Ithaca is a city/town in New York often known for its breathtaking waterfalls and Finger Lakes making it a great destination for backpackers who are looking for year round friendly climate travel spots in United States. Located in the Southern tip of the Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is also a place where we can enjoy music and art communities and wineries and organic farms that captivate the minds of millions of visitors every year.
Around ten thousand years back, the area’s massive numbers of ravines, valleys and waterfalls formed due to its melting glaciers. Today the region is home to some of the country’s best museums, dining restaurants, waterfalls and scenic viewpoints. All these things and attractions make Ithaca a perfect destination to do activities like hiking, kayaking, and other adventure activities.
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10 Best Things to Do in Ithaca, New York
1. Explore its Breathtaking Waterfalls
Since the place is blessed by the massive 150 numbers of waterfalls, surely visitors are going to see its beauties in order to explore different waterfalls. Visitors going to spot waterfalls just within 10 miles radius, each one offers different experiences, those are;
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Buttermilk Falls State Park
Located at the park’s lower entrance where backpackers enjoy a view from below and overlooking a variety of hiking trails to the region’s natural settings. Visitors could walk along cascading waterfalls and explore nature with the park’s scenic paths. Entrance fee is mandatory if you want to explore, if you purchase Empire Pass for $ 80, would help unlimited park access even with your family.
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Fall Creek Gorge
Another popular waterfall and largest stream in Ithaca that flows into the Cayuga Lake. This gorge includes multiple waterfalls ranging from Ithaca Falls on the western end to Triphammer Falls on the east side. Visitors explore these waters in order to take trails on its gorge along the rim. Along with that backpackers stroll its larger loop and take a stop at various points like Fall Creek Gorge Suspension Bridge to enjoy its breathtaking waterfalls.
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Ithaca Falls
3rd largest Cascade falls flows from 46m above, Ithaca Falls often recognised as a pretty waterfall with massive cascading over the rocks and rock in Ithaca in New York. Most favourite waterfalls are easily accessible from downtown Ithaca where there are good numbers of parking areas, on site restaurants available. This falls is a last series of waterfalls along the hanging valley witnessing easy drive to various falls and short walk from parking areas.
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Triphammer Falls
Triphammer Falls is an 80 foot waterfall located on the western side of Beebe Lake and the entry of the Fall Creek Gorge. Carves 400 foot gorge through layers of sandstone, shale and limestone once served as sea. This is the first waterfall located below the Beebe Dam and upstream of the Thurston Avenue Bridge. Since Beebe Dam is located on the top of the upper tier of the falls where water spilling over the top of the dam creates illusions, the upper falls are taller. Its former Hydraulics Laboratory at Cornell helps to get a panoramic view of the falls.
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Taughannock Falls
Taughannock Falls is not just in New York, despite it being the highest single drop waterfall in the Rocky Mountains. Falls has a drop of over 215 feet, resulting in a taller waterfall than Niagara Falls. Located within Taughannock Falls State Park, where visitors can choose its 0.75 mile walking trail to base from the parking lot or lookout over the gorge. If you take this short trail then probably you are lucky to get to see Lower Falls, and other minor nearby attractions. Do not miss to see Upper Falls, located upstream of the main falls recognised as most powerful waterfalls near Ithaca due to its impressive waterfall.
2. Take a Stroll its Parks and Gardens
After spending hours of your time with Ithaca Falls, visitors need to give some time to the region’s renowned parks and gardens. Parks like Cass Park is a popular one, known for its beautiful green area which is home to 32 different athletic fields, 2 playgrounds, 4 outdoor tennis courts and waterfront and fitness trails. The park’s large picnic pavilion is the prime attraction captivating visitors who are willing to spend more time with it.
Cass Park Rink is an ice rink that offers public ice skating for all ranges of backpackers. Visitors enjoy hockey, skating, group rentals for broom ball with ice rink in order to use skate rentals and sharpening. Better to visit during June to October, when Cass Park Rink hosts breathtaking roller skating.
Another popular part of Cass Park is Cass Park Pool. It is a public Olympic sized pool where visitors are taken swimming during late June to mid-August. The pool offers seasonal passes, swimming lessons, and lap swimming making it a great place for water slides, kiddie pools and diving boards.
Cornell Botanic Gardens is another attraction where 2 dozen gardens and plant collections exist. During the peak season, varieties of flowers and trees are exhibited ranging from Comstock Knoll to Rhododendron Collections. Beebe Lake, Trimphammer Falls and Stone Sackett Foot Bridge are part of the gardens.
3. Explore Cornell University
Cornell University is a private Ivy League research university and one of the best college towns in America. Founded by Ezra Cornell, an American philanthropist and historian Andrew Dickson White in 1865. Includes breathtaking Cornell Botanic Gardens and university Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, where more than 40,000 collections of arts, and iconic I.M Pei-designed architectures exist. A prominent museum offers programming and excellent museum experience to visitors under its integrated programmes. Travelers choose a tour to its historic campus, Cornell Botanic Gardens and college atmospheres.
Additionally, university McGraw Tower is home to Cornell Chimes (a historic bells), located in the Uris Library. It was opened in 1868 where students and alumni played the bells every hour along with daily concerts. Right now these bells are closed for renovation work but usually open to the general public to explore. Visitors never miss to take a walk amidst the Uris Library, which contains Andrew Dickson White Library named as the most beautiful campus library throughout the US.
