Binghamton

The City of Binghamton is divided into seven neighborhoods.

City Center: This is the region's administrative, business, entertainment and transportation center. It is located at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers south of the Norfolk Southern rail tracks and west of the Brandywine Highway. Generally, the city is characterized by commercial properties and several high-rise apartments towards the rivers with lower class single- and multifamily dwellings towards the highway. There are several areas of urban blight, most notably along the Brandywine industrial spine.

Downtown Binghamton is notable for its architecture and is the site of the Court Street Historic District. This district has 89 historic buildings from the turn of the previous century, of which the Press Building and the Security Mutual Building are the most notable. A number of buildings on the National Register by famed architect Isaac G Perry are located here as well, including the Perry Block, the Broome County Courthouse, and the Phelps Mansion.

Westside: Located across the Chenango River from Downtown. This area is largely residential and its character ranges from urban to suburban. In general, the area between Seminary Avenue and the Susquehanna River is inhabited by middle to upper-class residents, while the area north of Seminary Avenue to the First Ward is inhabited by working-class residents and students from the neighboring colleges. There is a commercial corridor along Main St with mostly light commercial facilities and a couple of large plazas. Binghamton High School, location of the Helen Foley Theater, is located here, just across the Court St bridge from Downtown. Lourdes Hospital can also be found here.

Despite its residential character a number of historic and architecturally significant buildings can be found on the Westside. The Roberson Museum, the Gen. Edward F. Jones House, and the Abel Bennett Tract can be found here.

Southside: The Southside refers to the area of the city south of the Susquehanna River. It varies from upper-class homes in the western and southern portion to mostly middle class everywhere else. There is a small commercial center at the southern end of the S Washington St bridge including a variety of light commercial and restaurants and is also the site of Binghamton General Hospital. More light commercial and some light industrial can be found along parts of Conklin Ave, with more industry the further east one travels.

The Southside is also home to the Ross Park Zoo and the Discovery Center.

Eastside: The Eastside lies east of the downtown area along the north bank of the Susquehanna River. It is mostly characterized by the Brandywine Industrial Spine, a region of heavy industry and urban blight that separates it from the rest of the city. Beyond this the neighborhood is largely working class, with various shops and restaurants concentrated on Robinson St. Rt 11, or Upper Court St as it is known once it passes under the Brandywine, is more commercial in nature, with several strip malls and home to most of the region's adult entertainment outlets.

The original Dick's Sporting Goods store is still in operation here, it can be found on Upper Court St a little past the Salvation Army. The area is also home to the New York State Inebriate Asylum, the first mental health facility to treat alcoholism as a disease. It too was designed by Isaac Perry and is listed on the State and National historic registers.

Northside: The Northside is located just north of downtown across the Norfolk Southern rail tracks. It is characterized by large sections of commercial activity just north of downtown and along Chenango St. The rest of the area is residential, mostly working class single family homes.

First Ward: The First Ward is largely a residential neighborhood. It occupies the area west of the Chenango River between the Norfolk Southern tracks I86/Rt 17. There are several notable Victorian style mansions along front street that have been transformed into multi-family dwellings, but beyond that the First Ward is mostly known for Antique Row, located along Clinton St. Many portions of this street are blight, particularly toward Front St, but what is left has been turned into numerous antique shops. The Tri-Cities Opera can also be found on Clinton St.

Ely Park: Ely Park is the area west of the Chenango River and north of I86/Rt 17. It is generally residential and is primarily known for the municipal golf course and the government subsidized housing project of the same name located here.

While the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical area includes all Broome and Tioga Counties, the area referred to as Greater Binghamton is much less defined. Generally, it refers to the larger region of conurbation surrounding the city of Binghamton, from Kirkwood in the east to Endicott in the west and includes the following list of towns and villages. Most of these communities are considered to be small suburbs or bedroom communities with a couple of thousand residents, however, there is an exceptionally high level of integration between them, so much so that most outsiders will not realize they have crossed a municipal line. Many natives, even, will have trouble distinguishing where one community ends and another begins. These communities are only meaningful within the region, as the entire area is known as 'Binghamton' to the outside world.

Chenango Bridge: A small suburb of Binghamton, it is located the furthest north along the Chenango River. It is notable for the Rt 12A bridge across the river.

Conklin: Located just east of Binghamton along the Susquehanna River. Its industrial park is home to several major employers in the area including L-3 Communications, Universal Instruments, and Frito Lay. There is a small castle built as a residence by Alpheus Corby in 1900. It houses several of the town offices.

Endwell: A generally upscale residential suburb sandwiched between Endicott and Johnson City and across the Susquehanna from Vestal. It is home to Highland Park and its well known Fourth of July fireworks display, and to several golf courses and the IBM Glen. Traditions at the Glen Spa and Resort can be found here.

Endicott: The third and smallest member of the 'Triple Cities', although like Johnson City it is classified as a village. Now a working-class suburb, it was once an industrial powerhouse thanks to the plants of the Endicott-Johnson Corporation. It is also recognized as the birthplace of IBM. Recruiting for these factory jobs left a lasting imprint in the form of Little Italy, a still largely Italian neighborhood on the North Side.

Hillcrest: Located north of Binghamton on the east bank of the Chenango river; it is between Port Dickinson and Chenango Bridge. This is a small residential suburb.

Johnson City: Part of the 'Triple Cities' (although, again just a village), Johnson City is one of the major communities in the region. The village immediately borders and is indistinguishable from Binghamton's west side. One of the region's main shopping centers, the Oakdale Mall can be found here, as can the Endicott-Johnson Industrial Spine, a 230-acre (92 ha) area of industrial ruins that is slowly being revitalized. There are many small shops along Main St in Johnson City's center.

