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City in New York, United States
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ithaca is a small city in the Finger Lakes region of central New York, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. In addition to being the home of Cornell University and Ithaca College, Ithaca is known for its several gorges and waterfalls, small eclectic shops and restaurants, and deep interest in politics.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Keep an eye out for the free concerts in particular. Worth stopping for the view of Cornell and Cayuga Lake without any events.
is a section of State St. closed to vehicles with shops and restaurants. The Commons has weekly concerts in the summer and hosts numerous Ithaca festivals.
is the largest of the Finger Lakes by surface area. Accessible at Stewart Park, Cass Park, and the Farmer's Market within Ithaca and at Taughannock State Park and Myers Park just outside of Ithaca. Popular activities include Swimming, Kayaking, and Paddleboarding.
Home to the tallest waterfall in New York State. Taughannock Falls is visible at an overlook with no hiking or with 3/4 mile wide and flat trail (1.5 miles round trip). Taughannock Falls is located in Trumansburg.
Swimming, hiking, picnicking, and camping. Even if you can stay for only a minute, you should still come and drive in to see the lovely falls at the lower entrance on Route 13. From the lower entrance you can take a hike up along the falls and gorge; from the upper entrance there is a less strenuous hike around the lake and access to an upper trailhead to the gorge trail.
Swimming, hiking, picnicking, and camping. Hike along the gorge, a relatively vigorous walk if you do the whole loop. Or, you can dip in from the upper entrance and in a short walk see the main falls, Lucifer Falls. The lower entrance area includes one of the more popular swimming spots in the area. It includes a diving board and the ability to swim underneath a waterfall.
Easy to get to, free & beautiful. A stone staircase climbs spectacularly along the edge of the falls. The walk up from the entrance at Cascadilla Park up to the exit at College Ave. is an essential part of the Ithaca experience (after all, Ithaca is Gorges!) . Cascadilla Creek Gorge connects downtown and Cornell by trail. Closed from early winter until mid-spring due to icy, dangerous conditions.
Ithaca Falls is high and wide. Though there is no trail, the base of the falls is accessible from the small park on Lake Street.
Several of the floors have steady exhibits, but they bring in new art and other, sometimes interactive exhibits several times a year. The 5th floor houses an impressive collection of Asian art but also happens to have one of the nicest views of Ithaca, the Cornell campus, and Cayuga Lake.
formerly Cornell Plantations
Cayuga Nature Center has over 5 miles (8 km) of trails and a lodge filled with indoor exhibits including a kids' activity room. TreeTops, their six-story tree house, and 5 miles of trails are open from dawn to dusk. They also offer a wide range of educational activities including environmental, an active outreach program and a "Team Challenge" ropes course.
You’ll find wines, and beautiful flowers, unique gifts and specialty foods, clothing and accessories, and an array of paintings, pottery, woodworking, and jewelry offered by fine artists and craftspeople from around the region. Listen to live music or enjoy a waterfront picnic- and don’t forget to sample the burritos, sushi, Sri Lankan cuisine and dozens of other choices from the international cafés.
The Sciencenter is a hands-on science museum for people of all ages with over 250 fun exhibits, educational programs, an outdoor science park, a seasonal 18-hole miniature golf course, an animal room, and a gift shop. The museum's traveling exhibitions change seasonally and there is always something new to explore. The Sciencenter, named the “2006 Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year” by the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, welcomes more than 91,000 visitors per year. The Sciencenter is a proud member of Ithaca's Discovery Trail.
North off Route 89, just outside town. Skating in winter, swimming pool in summer. This is adjacent to Alan Treman State Park, which contains a marina and a large fenced off-leash dog park.
Bold, intimate, engaging. Kitchen Theatre Company is Downtown Ithaca's year round professional theare. Critically acclaimed, this theatre is nationally renowned and offers four performance series (Main Stage, Family Fare, Kitchen Counter Culture, Kitchen Sink). The Kitchen presents an engaging mix of contemporary, regional, and world premiere plays and musicals in an intimate 73-seat theatre that encourages a bold relationship between audience and actor. "Important conversations happen in the Kitchen."
