Ithaca is located in upstate New York in the Finger Lakes Region. It is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College. It is a town known for its funky vibe, good food, and art, and is located in an area known for its natural beauty. Ithaca has that welcoming feeling of a town you already know but have yet to discover, and is set in an area that upon exploration, has such beauty that it will take your breath away with each new turn.
There are over 150 waterfalls in a 10-square-mile area, so you are close to these stunning beauties wherever you go, both in town and out of town. There are wonderful restaurants and creative shops in the quaint downtown area, beautiful college campuses to explore, and art on every corner. I was lucky enough to spend about 24 hours in Ithaca this summer so that I could tell you all of the best things to see and do.
Where to Stay:
Nestled on 70 gorgeous acres, yet just minutes from downtown Ithaca, La Tourelle is cozy, charming and the perfect place to stay when visiting the area. When you walk into La Tourelle, it is like walking into a cozy living room, with comfortable seating area around a fireplace. In the corner of the lobby is a bar where you can relax and order a drink or enjoy complimentary wine and cheese each evening. The rooms are beautifully decorated and comfortable, with panoramic views of Finger Lakes wine country’s rolling hills and farmlands. They have deluxe fireplace rooms, traditional rooms, or you can rent out the unique Yellow Barn Suite which is located in a historic two story, three bedroom barn located steps from the main hotel. And, if you need a little pampering, the hotel is home to the August Moon Spa, offering massages, facials and waterfall treatments.
When traveling to a place with so much to see, it is always nice to have the option to dine at the hotel, particularly for breakfast. Located right off the lobby, The Bistro at La Tourelle serves breakfast and lunch (brunch on the weekends). For dinner, take a short walk across the car park to what is rumored to be one of Ithaca's finest restaurants, the John Thomas Steakhouse which is housed in a lovely 150-year-old farmhouse overlooking the hotel gardens.
On the grounds, play a giant game of chess with the kids or head out for a hike; La Tourelle has hiking trails leading to Buttermilk Falls and is located just a couple of miles away from several other waterfront trails and trails leading to waterfalls.
What to Do:
Shop in Ithaca Commons
Take a stroll through Ithaca Commons. Located in Downtown Ithaca, Ithaca Commons a pedestrian mall that is the heard of the city's vibrant social scene, is filled with charming shops, restaurants and sidewalk cafes and art.
See Some Art
Visit Ithaca advises visitors to "look up, look down and look all around" because art is everywhere in Ithaca.There are sculptures all over the Downtown area installed as part of the Art in the Heart annual Sculpture Show, which starts in the early summer and sculptures remain all year. And, there are close to 125 murals in the city of Ithaca, many of them located in the Downtown area, near Ithaca Commons.
Visit the Sciencecenter
The Sciencecenter has over 250 fun exhibits throughout the museum, designed to engage Young Scientists ages 5 – 11 in topics such as astronomy, climate, math, sound, engineering, animals and more. Highlights include a multilevel Science Playground (open during the summer months), a Sciencecenter Mini Golf Course, a lunar flight simulator, an Animal Room featuring a tide pool touch tank and unique habitats from around the world organized according to amphibians, reptiles and fish, a reinvention station encouraging children to use creative ways to make crafts using recycled materials, a discovery room with 20+ fun and engaging discovery boxes, and for the little ones, the Sciencecenter has a Curiosity playground and a curiosity corner for hands on exploration and play for children ages four and younger. The Sciencecenter is a great place to spend several hours discovering and learning through play.
Swim and Hike in Robert H. Treman State Park
'Ithaca is Gorges' is the town's tagline for a reason. The area is teeming with beautiful gorges and stunning waterfalls. And, Robert H. Truman state park has many of both. You can spend an entire day hiking 9 miles of winding trails to see 12 waterfalls, including the 115-foot Lucifer Falls, ending where visitors can see a mile-and-a-half down the rugged, wooded Enfield Gorge, which is the scenic highlight of the park. After hiking, leave time for a swim in the stream-fed pool beneath a waterfall.
Hike and View the Waterfalls in Taughannock Falls State Park
Taughannock Falls are 215 feet high (over 3 stories higher than Niagara Falls!) and run through past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge.There are two popular vantage points from which to view the falls, from the rim trail and the gorge trail. The vantage point along the rim trail is a short walk from a car park and has an overlook offering spectacular sweeping views of the gorge and the falls from above. But don't stop there. The Gorge Trail, a flat 30 minute or so hike, takes you through the gorge and to the base of the falls.
What to Eat:
You must plan to have a meal at the family -friendly Viva Taqueria. Sit outside on the sidewalk to people watch or inside to check out the funky decor, but the reason to come here is the food. It is the real deal and is seriously some of the best Mexican food I have ever had. Everything was flavorful, unique and absolute perfection. This is the type of restaurant to which you will forever compare all other Mexican restaurants and wish you had a place as good as this in your town. It also has a great children's menu and a killer Margarita and tequila selection for the adults.
I love farmer's markets but the Ithaca Farmer's Market has to be one of the best that I have seen. The stalls are housed in a permanent covered structure located along a picturesque lake. We spent a wonderful morning strolling through the market looking at the beautiful flowers and produce and sampling the delicious food. And speaking of food, this farmer's market has an incredibly diverse selection - in addition to apple cider donuts, waffles with gourmet toppings and other breakfast items, we saw purveyors selling foods of a number different ethnicities, including Cuban, Cambodian, Tibetan, Sri Lankan, Ethiopian, Italian, English and more. This was certainly a foodie paradise certain to please the entire family.
If you are craving something sweet, stop by Life's So Sweet Chocolates for homemade chocolate to die for. From unique offerings like chocolate with lavender or cardamom, to the more traditional truffles and turtles, this place knows how to make chocolate and has a selection that changes often.
There is so much to see, do and taste in Ithaca, I can say without a doubt, 24 hours is not enough time to spend in the area. I cannot wait to go back and explore more of the wonderful lakes, stunning waterfalls and incredible artwork with my family. Ithaca is in fact, "gorges." For more information about Ithaca and everything there is to see and do in the area go to Visit Ithaca and Visit Finger Lakes.
The author was a guest of Visit Ithaca for the purpose of this review. Accommodations, some activities and meals were provided. All opinions are those of the author and no other compensation was received.