Port Dickinson: Located north of Binghamton on the opposite side of the river from Hillcrest. Broome Community College can be found here, as can Otseningo Park: home of the Spedie Fest and Balloon Rally. Port Dickinson (Port Dick) is largely residential in the immediate vicinity of BCC, however, further north is the Upper Front Street commercial district. This is a smaller version of the 'Parkway' in Vestal and contains many shops, restaurants, plazas, and strip malls. A few of the bigger chain stores can be found here such as Lowes and Regal Cinemas, one of the regions two multi-screen movie theaters. Port Dick is also home to Sam the Beer Man.

Vestal: Vestal occupies all of the southern bank of the Susquehanna River west of Binghamton. This is the regions commercial center, with many large plazas, strip malls, shopping centers, and most of the regions big box stores built along the Vestal Parkway. There is also a lot of heavier industry and a sewage treatment plant located along Old Vestal Rd. Upper-class residential areas are built along the hillsides and hilltops to the south. The western part of Vestal, known as 'Four Corners' is home to the Vestal schools (ranked among the highest in the nation) and has more of a small town character, with small shops along Front St and middle-class neighborhoods. The Parkway is the area's busiest roadway and is best avoided unless you have a reason to be there.

West Corners: Located just north of Endicott along Rt 26, this is generally considered the furthest westward extent of the Greater Binghamton region. There is a small shopping plaza surrounded by residential areas. West Corners is only notable for being home to the nationally recognized Phil's Chicken House.

Binghamton has a humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons and is well known for its gloomy weather. On sunny days, it is common to hear locals remark on the absurdity of sunlight in Binghamton: "What is this crazy yellow orb and why does it hurt my eyes so?" This doesn't happen often though considering Binghamton averages only 52 sunny days a year. Binghamton also has a reputation as one of the rainiest cities in America. Its not, it only gets about 36 inches of rain (90 cm) a year, but it does average 161 days of precipitation so it can certainly seem like it.

Spring weather in Binghamton is often very unsettled, especially early on. Snowstorms in late April, although uncommon, are not unheard of. Oftentimes, snow is preceded or followed by warm weather... sometimes in the same day! Spring flooding is common and the rivers are often elevated through the entire season as first snow melts and then heavy rains come. Rainy days are no more common than the rest of the year but are often heavier. However, once the unsettled weather of March and April is over, the weather is often fantastic with warm, pleasant days and the scent of myriad spring blooms filling the air.

Summer is generally not too hot, with temperatures often in the low to mid 80s°F (27-30°C). However they tend to be very humid, often oppressively so, and are best described as 'swampy'. Humidity tends to be worse in August and in the afternoon when temperatures are highest. Frequently the humidity will stay elevated for days at a time with no break, and often gets worse at night, making sleep uncomfortable without air conditioning. Swarms of enormous mosquitoes patrol the city on these days and have been known to carry off cats and small dogs.

Fall can be one of the most beautiful seasons in Binghamton and not just for the scenery. The humidity generally breaks in mid September and temperatures will usually remain pleasantly warm right up until it snows... usually on Halloween.

Winter tends to be cold, snowy, and unpredictable. Some years are subject to repeated freeze/thaw cycles that leave the city covered in a thick layer of hard packed snow and ice. Other years, it starts snowing and never stops, with each new storm packing the snow underneath into a thick layer of hard packed snow and ice. See the trend here? The city is perfectly situated to take advantage of both lake-effect snows off the Great Lakes and Nor'Easters coming in off the Atlantic (a Nor'Easter is like a hurricane, only with snow instead of rain). However, the city's distance from the Lakes and the barrier formed by the Appalachian Mountains tends to limit these to only a foot or two at a time. The Public Works Department does a passable job of keeping the highways clear, but has done a terrible job on city streets, with some streets not getting plowed at all until days after the storm has passed.

• 🌍 Greater Binghamton Airport (BGM  ^IATA), 2534 Airport Road, Johnson City (lies 7 mi (11 km) northwest of the city center), ☏ +1 607 763-4471. Two airlines offer flights to Binghamton: Delta Connection has two daily round-trips from Detroit, while Avelo Airlines offers Wednesday and Saturday non-stops between Fort Myers and Orlando. 

BGM Airport is not served by mass transit. Ground transportation options include:

• On-site car rental from Avis, Budget, and Hertz.
• Off-site car rental is available from Enterprise. They offer complementary pick-up and drop-off service if your flight arrives or departs during normal business hours.
• Licensed taxis are available outside the terminal and will take you anywhere in Broome County for $25. It's a good idea to call as soon as your flight lands, although at peak arrival times cabs may already be lined up outside.

The closest larger airports are Syracuse-Hancock International AirportSYR ^IATA, roughly 70 mi (110 km) north of Binghamton, and Albany International Airport ALB ^IATA, 95 mi (153 km) northeast. If you're originating from outside the East Coast, you may find these airports to have a better range of flight options, along with more competitive fares due to the presence of low cost carriers. Besides a wider range of mainline and regional service on American, Delta and United, Syracuse is also served by Allegiant and JetBlue, while Albany is served by Southwest Airlines. Another alternative is to fly into one of the three New York City airports (Newark, JFK, or LaGuardia) and reach Binghamton via frequent bus service from Port Authority (see below) - this may be more convenient if you're arriving from the West Coast or abroad.

Another option is to fly into Elmira or Ithaca, both of which are about an hours drive. Tickets tend to be a little cheaper and have more options available than direct flights in and out of BGM.

Intercity bus service is available from the Binghamton Bus Terminal in center city adjacent to BC Junction (the hub for local bus service.)