A professional regional theatre presenting full-scale musicals, beloved classics, comedies, dramas, cabaret, world premieres, and a sparkling lineup of children's plays, musicals and education programs.
Performs two musicals, an opera, and several plays each year.
The Brous & Mehaffey family operates five locations around Ithaca, so Collegetown Bagels is something of an Ithaca institution. They offer bagels, sandwiches, and coffee with a whimsical, new-agey feel at reasonable prices. Some of the best authentic bagels and fairly traded coffee, and definitely the most Ithacan. Great for breakfast or lunch.
Maximum calories for your money. Very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Be sure to check out the Viva! Cantina next door for an expanded menu, table service, and a bar featuring a large tequila selection.
Bargain prices on basic and loaded slices. Probably the cheapest fill-up in Ithaca.
Cheap, good quality breakfasts and lunches. Favored by Fall Creek locals, construction and utility workers. Cash only.
formerly Rogan's Corner
Located right off the Ithaca College campus on Route 96B serves the "best pizza on South Hill" by the slice.
Specializes in large, delicious subs. Also has breakfast sandwiches, big cookies, soups, and many varieties of coffee. Veg friendly, with veggie burger and seitan subs and vegan chili. Counter service only, but you can sit on the window ledge outside.
This railroad car diner is one of Ithaca's few 24-hour restaurants.
Frequently voted best Chinese food in Ithaca. East Hill Plaza location has large dining room and Elmira Rd location is mostly take-out.
Dinner every day, brunch 11AM-3PM on weekends. Great tapas bar with a large selection of wines available by the glass. You can also select from a number of "flights" of wine, with a small taste of 4 or 5 different wines. The menu changes frequently and usually features local produce. Probably the best "walk in" eatery in town, and has less students than many other places. Tapas range from $4-7. Expect to order 2-4 per person, and expect to share.
Maxie's offers dinner daily until 11PM and midnight on Friday and Saturday, and brunch on Sunday until 3PM. Maxie's Supper Club offers a good selection of Cajun seafood food including an oyster bar, as well as authentic southern barbeque. The Cajun fries are delicious, but don't miss the shrimp and grits in tasso sauce, and definitely have lots of the honey butter they serve with the free cornbread. The Supper Club is an excellent place to grab some food and drinks after a late evening event. The restaurant feature locally-produced food and the wine list is award-winningly extensive and also features upstate wines, which often pair well with spicy food.
Famous world-wide for their vegetarian cookbooks, this downtown institution offers reasonably-priced (for a famous brand) vegetarian fare and fish with a different menu every night and a good selection of local wines, beers and café beverages. Save room for dessert. Ask for a table in the furthest room. In the summer, the street level patio is quite pleasant.
Taste of Thai has a lovely atmosphere. Heat scale 0-5, where 3 is hot and 5 is "on fire". Try the papaya salad, a curry, or one of the delicious fish or seafood dishes.
Near the Commons. This restaurant serves a large variety of Indian dishes at dinner, and an $8 buffet at lunchtime.
Burgers and other American fare, family friendly, dining room with lake view. Known locally for the "Pinesburger" (large burger served on French bread). Convenient stop for folks returning from wineries farther up the lake.
Lunch and dinner. This upscale American-style restaurant is hidden in the ritzy Cayuga Heights area of Ithaca. The menu is definitely among the pricier in Ithaca, but the food is well worth it. This is a great place for a special occasion.
Continental French cuisine inspired by a seasoned chef.
Great lively atmosphere right along Cayuga Inlet. Located on a peninsula directly across from Cornell University's boathouse, Boatyard Grill serves greasy food (in good portion sizes). Does not accept reservations but with "call-ahead" you can cut your wait time down significantly. Even with call-ahead, expect to wait awhile on parents' weekends as this is a student's favorite when mom and pop are in paying.
see Trumansburg.
