There are so many things to do in Ithaca, we hope that those of you that are not from the area take time to see what Ithaca and upstate NY are all about.

In Town

 The Ithaca Commons is the center of town, and features an outdoor pedestrian marketplace and many shops and restaurants.  It is located along Green St. between Aurora and Cayuga Sts.

A little closer to campus, Ithaca's Collegetown is just across the College Ave. bridge from Cornell.  Collegetown has many bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and other amenities any college student (or wedding guest!) may need. 

 

The city of Ithaca is located on Cayuga Lake, one of New York State's finger lakes.  Cayuga is 40 miles long and over a mile wide, and in the summer it is perfect for all types of boating.  Sailboat, motorboat, and jet ski rentals can be found all around the lake, and are a great way to spend a warm summer afternoon.    

Waterfalls and Parks

No matter where you are from you have probably seen one of those green 'Ithaca is Gorges' t-shirts.  There is a reason they are so ubiquitous, and that is because of all the wonderful waterfalls and state parks within Ithaca and the surrounding areas.  If you have time, don't stop at Fall Creek or Cascadilla Creek - there are so many more amazing sights to check out.

First and foremost is the big daddy of them all, Taughannock Falls (pronounced tah-GAH-nick).  With a sheer drop of 215 ft., this is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern U.S.  The park is located on Rte 89, 12 miles from Ithaca up the west side of Cayuga Lake.  Once you reach the park, you can either drive to an overlook at the top of the gorge, or take a beautiful 1 mi. hike out to the base of the falls.    

About 2 mi. south of downtown Ithaca is Buttermilk Falls State Park.  This park wraps around Buttermilk Creek and its dozens of small cascades and waterfalls, and allows swimming during the summer months.

At the tip of Cayuga Lake, about 1 mi. from campus, is Stewart Park,  Although not as striking as some of the other parks in the area, Stewart Park is a good place to hang out, play on some swings, and watch sailboats skim across the lake.

Golf Courses

Upstate NY is home to many great (and inexpensive!) golf courses.  If you are a player, don't forget to pack your clubs!

Conveniently located on campus is Cornell's own Robert Trent Jones Golf Course.  Typically run as a private club, the course is open to anyone staying at the Statler for the wedding. 

One of Cody's favorite courses, and one that has been featured in Golf Digest as a 'Best New Course', 'Best Public' and 'Best in New York' is The Links at Hiawatha Landing in Apalachin.  A 40 minute drive from Ithaca, at 'the Links' you can expect a beautiful, challenging course in top condition.  They also have a great practice facility, including a grass range, pitch-chip area, and a three hole par-3 course.

Arts and Entertainment

For such a small community, there is a lot to do in Ithaca when it comes to the Arts.  Because of its imposing presence on Ithaca's skyline, the most obvious is probably the Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell.  Housed in an odd-looking building designed by I.M. Pei, the museum is free to the general public.  Even if you are not interested in the art, it is worth a trip just for the view from the top of the building!

Other Things ... Simply Too Many!

These are just a few of the many things to do in Ithaca!  It is also worth looking into the Botanical Gardens, the local wineries, Watkins Glenn, the Carousel Mall in Syracuse, the Corning Museum of Glass, and all of the Cayuga Lake boat rentals.