The Plantations is one of those places that means something different for every local. We always think of it as the 100-acre Arboretum, a curated collection of trees sitting on a hillside overlooking Fall Creek. This is where the locals sled in the winter - follow the road in (it's closed as soon as the snow falls) and listen for the screams. All summer trails and a little used road are accessible for biking and running. There is also the Mundy Wildflower Garden, the Botanical Garden, and the Nevin Welcome Center, as well as the various natural areas the Plantations department maintains throughout the city. They host well established conservation and educational programs – guided tours, lectures, special events – you name it. The website has a very good listing of events and a map, but beware of parking - Cornell is notoriously unfriendly about ticketing.