• Greyhound/ Trailways: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, New York City (Port Authority)
• Coach USA : Monticello, Newark NJ, New York City (Port Authority)
• Megabus sells tickets on its website between Manhattan and Binghamton. Megabus does not run its double decker buses to Binghamton; these tickets are discounted advance purchase fares for existing service to/from Port Authority on Coach USA (which owns Megabus). Tickets purchased through Megabus are only valid on a specific date and time. Unless you're booking the overnight departure or several weeks in advance, the Megabus fare may not be that much less (and occasionally are actually higher!) If you're not certain about your travel dates and times, consider purchasing a standard ticket directly from Coach USA - they are valid on any bus within 30 days (one-way) or 90 days (round trip) of purchase. You can only buy tickets to or from Manhattan through Megabus, tickets for Coach USA's other destinations (Ithaca, Monticello, etc.) must be purchased at the bus station.

• Greyhound/Trailways : Cortland, Syracuse, Ithaca, Geneva, Rochester, Buffalo, Toronto
• Coach USA: Owego, Ithaca, Deposit, Norwich

• Coach USA : Oneonta, Colbleskill, Albany
• Greyhound/Trailways : Oneonta, Cobleskill, Albany, Worcester, Boston (South Station)

• Coach USA : Corning, Elmira, Big Flats, Olean, and Jamestown; and continuing service to Mayville-Chautauqua Institution (seasonal), Westfield, Dunkirk/Fredonia, and Buffalo on a Coach USA ErieLine connecting bus.

The nearest Amtrak station is 65 mi (105 km) away in Syracuse, served by Empire Corridor/Maple Leaf trains and the Lakeshore Limited. While it is possible to take a train to Syracuse and a bus to Binghamton, unless you're arriving from west of Buffalo it's usually cheaper and faster to take a bus directly. New York City is well served by Greyhound/Trailways and CoachUSA (see above).

Three highways service the Binghamton area.

• I-81 runs north to Syracuse, Watertown and the Thousand Islands. Along the way it passes by the Finger Lakes region, Lake Ontario, and the Adirondack Mountains. To the south it passes through the Endless Mountains on the way to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
• I-88 begins in Binghamton and runs northeast to Albany. It passes through Oneonta and Cobleskill, and is the nearest highway to Cooperstown.
• I-86/NY17 passes through the entire Southern Tier on its way downstate. To the west it passes through Elmira and Corning and eventually ends at I-90 in Pennsylvania. To the east, it skirts the Catskill Mountains and I-86 ends at I-87 in the Hudson Valley region, but NY17 turns south and eventually ends in New Jersey.

Public transportation in Greater Binghamton and outlying areas is served by BC Transit, a service of the Broome County Department of Transportation. Buses run weekdays approximately 6AM-9PM, Saturdays 7AM-6PM, and Sundays 9:30AM-5PM. Some routes do not operate on weekends, service may be limited or suspended on public holidays. Cash fares are $2 per ride (includes one transfer ticket, if requested). If you'll be riding the bus more than twice in one day, an unlimited day pass can be purchased for $5 from the driver. Weekly ($25) and monthly ($70) passes are also available from the BC Transit office (at the junction) or Weis Market locations in Broome County.

Transit options are not limited to the local fixed-routes buses. BC Country provides transportation in outlying areas but must be arranged in advance.

Taxis are plentiful in the city, during non-peak times plan on calling 20 minutes before you're ready to leave. Reserving a cab in advance is generally unnecessary and many operators in Binghamton discourage this practice unless you have a flight or bus to catch.

• University Taxi Cab +1 607-759-6273
• Yellow Cab +1 607-348-6115
• All Star Cab +1 607-348-6115
• AAA Taxi +1 607-221-5894

There are also several smaller operators with fleets of less than five vehicles. BC Junction, the airport, the Binghamton University student union, and some downtown hotels have taxi stands but this is the exception rather than the rule. You may find yourself sharing your cab with other passengers when demand is high (although drivers will only pick up additional passengers who are going in the same general direction, and you'll generally be dropped off in the order you're picked up.) Fares are regulated by the county (although can vary by a dollar or two depending on the operator) and use a zone system, rather than a taximeter.

• The base fare varies by operator, but is usually $6-8.
• Fares increase by $1 per zone as you travel through each of the six city zones:

• Central City
• Westside and First Ward
• Upper Front Street
• Northside and Eastside
• Southside
• East Vestal (up to and including the Binghamton University campus)

As a rule of thumb, you're crossing into a new zone each time you cross a river, train tracks, or a town line.

• Outside the zone system described above, the fare increases $2 by town:

• West Vestal (beyond the BU campus)
• Johnson City
• Village of Endwell
• Village of Endicott

• Rural communities (e.g. Port Dickinson, Windsor, Kirkwood) are charged based on total mileage. The dispatch center will give you a fare before the driver picks you up.
• Trips to the Binghamton Airport, regardless of origin are $25.

App based ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft are available in and around Binghamton. Rates and availability depend on time of day and demand.

Bicycle routes exist but are limited. There are several streets with designated bike lanes, and several more with markings to warn drivers of possible bicycle traffic. However, bicycle transportation is not common, and many drivers, while not hostile, seem unsure of how to handle bike traffic.

