Auburn, NY Outdoor Activities

For more than a decade, Raven Helicopter's pilots have dazzled skyborne passengers with stunning vistas seen during aerial tours and chartered flights. During each journey, a certified pilot deftly ferries passengers through the skies in a striking, streamlined R66 turbine helicopter, outfitted with a wraparound bubble canopy for easy viewing of scenic landscapes, and a cargo hold for carrying skis, golf clubs, and other, smaller helicopters. Guests drink in the idyllic forests, hills, and lakes of the region as they snap pictures or roll film for posterity.

Paintballers at Action Sports Park wreak colorful havoc across speedball courses during three-hour skirmishes. A massive indoor arena houses the action during winter months, keeping harsh elements and battle-tested yetis away from combatants as they unload paintballs on nearby frenemies. For the sake of maintaining a fair and safe playing field, paint guns are limited to 10.5 balls per second and are capped at 280 feet per second to mitigate post-battle aches. Parties of eight or more receive VIP treatment, with a private playing field, a neutral referee, and a group room where they can discuss battle scenarios or stage a nonviolent sit-in.

The ember of Nick Coppola's fervor for fishing began years ago. While Nick studied biology in college, this passion bloomed into a full-blown vocation as he spent summers scouring the rivers of Southwest Montana. Since those early moments wading in the tides, Nick has become a New York State–licensed guide, continuing to catch trophy salmon, steelhead trout, brown trout, and runaway goldfish as the head of Slickwater Adventures.

Throughout two seasons each year, Coppola and his staff lead anglers of all levels into some of the East Coast's most picturesque habitats, including the Ausable River during summer months and the eastern Lake Ontario tributaries during winter. No matter the location, Coppola encourages participants to customize each adventure to their specific goals, whether they are honing existing skills, learning basic techniques, or luring in trophy catches with tricks and well-timed eyewinks.

At CNY EQ, head trainer Nicolle Madonna guides students through a specialized training program while paying attention to individual needs. Using her 21 years of experience as a competitive rider, Nicolle identifies the strengths of each pupil, helping them cement the basics of classic equitation before focusing on the style best suited to them. As part of her focus on showmanship, many of Nicolle's protégés go on to compete for top ribbons around New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey as part of the CNY EQ Team. She also leads private and group lessons for equestrians of all ages, allowing trainees to translate horses' Morse-code clops at their own pace.

Enclosed by the dense circle of trees that surrounds Oneida Lake, Stone’s Marina Kayak Club seems so far removed from the bustling life of the city that one might never guess it’s just down the road from Syracuse. The marina’s staff equip kayakers of all levels with life vests and paddles before guiding them into the waters that lap gently at the lake’s shoreline. Before sending first-time paddlers off to explore the lake, they dole out lessons in steering and proper safety etiquette, such as keeping two hands on the paddle and never picking up hitchhiking crocodiles. In addition to their fleet of kayaks, the marina also furnishes visitors with pavilions, grills, and campsites for multiday excursions.