Watertown (New York)

Settlers came here in the early 1800s to use the power from the Black River for industry. On April 13, 1852 Frank Winfield Woolworth was born in the tiny village of Rodman, ten miles south of Watertown; he attended business college in the city and worked as a stockboy in a general store on Watertown's Public Square in 1873 before attempting to launch his own "five-cent store" in Utica in 1878. That short-lived effort fared poorly, but a Woolworth "five and dime" in Lancaster (Pennsylvania) in 1879 succeeded.
Watertown is only a few miles from Fort Drum, home of the US Army 10th Mountain Division, the region's largest employer. It is home to various manufacturing industries (the "Car Freshener" scented air freshener is a local invention) and to Jefferson Community College.
Today. Watertown has a beautiful, historic downtown center.

Watertown is about 75 miles north of Syracuse on US 11 or Interstate 81 (exits 45, 46, and 47). Adirondack Trailways Service and Greyhound provide bus service, while the closest Amtrak stations are in Rome or in Syracuse.

• Adirondack Trailways

  address: 540 State St.

• Greyhound

  address: 540 State St.

• Watertown International Airport

  phone: +1 315 639-6247
  address: Dexter NY 13624
  Twice-daily service to Philadelphia; airport otherwise primarily serves general aviation and charters.

The closest major airport is Syracuse Hancock International (SYR) a little over 70 miles to the south.
There is no direct scheduled transportation from Watertown to Canada, despite its proximity (Kingston and Brockville are each an hour away by road).

• CitiBusProvides a limited local bus service on three daytime routes.

• New York State Zoo at Thompson Park

  phone: +1 315 755-0894
  32-acre Thompson Park Zoo exhibits species that are or were native to New York State, including wolverines, black bears, eagles, mountain lions, Canada lynx and grey wolves.

• Washington Street Arboretum

  address: 200 block of Washington Street
  Over 30 different varieties and species of trees.

• Black RiverKayaking and whitewater rafting. Three rafting companies (Adirondack, Bob's, Hudson), seven miles of whitewater, fourteen sets of class III and IV rapids. Riverfront walking trails at the Veteran's Memorial Riverwalk, Waterworks and Marble Street Park; bike, hike or fish along the shoreline.

• Dry Hill Ski Area

  phone: +1 315 782-8584
  address: 18160 Alpine Ridge Rd
  Wintertime tubing, snowboarding and downhill skiing.

• Thompson Park

  address: entrances off Gotham St, Academy St and Franklin St
  A historic Olmsted Creation with scenic views, children's playground, pool, golf course, zoo, picnic area. On or near the 4th of July, the Potsdam-based Orchestra of Northern New York presents the 1812 overture with cannons as a concert in the park, followed by fireworks.

Events

• Snowtown USATwo weeks of indoor and outdoor activities and exhibitions, mid-February. Snowtown Film Festival in late January.

• Farmers' Market

  address: Washington Street
  Open Wednesdays; everything from fresh fruit & vegetables to arts & crafts,

• Salmon Run Mall

  phone: +1 315 788-9210
  address: 21182 Salmon Run Mall Loop West
  Mall with stores including Target, Lowe's, near I-81, popular with Canadian cross-border shoppers.

• Art's Jug

  phone: +1 315 788-9513
  address: 820 Huntington St.
  Italian.

• Black River Coffee Co

  phone: +1 315 955-6972
  address: 4 Paddock Arc
  Café, wi-fi.

• Church Street Diner

  phone: +1 315 493-0997
  address: 107 Church St, Carthage 13619
  Burgers, sandwiches, chicken, breakfast foods.

• Jreck Subs

  phone: +1 315 782-3529
  address: 1201 Arsenal St.
  Watertown-based submarine sandwich chain, over forty locations in northern New York.

• Stefanos Pizza and Restaurant

  phone: +1 315 493-0400
  address: 258 State St, Carthage 13619
  Italian/Sicilian.

• Maggie's on the River

  phone: +1 315 405-4239
  address: 500 Newell St, Watertown 13601
  Sports bar and restaurant, casual.
• Water is plentiful in the region.

• Best Western Carriage House Motor Inn

  phone: +1 315 782-8000
  address: 300 Washington Street
  Wi-fi.

• Econo Lodge Watertown

  phone: +1 315 782-5500
  address: 1030 Arsenal St
  Wi-fi.

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 315 779-1234
  address: 1290 Arsenal St
  Wi-fi.

• Ramada Watertown

  phone: +1 315 788-0700
  address: 6300 Arsenal St

Postal service is available from USPS at 232 Commerce Park Drive 13601-9900 (phone +1 315-786-5900); commercial parcel receiving service is available from the UPS store at 968 Bradley Street (phone +1 315 755-2028, fax 755-2030).
Wi-fi is available at most fast food and coffee shop chains, or at the public library:

• Flower Memorial Library

  phone: +1 315-785-7705
  address: 229 Washington St.

• Thousand Islands
• Sackets Harbor
• Adirondacks