• Interstate 81 is a major north-south federal highway that passes through the central and southeastern part of Greater Binghamton. It connects Binghamton with Syracuse to the north and Scranton to the south. While traffic can be heavy during rush hour, it generally moves along at speed.
• Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 is an important route in the area, serving as the main east-west travel axis in the Greater Binghamton region. Traffic can be heavy during rush hours but generally moves along at speed without problems. The route connects Interstate 90 in Erie with Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) in Harriman as a divided highway, and is known as the Southern Tier Expressway west of Binghamton.
• Interstate 88: the Senator Warren M. Anderson Expressway/Susquehanna Expressway. It is a direct link from Binghamton to Schenectady, with links to the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-90) providing access to Albany.
• U.S. Route 11 parallels I-81 for most of its north-south route, but goes through the city rather than going around it. US 11 follows Court St through downtown, then turns north onto Front St after crossing the Court St bridge.
• New York State Route 7 parallels US 11 on the south bank of the Susquehanna River from the Pennsylvania border until it turns north at the Tompkins St bridge. It is known as the Brandywine Highway from the Tompkins St bridge until it intersects I-88 (which it parallels to Schenectady).
• New York State Route 12 begins in the Greater Binghamton region, diverging from US 11 just north of Port Dickinson. NY 12 connects Binghamton with Utica. Upper Front St continues along NY 12 for a mile or two north. NY 12A diverges from here to the community of Chenango Bridge.
• New York State Route 17C travels west to east into Greater Binghamton from Owego, and is known as Main St in most of the communities it passes through. It terminates at Front St in Binghamton, but the road continues as Court St (US 11) into downtown.
• New York State Route 26 is the major north-south route on the western end of the Greater Binghamton region. It starts at the Pennsylvania border in the south of Vestal, and travels north to Endicott, West Corners, Whitney Point, and beyond.
• New York State Route 201 is a short, north-south highway between the two major shopping districts, connecting Harry L Drive in Johnson City (including the Oakdale Mall) and the Vestal Parkway with I-86/NY 17 and NY 17C. This is one of the most heavily traveled bridges across the Susquehanna River, and traffic can occasionally grind to a halt on the southbound lanes during rush hours.
• New York State Route 363 is known locally as North Shore Drive. It is a short, north-south limited-access highway that bypasses downtown Binghamton and links NY 434 to NY 7, and to I-81/NY 17 (Exit 4 S).
• New York State Route 434 is generally called the Vestal Parkway between the Binghamton city line and Tioga County border. This road is heavily traveled and best avoided when possible. The section between Bunn Hill Rd and African Rd is home to numerous plazas and strip malls, and is very congested throughout the day.

• Chenango Street Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Port Dickinson/Hillcrest on the east bank of the Chenango River.
• Clinton Street Main thoroughfare through the First Ward in Binghamton. Home to Antique Row.
• Conklin Ave Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Conklin on the south bank of the Susquehanna River.
• Court Street Main thoroughfare through Binghamton east of the Chenango River.
• Floral Ave Largely residential. It connects Main Street in Binghamton to the Traffic Circle.
• Front Street Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Port Dickinson on the west bank of the Chenango River.
• Hooper Road Main thoroughfare through Endwell.
• Main Street Once was the major connecting road of the Triple Cities (Binghamton, Endicott, and Johnson City) and served as the commercial heart of each. Many unique small shops can still be found in each of their respective shopping districts.
• Old Vestal Road Once was the main east/west thoroughfare through Vestal. It now serves as an alternative to the Vestal Parkway, but can become congested with other people seeking to do the same.
• Riverside Drive Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Johnson City along the north bank of the Susquehanna River. Notable for the number of large, historic residences along its length.

• Metered parking is available on most city streets around the city center, and a few blocks either side of Main Street on the West Side - a quarter gets you 15 minutes of parking, and the maximum a meter can hold at any one time is two hours. Street parking is free after 6PM Monday through Friday and all day on weekends. Take note that some of the spaces on Court Street are angled relative to the curb and as the signs clearly state, you must back your vehicle in. Park incorrectly and you will get a ticket.
• Alternatively garages are also available on State Street near City Hall and the Courthouse, Exchange Street across from BC Junction and Water Street behind Boscovs Department Store. Paid lots exist on Stuart Street near the Holiday Inn and behind the Metrocenter. Garages charge by the hour and the paid lots charge a flat fee for the entire day, and fees are collected around the clock, every day.
• Parking is free on other city streets in residential areas, be aware that from December through April the city requires alternate side parking to assist with snow removal. After 5PM, remember to park for tomorrow, meaning if the next day is an even day (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc. of the month) park on the even side of the street, likewise if tomorrow will be an odd day (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc. of the month), park on the odd side of the street after 5PM. Park on the wrong side overnight and you'll wind up with a ticket. Bear in mind that the alternate side rule still applies even if one side of the street is marked "no parking" (unless the block has a sign noting an exemption.) Prior to 5PM, vehicles are supposed to be parked on the side of the street that corresponds with that day's date, although in practice this is not enforced unless it's snowing and the plows are out. From May through November, you may park on either side of the street provided it isn't marked "no parking".
• Binghamton University operates on a campus wide permit system. You may purchase a visitors parking pass for $6 from the information booth, park in a metered space (one set is near the library, the other next to the administration building), or the garage near fine arts for $1/hour. Parking can be difficult to find during the week while classes are in session, and the university encourages off campus students to use transit or walk.
• New York State Law allows police to issue a parking ticket if the inspection sticker on your vehicle is out of date. In Binghamton, there is a higher than usual chance you'll be cited for this reason, even if no other parking violations have occurred. You should always drive with a current inspection sticker, but avoid street parking and stick to garages, private lots and driveways if yours happens to be expired.
• Parking fines in Binghamton are expensive even by New York State standards. Most minor violations (e.g. overstayed meter, parked on the wrong side during winter) run $70, however if you pay the ticket within two business days, either in person at city hall, online, or through mail (the city uses the postmark determine the date of payment), the fine is reduced by 50%. Tis doesn't apply to more serious violations such as blocking a fire hydrant or using a disabled space without the appropriate permit.

