Oneida, NY Outdoor Activities

Twenty-one runs streak across the Toggenburg Mountain Winter Sports Center trail map, furnishing skiers and snowboarders with ample real estate to perfect swerves and test nerves in the crisp high country air. Five lifts—two doubles, a triple, and a pair of beginner rope tows—hoist snowy revelers to the top of runs such as the black diamond Oh My Goat, the blue square Angora Alley, and the green circle Capricorn Caper, as well as two terrain parks. Here, a gantlet of rails, boxes, and tables not only give daredevils the chance to show off their aerial acrobatics, but also provide a rough idea of what it would be like to wear skis into a furniture store. First-timers and skiers in need of a refresher can sign up for snow school, where expert instructors illuminate proper technique during private, semiprivate, and group lessons.

Off the mountain, Chilly Choices ski shop keeps skiers and snowboarders warm on the outside with hats, gloves, goggles, and apparel. Meanwhile the Foggy Goggle and Toggenburg Cafeteria keep them warm them on the inside with toasty eats such as braised tenderloin tips and pizza.

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.

Looking to put a new spin on a classic family activity, the minds behind Glowgolf decided to give the game a phosphorescent update. Incandescent courses place friends and family amid a tropical-fantasy golf world of neon orange, green, and violet surroundings. Players putt luminous orbs through vibrant treasure chests and glimmering windmills while negotiating tricky obstacles near walls portraying black-light-lit aquatic scenes. With more than 20 locations spread over 10 states, Glowgolf's fluorescent labyrinths challenge human players and traveling gnomes.

Located at the Syracuse Kickball Park, Jim and Rocks' Super Sub Shop helps fuel friendly competition amongst the players at the park's newly renovated 18-hole mini-golf course. Whole or half-sized cold subs are built upon a choice of a white or wheat roll, which is then piled high with homemade chicken salad, pastrami and provolone, or smoked turkey or ham. Those looking for a warm meal can peruse a selection of hot subs including a grilled cheesesteak and a chili dog smothered in cheddar cheese and sauerkraut, while light lunchers can enjoy their favorite sub meats and cheeses sans bun in a custom salad served with a choice of dressing. The sub shop also encourages snacking between rounds with munchies such as onion rings, fried mushrooms, and popcorn chicken carved right off the cob.

Floodlights replace the sun during nightfall at Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center, keeping the miniature golf courses and batting cages aglow for nighttime visitors. During the summer, guests can wind through miniature fairways that incorporate small-scale replicas of The Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, and the world's smallest caddies. During the winter, Four Seasons’ slopes welcome copious amounts of snow to facilitate skiing, snowboarding, and snowtubing. The newly renovated facility also hosts a game room and specialty ice cream shop.

Certified by the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and drawing upon more than three decades of in-sky experience, master pilot and instructor Dan Guido teaches the basics of foot-launch hang-gliding to a new generation of enthusiasts. He puts SSusquehanna Flight Park’s five training hills and one mountain launch to good use by introducing fundamentals during beginning practice runs or demonstrating how to stop at eagle crossings during advanced soaring sessions. Lessons schemes range from single introductory sessions to the six-session Hang One program, which helps new fliers earn their USHPA Novice rating.