrounding the outside. It was extremely easy to navigate. My kids could have spent an entire day here! It was also extremely affordable, which makes it much easier for us to plan another trip back! I also felt that it was very very well thought out from the layout, to the designs, to the decorations. The minor details were absolutely incredible. And it was full of educational elements through play!

Great experience at a great price! We had taken our kids over 10 years ago. We went with our daughter, son-in-law, and our granddaughter! The exhibits are all informative and hands on! Both indoor and outdoor activities are interesting and appropriate for all ages!

Exceptional learning center indoors and outdoors. Wishing the weather was better because the outside areas looked amazing. Indoors they Featured Kids Cultural Kaleidoscope and wow was it fantastic. Plenty of activities, very friendly presenters and staff at each station. We thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this center.

Great place for the little ones! Our son had a blast when we visited. Thank you!

This place is underrated for how amazing it is. It was so great for kids (and adults, who are we kidding) who get overstimulated after overexposure to loud noises. There were so many different types of play areas, including dental, auto mechanic, tree house, bugs/insect, firefighter, and grocery store (and more!). The outdoor garden area was beautiful with activities and engaging all ages all without being insanely expensive. We will definitely be back!

Very fun and had lots of activities for our growing and learning toddler. Even us adults had our fun. Everything is so well kept which is so hard to find nowadays especially with an interactive museum of sorts. Staff was very friendly and all exhibits are extremely well thought out. The imaginary play is leveled up here as all the details are there. I can’t wait to bring her back each year as she continues to grow and learn.

Beautiful park, well maintained. Many people use the walk trails, play ground, baseball area and tennis area this time of year. I walk my dogs there and they love it.

Lovely open space, 2 baseball grounds, multiple tennis courts, and pickle ball embedded in those courts. Community swimming pool with life guards, kids' play area, and basketball court are also present. Great place to walk and ride cycles, sit around, and have a picnic. Amazing security with continuous patrolling by the park rangers. You can also find a lot of parking spaces all over the park. We can also find food trucks and ice cream vendors to cool off during the hot summer day.

Everywhere needs parks like this! This park is easy for parents to access with young kids but still tons of fun for big kids. We stayed here an hour but my kids could have played here all day. I love how inclusive this park is. Truly, everywhere needs parks like this.

This is a large park which contains one of the 6 Binghamton Carousel Trail carousels. A great place for families. Lovely pool. Park contains a nod to Rod Serling of Twilight Zone infamy as he grew up nearby. This carousel is celebrating its 100th birthday. Google said carousel closed...we called ahead... This was not accurate...it was open. Lovely playground and good parking as well.

This city park is loaded with entertainment features including but not limited to playground, basketball courts, tennis courts, ball fields, soccer field, 🎠, tree house, walking trails, ice rink and ample parking. The park grounds and bathrooms were clean and well maintained. I had full bars of Verizon 4G LTE Roaming.

Awesome park. Kid and dog friendly and one of our favorite parks.

Amazing playground!! Lots of trees, I always appreciate.

It's a really nice hidden gem. Beautiful grounds, well kept, and a nice place to spend an hour exploring nature. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you want some peace, quiet, and solitude.

A lovely hidden gem. It’s a great place to visit after the farmers market.

What a nice little gem! Enjoyable walk through annual and perennial gardens, plus a vegetable garden.

Wonderful place right outside of town to relax and take in nature. Also, this spacious layout of numerous gardens has a wealth of information. A great educational opportunity.

FREEto do! Difficult to find… go behind -buildings an spot the entrance lower right corner of parking lot! Fame like buildings garages very close to Applebee’s see the Taste NY building you have found it!!! Great variety of plants flowers trees well maintained an labeled as well! Enjoyable paved path taste by building has bathrooms an other things as well look around ita worth it … beautiful place to walk around !!!

Beautiful, free and dog friendly Botanic Garden. Very enjoyable and decorative displays. Amazing color and vibrancy, well tended and cared for. Signage was informative, overall layout very esthetic. Many different sections / types of displays including a vegetable garden, herb garden, stunning flowers, trees, native plants, shade plants and more. Only wished it was larger! Perfect timing for my morning visit as there was a great Farmers Market at the entrance.

Great event last night with local food offerings, drinks, music and fabulous gardens to wander through. Top notch fund raising event. Staff were all super friendly and welcoming!