• Bundy Arts and Victorian Museum, 129 Main St (west side, just across Chenango River from Court Street), ☏ +1 607 222-0921. Tu-Su 11AM-5PM. This museum is located in the former home of Harlow Bundy, who with his brother Willard, built up what eventually became the International Business Machines (IBM) corporation. The stated mission of the museum is to honor local entrepreneurs, artists, and personalities by showcasing the fruits of their labor and the culture they influenced. The museum includes an extensive collection showcasing the Bundy Time Recording company with the clocks and punch-cards that became IBM's first major boon. Also features an eclectic collection of arts and antiques. $5.50-7.50. 
• Discovery Center of the Southern Tier, 60 Morgan Rd (take Park Ave south 1 mi and turn L on Morgan Rd), ☏ +1 607 773-8661. Summer: F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-5PM; Winter: open, hours unknown. The mission of the Discovery Center of the Southern Tier is to develop the intellectual, physical and emotional well-being of the children of the Southern Tier through participatory exhibits and programs. Everything is hands-on. $6 or less depending on age. 
• 🌍 Kopernik Observatory and Science Center, 698 Underwood Road, Vestal (Follow Route 17 West to Route 26 South (Exit 67s). Proceed 5 miles (8 km) and turn right at Glenwood Road. (Note the green observatory sign). Take the first left onto Underwood Road and proceed 1.8 miles (3 km) up the hill. Kopernik Observatory will be visible soon on the left.), ☏ +1 607 748-3685. Mar-Nov: F 7:30PM; limited winter hours. The Kopernik Observatory bills itself as "the best-sited and best equipped public observatory in the Northeast United States for over 25 years". During the warmer half of the year, it offers regular educational programming and observation every Friday evening. $5 adults, $3 children & seniors; discounts for groups and large families. 
• 🌍 Phelps Mansion Museum, 191 Court St, ☏ +1 607 722-4873. Sa Su Tu noon-3PM; first Friday of the month 6-9PM. A well-preserved and maintained example of Binghamton architecture in the guilded age, the Phelps Mansion was the home of a successful local banker in the 1870s. It was designed by Isaac Perry, known for many locally significant historic landmarks as well as the New York State Capitol. Tours are available during regular hours or by appointment. $4 per person. 
• 🌍 Roberson Museum and Science Center, 30 Front St (on Riverside Drive, from downtown, turn R), toll-free: +1-888-269-5325. W-Su noon-5PM; F until 9PM. Roberson Museum and Science Center engages people of all ages and backgrounds by providing community-relevant exhibitions and programs in art, history and science education. It hosts the Binghamton Visitor's Center, which is open daily, free of charge. The museum features a planetarium with regular shows for an extra $2 per person. The permanent exhibit on the region's role aviation and flight simulation is particularly good. $8 adults, $6 seniors and students, children free. (updated Feb 2017)
• 🌍 Ross Park Zoo, 185 Park Ave, ☏ +1 607 724-5461. daily 10AM-4PM, in season. The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park is the nation's fifth oldest zoo in continual operation. The zoo has benefited from increased community investment and management, and you can see the care taken in its volunteer maintained gardens and well-kept if modest exhibits. It makes an enjoyable and educational half-day visit. Be sure to spend some time with the Golden Lion Tamarins. If you stay a while, you may hear the gray wolves howl at the sound of sirens from the occasional ambulance approaching nearby General Hospital. The antique carousel by the zoo entrance is, like all others in the area, open to the public free of charge. As of June 2018, the carousel is closed for renovations and restoration. $8 adults, discounted for seniors, students, children and groups. (updated Jun 2018)

• 🌍 C.Fred Johnson Park, 98 C.F.J. Boulevard, Johnson City, ☏ +1 607 797-3031. Memorial Day weekend-June 24: M-F 4PM-8PM; Sa Su noon-8PM. June 25-Labor Day: daily noon-8PM. Free. 
• 🌍 George W. Johnson Park, 201 Oak Hill Avenue, Endicott, ☏ +1 607 757-0856. Memorial Day-Labor Day: 10AM–5PM and 6PM–8PM. Free. 
• 🌍 Highland Park, 801 Hooper Road, Endwell, ☏ +1 607 786-2970. Memorial Day-June 19: Sa Su noon-7:45PM. June 25-Labor Day: daily noon–7:45PM. Free. 
• 🌍 Recreation Park, 58-78 Beethoven St, ☏ +1 607 722-9166, +1 607 772-7017. Free. 
• 🌍 Ross Park, 60 Morgan Rd, ☏ +1 607 722-9166, +1 607 772-7017. Memorial Day, May 30-June 17: M-F 3–6PM, Sa Su 10AM–6PM; June 18-Labor Day: daily 10AM–6PM. Free. 
• 🌍 West Endicott Park, 501 Maple Street (at Page Avenue), Endicott, ☏ +1 607 786-2970. Memorial Day-June 19: Sa Su noon-7:45PM. Free. 

• Cinema Saver, 19 Madison Avenue, Endicott, ☏ +1 607 754-6588. 
• AMC Town Square, 2425 Vestal Parkway, Vestal, toll-free: +1-888-262-4386. 8-screen, stadium seating with all digital/3-D capable projection. 
• Regal Cinemas, 900 Front St (take exit 5 from Interstate 81 and head north), ☏ +1 607 724-1230. First run. 12 screens with surround sound. 