Often with live DJs. Top shelf liquor - although drinks are expensive. It is the only decently clubby place in Ithaca.
Small low key bar with a Mexican theme. Provides nightly specials. More on the pricey side compared to other bars in Ithaca, but is often the least crowded or noisy. Has an upscale, hip atmosphere.
Local hangout on corner of Cayuga and State Street marked by a neon rooster. Downmarket, excellent jukebox.
Popular with both locals and students who enjoy sports and a quiet atmosphere.
Restaurant with great food also has a large selection of microbrew and imported beer on tap and bottle, as well as wine.
Mexican restaurant that serves Margaritas and has a large selection of Tequila.
Roomy sports bar on Green Street separated into a bar area with flat-screen TVs, main dining area for watching sports, and a gaming room with pool table and darts. Also serves American style food.
Dive bar where you can sit next to Grad students and Vietnam Vets at the same time. Just steps from Ithaca Falls.
Restaurant and bar with an outside patio right in the middle of a quiet neighborhood. Often has live music on the patio in the summer.
Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes is the Cayuga Wine Trail, a 16 winery member organization surrounding Cayuga Lake and offering a unique blend of fine wines.
Association of 32 wineries surrounding Seneca Lake (next Finger Lake to the west from Cayuga).
Cornell campus (circle driveway straight ahead from campus entrance on Hoy Road), (reservations@sha.cornell.edu). The Statler is run by Cornell's School of Hotel Administration students and the full-time staff, and is the most elegant and luxurious hotel in Ithaca. However, don't expect to get a reservation for graduation at The Statler! The hotel is reserved for dignitaries, trustees and guest speakers during graduation. During other times of year, rooms are largely available. It is a popular place for executive education students to stay during the summer.
Near Ithaca College, a 10-minute drive to Cornell University. Great hotel with a B&B feel. Full service spa on site. Walking trails connect to Buttermilk Falls State Park.
Downtown Ithaca's newest hotel, immediately across from the commons. Garage parking available nearby.
Near the Ithaca/Tompkins regional airport. It has a free shuttle (by appointment) to Cornell, The Commons, the airport, and to a variety of locations along Triphammer Road, including the malls and restaurants. Many restaurants deliver to the hotel, and it is within walking distance to Ciabatta's, a restaurant that's open for lunch and breakfast. It also has its own restaurant for breakfast and offers onsite catering for meetings and receptions.
Close to the Triphammer and Pyramid Malls, restaurants, and is fairly close to the Ithaca airport. Cornell is a 10-15 minute drive away.
Although not the classiest hotels in the area, it gets the job done. Convenient location to both colleges. A short drive up the "hill" to Ithaca College. Minutes walking distance to the commons. So if you're just looking for a convenient place to lay your head, this is the hotel for you. This hotel books solid for all college events, so make reservations way ahead of time.
A rather antiquated but cheaper option for those who would prefer to stay near Collegetown.
Open 7 days a week. 60,000 books, 10,000 records and a café, all under one roof.
Sells new books.
Has small book section with titles related to sustainable living.
Has a selection of general books in addition to textbooks.
Graphic novels and comics.
Just off Rt. 13 in Dryden, across from the Tompkins-Cortland Community College entrance.
Cute bookstore in the basement of a historic house
By car
By car, Ithaca is about 1 hour south of Syracuse, 1 hour north of Binghamton, 2 hours southeast of Rochester, 4 hours north of Philadelphia, and 4 hours northwest of New York City.
By bus
By train
Although Ithaca once had rail connections to New York City, Scranton, Philadelphia, Buffalo and several cities in New England, the last passenger train left Ithaca in 1961, with the majority of…
Parking
Parking is easy in most parts of Ithaca. However, there are some parts of Ithaca where it can be tricky. Metered parking is not charged before 9AM or after 6PM in most of Ithaca.
By bus
By bicycle
Most destinations are easily accessible by bicycle with ample bicycle parking stands to secure to. Be sure to ride with working gears as the topography can present challenges to inexperienced riders.
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Ithaca · Regional · ITH
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