Located on the Mohawk River, Utica is a city in New York and the 10th most populous city in the state. It is about 95 miles northwest of Albany and 55 miles east of Syracuse.

Contemporary Utica is a decent-sized city, where the restaurant selection and local art scene are robust. Utica strikes the perfect balance between city and rural life, and there are a number of things to see and do in the city.

The Utica Marina is a historic waterfront building enjoyed by thousands of people today, including many tourists from around the country and even Canada.

Utica can be found in Oneida County, one of the few counties in the United States where Italian is the most common descent. Italian food in Utica is plentiful and reflects the immigrants who brought it to America. There is no shortage of Italian restaurants, and there's also a wide selection of food from other immigrants who settled in the area, such as Dutch, German, Irish, and Bosnian.

Initially, the canal system that came through the area led to further growth in the region, and several major transport networks now cross the area. When many people moved from western New York to the Great Lakes region, Utica became a village with a population of about 1,000 in 1812.

Union Station is located in Bagg Square, where Utica was founded, and also houses the city's only public library, with a number of public parks located nearby.

During the 19th century, the city was known for its manufacturing industries and became a top hub for the textile industry as well.

Things to see and do in Utica include the Children's Museum of Natural History, Science and Technology, the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, and the Stanley Center for the Arts. Hotel Utica, which was built in 1912, has welcomed such guests as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Judy Garland, and Bobby Darin, and it was restored back to a hotel in 2001.