• Anderson Center for the Performing Arts, Binghamton University Campus, Vestal Pkwy (First left after traffic circle on BU campus), ☏ +1 607 777-6802. Consisting of three theaters (Osterhout Concert Theater, Chamber Hall, and Watters Theater), The Anderson Center provides a world-class venue for any size performance that may come to the region. The Center strives to bring in a variety of international performances in keeping with the university's multicultural perspective, however, it also hosts many local and national performances. 
• Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, 31 Front St, ☏ +1 607 723-3931. Led by José-Luis Novo, the Binghamton Philharmonic produces a classical and chamber music series at the Anderson Center for Performing Arts and a popular music series at the Forum Theater downtown. 
• Blues on the Bridge, Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge (downtown). noon-10PM. Blues festival held annually on the historic South Washington St Bridge in mid September. 180 (or so) bands will perform along with food and crafts vendors. Free. 
• 🌍 Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena and the Forum Theater, 1 Stuart Street and 236 Washington St. respectively (downtown), ☏ +1 607 778-1528. Binghamton's two largest indoor venues are managed by the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Arena hosts numerous traveling productions and music concerts. It is also the home venue of the local professional ice hockey team, the Binghamton Senators. The Forum is a restored vaudeville house and hosts the Tri Cities Opera, popular music productions of the Binghamton Philharmonic, and Broadway Theater League shows. 
• First Night, city-wide, ☏ +1 607 723-8572. Begins 5PM New Year's Eve. Nationally recognized arts and culture celebration to bring in the new year. City buses provide transportation to events scattered around the city throughout the evening. At midnight a massive bonfire is lit outside The Arena. $10, $6 in advance. 
• 🌍 The Goodwill Theatre, 67 Broad St, Johnson City, ☏ +1 607 772-2404, info@goodwilltheatre.net. Box office: M-F 9AM-5PM. 
• Rod Serling Video Festival, 31 Main St, ☏ +1 607 762-8202. first weekend in August. State wide film contest for would-be directors in grades k-12. Film entries are screened at the Helen Foley Theatre in Binghamton, and aired publicly on WSKG Public Television Station 
• Spiedie Festival and Balloon Rally, Otsiningo Park (use exit 5 from Interstate 81), ☏ +1 607 765-6604. first weekend in August. The Spiedie Fest brings together about 100,000 people to celebrate local culture, launch a hot air balloon rally, and yes, serve up lots of spiedies. The name of the food is from the Italian word for "skewer", appropriate as the dish was invented/adapted by Italian immigrants who settled here in the early 20th century. There are also many arts, crafts, live music, and all the other sorts of things you'd expect at a big fair. 
• St. Patrick's Parade Day, Downtown/Westside Binghamton. 2 weeks before St. Patrick's Day. By having its parade day early, Binghamton gets to showcase some of the best groups from New York City, Philadelphia, Scranton, and elsewhere. 
• Tri-Cities Opera, 236 Washington St, ☏ +1 607 772-0400. Founded in 1949, the Tri-Cities Opera delivers three major opera productions each year at the Forum Theater as well as a number of shorter productions at its Clinton Street location. $16 adults; discounts for children, students, senior and others. 

• Binghamton Bearcats (Vestal; from Route 17, take Route 201 south and follow SUNY signs to Route 434 east and campus), ☏ +1 607 777-BTIX (2849). NCAA Division I sports teams representing Binghamton University, playing 21 sports (but not football) mostly in the America East Conference. 
• Binghamton Rumble Ponies (downtown, follow signage from Court Street exit off 363), ☏ +1 607 723-6387. AA minor league baseball team. Feeder for MLB's New York Mets. 
• Dick's Sporting Goods Open, En-Joie Golf Course, 722 W Main St, Endicott (from I86, take rt 26N to 17c (Main St). Go west until almost out of town), ☏ +1 607 785-1661. This public golf course is a stop on PGA Tour Champions, the PGA Tour's circuit for golfers 50 and over. 
• 🌍 Greek Peak Mountain Resort, 2000 NYS Rt. 392, Cortland (From Interstate 81 exit at #9 and then take Route 11 North to 392 West), toll-free: +1-800-955-2-SKI (754). Greek Peak is the nearest downhill ski resort to Binghamton. It has expanded significantly and also offers nordic options. About 40 minutes drive from Binghamton. 
• Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger, Recreation Park, ☏ +1 607 754-5952. Men's Challenger tennis tournament held over 9 days a few weeks prior to the US Open. Challengers are Pro Circuit tennis players from around the world. 

• Oakdale Mall - anchored by JCPenney and Burlington Coat Factory, it is the only indoor super-regional mall in the Greater Binghamton area and within a 50-mile radius. Located in suburban Johnson City.
• Vestal Parkway in suburban Vestal has most of the area's big box retail strip centers.
• Downtown Binghamton has several shopping options including a Boscov's department store on Court Street.

• Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts, 186 State St, ☏ +1 607 772-0485. Sa noon-4PM. Anthony Brunelli is known particular for his photorealist works, but his gallery features several other artists including Marla Olmstead whose early childhood was the subject of the 2007 documentary "My Kid Could Paint That". 
• Atomic Tom's Gallery, 196 State St. 
• Cooperative Gallery 213, 213 State St (from N Shoreline Dr turn N onto Washington St, then R on Hawley St and L on State St), ☏ +1 607 724-3462. F 3-6PM (9PM on first F of month), Sa noon-4PM. A local artist cooperative with about two dozen members, Cooperative Gallery 213 has some work of each member on display at all times and a rotating feature exhibition for one of its members. 
• On Point Productions and Gallery, 67 Court Street, 2nd floor (downtown), ☏ +1 607 773-7850. F 6-9PM, Sa noon-3PM. In addition to providing multimedia production services, On Point has gallery featuring one or two local artists at a time. 
• Orazio Salati Gallery, 204 State Street, ☏ +1 607 772-6725. 6-9PM first Friday of month, Sa 11AM-4PM. Features paintings by various local artists, including a large rotating solo exhibition. 
• Tom's Coffee, Cards, and Gifts, 184 Main St (west of Front St about 1 mi), ☏ +1 607 773-8500. Su 11AM-9PM, M-Sa 9AM-9PM. Billing itself as Binghamton's premier craft gallery and gift shop, if you get hungry while you're looking expect a variety complementary gourmet treats: chutneys, salsas, biscuits. 