I’m super disappointed because I really did have a good time here and it’s a super cute place. I went in with a family member and we painted mugs. We were there for a while because I was doing a 2 color polka dot pattern on my mug that took a little bit of time. The environment was nice and though it was a little crowded we still managed to find a place to sit with lots of options. My disappointment actually stems from the final product I picked up. I picked two specific colors for my pattern, blue and green, and made the cup black. I asked the woman working multiple times about the colors and with the dots if I needed to go over them multiple times to make sure the color came out right. I was told no and that the pattern and colors looked great and would turn out great. To my surprise when I picked up my cup there was not a single drop of blue anywhere to be seen. Not even a little bit. I am so sad and disappointed because I had not only specifically asked about the colors but if I would have known the blue would not have shown I would have went with a different color. The cup to me looks like it’s missing something, because it is, but other people seem to like it. But I’m just super disappointed and wish that when I had asked I would have been told that’s not a color you can do with black. Because I obviously had no idea and spent a good amount of time trying to make it perfect. I wanted to include pictures to show what it looked like when I left it and when I picked it up. If I can recommend anything it’s for the employees to help with transparency when helping people start their project and expectations on that. I paid for 2 mugs that day so almost $50 and I just got disheartened when I picked mine up. I would still recommend this place as it’s super cute and is still a fun day activity. Just wish I would have known about the colors while painting.

My wife and I booked a painting class for our anniversary. The class got cancelled but they made sure to accommodate us so we had a special night. We had a blast and our instructor was amazing and the music vibe was on point. It turned out to be one of the best and most fun paintings I've done so far (I've done about 8-9). I'll definitely book again and I'll have to try the ceramics too. They had a lot of fun choices to choose from.

I worked with Katy to plan my best friends bridal shower! It was today and everything went beautifully. I live in Florida and they were amazing with helping me plan this event from so far away. The venue was beautiful when we got there, they even supplied tea cups for the tea party theme, the brides loved it. The food was delicious and very well presented. Thank you Uncorked!

Overall had a very good experience. I just think the prices are a little high for what it is, but I would still come back here a lot of fun and very well put together.!! 🎨 also it’s nice for something different!!

Terrible customer service. My wife and daughter ordered some things for father's day on May 17th. I went in Thursday June 12 because they said it would be ready for pick up, it was not. Then was told it would be just a couple more days, tomorrow is father's day and my 4 year old daughter can't give her dad his gift that she is ecstatic for. Says 2-3 week turnaround , today marks week 4 and they will now not answer calls or texts from my wife. I waited an hour in the lobby Thursday before someone would even look for the items. I worked 12 hours that day and its an hour drive from my house. What a complete joke

Wonderful place to have a great family experience. Lots of selections to choose from and the hostess on site with absolutely amazing. Very kind and friendly place for new artists young and old.

So fun! Such a great thing to do with girlfriends and they have great hours. Fairly priced and great to go downstairs to 205 Dry for brunch after.

There are three fields, and a cafe. But the turf Made my soccer ball very dirty, and that's when i stopped practicing there. But they also have free wifi, but it isn't working very well, it works half the time. The last time i went there though it was working better than usual. So pretty much it's a good field for soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey. They have basketball hoops set up and plenty of room for kids to run around in. The cafe has croissant sandwiches. pizza, as i mentioned before. And in the winter time they have hot cocoa. It is a good place though. I like it, my younger siblings like it, and I'm pretty sure everyone who plays soccer likes it. It used to be a literal inflatable, but it collapsed because too much snow landed on top of it. They rebuilt it with a metal roof, so i think it will be good for now. 😁

Great sports camps, wonderful space for birthday parties, sports programs superb! Love the concessions & the family who runs the facility is amazing!

Yeah not going there anymore, the old guy with glasses is rude 😒.

Very nice facility. The parking lot was very icy when we were there for a lacrosse tournament over the winter.

My kids look forward to soccer weekly! The coaches & staff are professional, knowledgeable, kind, & caring. I’m so happy we found this option for my children to learn the sport of soccer

The place is very old and needs some major work. The fields are very dark and the turf is worn. The lighting is so terrible and it's freezing inside. Every time my daughter plays there she gets headaches and nauseous. I think it's because of the old turf. It probably filled with years of grossness Inside the it smells weird. It's like a mix of old tires, mold, and 10 year old dust. The bathrooms need an overhaul as well. The only advantage is it can be a full field.

Great space for a lot of fields capable of fitting many games, but they are stingy with their heating and it is always extremely cold during the winter. Witnessed two players tear ACLs in a night and wonder if they would have had better luck if the temperature was above 40 inside.