What to do in Watertown, NY?

July 15, 2011 9:57 AM

Where should we stay and what should we do in Watertown, New York tonight? My wife and I unexpectedly find ourselves with a child-free night in Watertown this evening. Is there a certain area where we could enjoy some nightlife? We tend to like pubs/dive bars more than the club scene. Ideally we would find a place that has a few bars within walking distance to a hotel. Does this even exist in Watertown? We're also open to other non-bar suggestions. Thanks!
posted by dbrown7042 to Travel & Transportation around Watertown, NY (6 answers total)

The Watertown area has sort of become a home base for tourists visiting the Thousand Islands and lake resorts in the area. By the interstate you'll find all the usual chain places, hotels, Applebee's, etc. In town Watertown you won't find much at all - dive bars filled with locals, if that. Camp Drum is in the area, so there is probably some sort of nightlife for the military folks, maybe near the base?

This is on all memory of my last visit to the area about 3 years ago - for my grandmother's funeral.
posted by COD at 10:11 AM on July 15, 2011

I can't help with Watertown proper but if you drive 10-12 miles east on Rt 3 you'll come to the quaint little historic village of Sackets Harbor. There is no bar scene but there's a few restaurants, barracks and battlefield from the War of 1812, and a beautiful sunset over Lake Ontario is almost guaranteed.
posted by plastic_animals at 10:35 AM on July 15, 2011

I have not been there so I can't vouch for the quality, but Sackets Harbor does have a brewpub
posted by maurice at 10:43 AM on July 15, 2011

Sackets Harbor is definitely nice and there are some good restaurants there, including the brewpub.

In Watertown, you can find a couple of local bars, but they're not so great. There are a lot of chain places on Arsenal Street up by Route 81: Ruby Tuesday, TGI Fridays, that sort of thing. There's a decent local Italian place on Washington Street just off Barben Avenue in the little shopping plaza there called Karen & Jasper's Bistro, with a full bar and stuff, but it's not exactly a hotspot or anything.

Seconding the suggestion of trying out near Fort Drum, as there may be some bars near there, but they'll be full of military people, which may or may not be your thing.
posted by bedhead at 11:03 AM on July 15, 2011

If you want to go to the St. Lawrence River / Thousand Islands area, I'd recommend Alexandria Bay, which Google Maps lists as 36 minutes from Watertown. There are bars in town, and a number of small motels and hotels.
posted by germdisco at 12:48 PM on July 15, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks all for the suggestions. It looks like we're going to be arriving later than expected so we'll just stay in Watertown and get a good night's sleep tonight. We don't live very far away, so Sacket's Harbor and Alexandria Bay are both on our lists for next time.
posted by dbrown7042 at 12:55 PM on July 15, 2011