• Mad Hatter Antiques, 284 Clinton St (turn W from Front St and proceed about 1.5 mi), ☏ +1 607 729-6036. Stuffed with wonderful items old and older, the Mad Hatter is among the best of the shops on Clinton Street, which is also billed locally as "Antique Row". Leave yourself a good hour to explore the shop. 

• Nezuntoz, 50 Pennsylvania Avenue #4. M-Sa 7AM-5PM; Su 7AM-4PM. (pronounced "knees-and-toes"). Bagels and bagel sandwiches (both breakfast and lunch options), pastries, coffee, espresso drinks, tea, and soft drinks. Free wi-fi although seating is very limited. Located in the rear of the Weiss plaza on the corner of Vestal and Pennsylvania Avenues across from Walgreens. Budget. 
• Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt, 46 South Washington St (Southside, directly across from the Washington Street foot bridge). Sweet Frog is one of many frozen self-serve frozen yogurt shops in the Triple Cities, and has a second location on the Vestal Parkway near the AMC Movie Theater. Choose your favorite flavor(s), top it with fruit, candy, or sauces and pay by the ounce. A word of note - Sweet Frog is owned by born again Christians (according to signs in the store, FROG is an acronym for Fully Rely On God) and elements of this are visible throughout the store: many of the employees wear crosses, hymns or contemporary Christian music plays on the muzak, and most of the non-edible merchandise carried is of a religious nature (illustrated bible stories, for example) although there are no attempts at overt proselytization. If religious symbols make you uncomfortable, Binghamton is home to several other yogurt chains, including Hoopla on Upper Front Street (next to Moe's) and Simply Sweet on Washington Street in central city (right over the foot bridge). Budget. 
• Lost Dog Café, 222 Water St (from Court St, follow Water St north two blocks), ☏ +1 607 771-6063. 11:30AM-10PM. This eclectic fusion restaurant serves great and generous dishes. Though they offer lunch, the place really heats up at night and often has live music. It can get busy, particularly when the university is in session so you may want to call ahead. The wildly popular "Team Trivia" came to the Lost Dog on Thursday evenings when Cybercafe West closed in 2019. Mid-range. 

• Broome County Regional Farmers Market, 840 Upper Front St., ☏ +1 607 772-8953. Sa 9AM-1PM; and Jun-Sep Tu 4PM-7PM. (updated Mar 2017)

• Currys of India, 45 Court St # 2. A nice hole-in-the-wall with a very affordable lunch buffet. 

The Binghamton area has a relatively high number of traditional and not so traditional Japanese restaurants, possibly owing to the significant international student population from Asia (which may also explain why the majority of these restaurants are located within a mile or two of the Binghamton University campus on the Vestal Parkway.)

• Fuji San, 4105 Vestal Parkway East (next to Quality Inn and Suites), ☏ +1 607-583-0547. Probably the best choice for authentic Japanese cuisine with an extensive menu, hibachi, and sushi bar. Mid-range. 
• Kampai, 108 North Jensen Road, Vestal, ☏ +1 607 798-7521. They advertise themselves as "three restaurants under one roof", and offer distinct sections for traditional Japanese dining, hibachi, and sushi. Very high quality, albeit pricey. Splurge. 
• Sake-Tumi, 71 Court Street, ☏ +1 607-238-1771. Asian-American fusion with an extensive sushi selection that changes weekly.Mix and match traditional and some interesting but delicious fusion rolls - ever try a roll smoked salmon and pineapple before? How about tuna marinated in spiedie sauce in your sushi? Extensive menu with Japanese and American favorites. A little on the pricey side but they offer dollar sushi on Tuesdays and Thursdays which can bring the price down significantly. Splurge. 

Binghamton has some of the most authentic southern Italian and Sicilian food this side of Italy. Each of these restaurants also serves pizza but the focus is on fine Italian dinning.

• Cortese Restaurant, 117 Robinson St. 
• Little Venice Restaurant, 111 Chenango St (near the bus station), ☏ +1 607 724-2513. Tu-Su 11AM-11PM. This charming little restaurant offers more than the outside suggests. Several pasta dishes are homemade, and the manicotti are especially good. The original owner was quite an art collector and you will find dozens of paintings to look at while you wait for your order, including several idyllic, impressionistic paintings of local landmarks by Armonodo Dellasanta. Budget. 

Pizza in Binghamton is predominantly New York style. However, Binghamton is well known (and sometimes reviled) for its 'sheet' or square pizza. Those who enjoy New England (Greek) Style pizza, may want to check out Amici's (see above)

• Bella Pizza, 1116 Chenango St. 
• New York Pizzeria, 33 W State St. 
• Nirchi's, 954 Front St. 219 Main Street, and 166 Water St, Binghamton. 

• Park Diner, 119 Conklin Ave, ☏ +1 607 722-9840. Traditional Greek diner on small hill above the Rockbottom Dam, across the river from downtown Binghamton. It has a fantastic view and the food is just as good. The Par is very popular with locals and weekend mornings (in particular Sunday) are generally very busy. there can be a wait. Budget. 
• The Spot, 1062 Upper Front St, ☏ +1 607 723-8149. Open until 11PM, popular among local college scene, great French toast. Budget. 
• Thirsty's Tavern, 46 S Washington St, ☏ +1 607-722-6982. Down-to-earth experience, barn-like décor with rough wood floors, barrels for tables and stools for seats. Good beer, a burger-heavy menu, frequent local bands, banquet hall and catering. Budget. 

• Remlik's, 31 Lewis St, ☏ +1 607-217-4513. Grill and oyster bar 
• Whole in the Wall, 43 S. Washington St, ☏ +1 607 722-5138. Pleasant Southside restaurant specializing in natural and wholesome meals. Mid-range. 

The Spiedie is a regional dish born in Binghamton to Italian immigrants. It consists of marinated chunks of meat grilled over charcoal on metal skewers. It is served still on the skewer with a slice of Italian bread (almost always Felix Roma's) used to pull the meat off, usually with a little marinade drizzled on top. The original meat was lamb, but has come to include chicken, pork, and venison.

• Lupo's S&S Char Pit, 6 West State St, ☏ +1 607 723-6106. One of the two major spiedie sauce labels in the area (the other being Salamida's). Budget. 
• Spiedie and Rib Pit, 1268 Front St, ☏ +1 607 722-7628. A second location is 3908 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal, +1 607 729-2679. Budget. 

• Binghamton Hots, 128 Washington St, ☏ +1 607 296-4687. M 11AM-3PM; Tu-Th 11AM-1:30AM; F 11AM-3:30AM; Sa 4PM-3:30AM. Binghamton Hots is the only place in the Triple Cities where you can try Rochester's signature three layer "Hot Plate" or "Garbage Plate", with all the traditional fixings such as home fries, mac salad or baked beans topped with red hots (hot dogs) and Rochester style hot sauce. Alternatively, try a plate with Southern Tier favorites such as chicken spiedies and salt potatoes. Menu also includes other options such as wraps, spiedies, burgers, hot dogs, and salads. Being only a block away from State Street, BH gets very busy with the bar crowd, especially on weekends when the colleges are in session - be prepared for a line if you go late at night, or check them out during the afternoon or early evening when they tend to be quieter. Budget. 

One of the most popular areas in Binghamton for the drinking crowd, particularly among BU students. The pub area of the street is generally closed town to vehicular traffic in the evenings on weekends. This is the epicenter of the weekly 'Pub Crawl' among graduating BU seniors and 19 year olds with class C licenses from Connecticut who coincidentally share the same birthday with all of their friends.

• Dillingers Celtic Pub & Eatery, 77 State St, ☏ +1 607 724-7779. 
• The Rathskeller Pub, 92 State St, ☏ +1 607 722-0255. Locals will call it "The Rat". 
• Tom and Marty's Town House, 89 State St, ☏ +1 607 722-9823. 

Although not quite to the extent of rainbow filled Ithaca, Binghamton is a diverse and accepting city with a "live and let live" attitude. Nearly all the major bars and nightlife spots see both locals and college students who are openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender on a regular basis, odds are nobody even gives it a second thought. (Bars where being openly LGBT could be problematic are well off the beaten path in the rural outskirts of the city and likely would not be of any interest to tourists. Even if you did happen to stumble into one by mistake, odds you would face outright hostility or violence are fairly low).

• SureStay Plus By Best Western Johnson City Binghamton, 569 Harry L. Drive, Johnson City, ☏ +1 607 729-9194, toll-free: +1-800-528-1234. $76-101+. 
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Binghamton, 225 Water St, ☏ +1 607 722-7575. $76-101+. 
• Comfort Inn, 1000 Upper Front St (Exit 5 off I-81, right at end of ramp. 1.3 miles on right.), ☏ +1 607 724-3297, toll-free: +1-800-463-7009, gm.ny302@choicehotels.com. $76-101+. 
• Comfort Suites, 3401 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal, ☏ +1 607 766-0600. $139-259,. 
• Courtyard by Marriott, 3801 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal (Take Exit 70S (201S towards Vestal) Exit on to Route 434W, hotel is ¼ mile on right.), ☏ +1 607 644-1000. 
• Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, 690 Front St, ☏ +1 607 724-1341. $51–75. 
• Fairfield Inn – Binghamton, 864 Front St, ☏ +1 607 651-1000, ffi.bgmfi.gm@marriott.com. $101+. 
• Hampton Inn & Suites, 3708 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal, ☏ +1 607 797-5000, bgmhs_hampton_suites@hilton.com. $101+. 
• Holiday Inn Arena, 2-8 Hawley St (Near end of Washington Street, downtown), ☏ +1 607 722-1212, hiarena@stny.rr.com. $101+. 
• Red Roof Inn, 590 Fairview Street, Johnson City, ☏ +1 607 729-8940. $50-75. 
• Traditions at the Glen, 4101 Watson Boulevard, Johnson City, ☏ +1 607 797-2381. $101+. 

• Bed & Breakfast at Endwell Greens, 3701 Sally Piper Road, Endwell, ☏ +1 607 766-9973, fax: +1 607 785-5709, info@endwellgreensgolf.com. 

• 🌍 Binghamton Jellystone Park (formerly Pine Valley Campground), 600 Boswell Hill Rd, ☏ +1 607-444-3144, info@binghamtonbearcamp.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Campground. Offers a range of accommodations from simple tent sites all the way up to fully equipped RVs. Camping season runs from March 1 to October 31. $35-$150 per night depending on campsite. (updated Oct 2022)

• 🌍 Chenango Valley State Park, 153 State Park Road, Chenango Forks, ☏ +1 607 648-5251. 
• Binghampton Jellystone Park, 600 Boswell Hill Road, Endicott, ☏ +1 607 785-6868. 
• Salisbury’s Chenango Shores Campground, 109 Chenango Shores Lane, Route 12N, Chenango Forks, ☏ +1 607 648-9030. 

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