4. Look Aerial View of the Cayuga Lake
Cayuaga Lake is 38 miles long and 435 feet deep Lake is the second largest of Central New York. Covers 785 square miles, where once Europeans settled its basin during the late 18th century. Despite that, Cayuga Lake is home to 90 species of fishes that are majorly introduced by humans. In the bank of Cayuga Lake, visitors spot growing and invasive species of plants and animals, including substantial negative environmental, aesthetic and economic impacts.
Deepest among the Finger Lakes, today this lake is home to 1,20,000 peoples, its watershed consists of agriculture, residential, industrial and forested lands. Take a stop at Stewart Park during your Lakeside walk, located at the end of the Cayuga Waterfront where playgrounds, bird species and picnic areas exist. Never miss to keep an eye out for the Cayuga Inlet Lighthouse and Cayuga Inlet Breakwater Lighthouse.
5. Discover Finger Lakes Wine Region
There are multiple wineries and wine regions located throughout the world, but visiting Finger Lakes Wine Region could be the greatest among New York’s wineries. Today this wine region produces interesting, delicate and distinctive wine collections that have similar features like one Europe’s famous wineries, Duro Valley. Wine here is so pure, bright and intense aromatics, due to its growing conditions from year to year. Most of the wineries and vineyards here in Ithaca are located in Canandaigua Lake, Keuka Lake, and Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake regions.
New York’s 2nd largest wine producing region, Finger Lakes Wine Region has great depth of lakes and summer warmth in the waters and winter cold helps grapes protect from disastrous damage during early harvesting. After the Farm Winery Act in 1978, the region welcomed visitors from all over the world to explore its wineries and grape farms. If you get a chance to see nearby attractions, try to visit Seneca Falls, Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, and William H. Seward House in Auburn and try Hot Air Balloon Rides for aerial views of these vineyards.
6. Attend Performance at Hanger Theatre
If you are willing to spend time under theatre performances, children’s shows and special events in Ithaca Hanger Theatre is a great place for you. Hangar is a professional and non-profit regional theatre that exhibits diverse performances and educational events. Additionally this theatre hosts major regional musical performances, cultural events and theatre productions from last 1975. Located in the Taughannock Blvd. in Ithaca, New York usually during summer season (June to August) Hanger hosts local and national musical acts and community art groups.
This Hangar Theatre has a strong collaboration with Ithaca College, after the theatre proposed delivery collections of streaming shows with Associate professor of the Ithaca College, Chrissy Guest and Griffin Schultz. After its prominent shows and events, Hanger Theatre recognised the exceptional plays and served as a learning environment for rising theatre professionals including folk.
7. Enjoy Regions Best Coffee, Food and Drinks
If you are looking for the best and premium restaurants and cafes in Ithaca, New York, start from Agave. It is a farm to table restaurant that includes wood fired flatbreads, wood fired pizza oven and oven roasted. Located at 381 Pine road, Ithaca, visitors also expect to dine in, outside dining, patio and curbside pickups in this restaurant.
Collegetown Bagels serves dishes like sandwiches, grain bowls, and pizza bagels to their guests. Its extensive menu includes breakfast buffets 7 days a week under three major locations.
If you are looking to taste region unique sweet items and tasty stuffs, Ithaca Bakery is a great stopping point for you. This is a unique bakery located in 2 major locations serving dishes like breads, bagels, soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.
Ithaca Beer Co, is a place where visitors experience different beer options including food in its onsite taproom. Actually it is a family owned Beer company, including an outdoor beer garden.
Since Ithaca people love more coffee and coffee items, visitors also expect vibrant coffee options especially at Gimme Coffee. Founded in 2000, popular for its thriving wholesale business and coffee locations serving Ethiopia SCFCU, Deep Disco, Eternal Flame, Guatemala Guayab,and Brazil Coopfam to their guests.
8. Take Leisurely Stroll Amidst of Ithaca Farmers Market
Ithaca’s farmers market is a historic open market located on 3rd street Ithaca, New York. Visitors can take leisurely stroll its current Pavilion location where they experience colorful narratives, historical things, detailed recipes, contemporary items, and shopping stuffs. Ithaca Farmers Market opened Saturday from April through December and Sunday during May to November, when vendors set their food items in waterfront pavilions. Today this market is cited as one of the country’s most influential farmers markets by its vastness.
Despite its vastness and waterfront pavilions, the market is located within 30 miles of Ithaca, this helps vendors to supply their products in a quickest possible way. Usually vendors exhibited things like flowers, fruits, vegetables that are grown locally by the farmers. We recommend taking a walk amidst this market during the off season, while the market witnesses less traffic and an easy way to explore things. In 2023, the market celebrated its 50th anniversary.
9. Explore Sciencenter
Science Center is a hub for visitors to engage in interactive exhibits which are suitable for family travelers and children. Ithaca’s Science Center has more concentrated exhibitions of elementary school science programs, permanent collections and exciting traveling displays. Located in the northern Ithaca near Ithaca Farmer’s market and southern shores of Cayuga Lake, around 150 activities are exhibited, each of these activities included kids and family fun things. Started during 1980, later its space extended to 32,0000 square feet in the 2000s.
Today the place is recognised as the best place in Ithaca for kids who are looking for fantastic play areas, elementary aged kids’ activities and hand on activities for kids. Each room in the Science centre is dedicated to fish, insects and small animals in tanks, children browse through and look while strolling. Animals vary in nature but most of these species and animals are from native and around the globe. Do not forget to keep $10 to get admission inside of this Science center including Science Park, open from April to October and mini golf course.
10. Attend Ithaca’s Annual Events
Before finishing your Itaca journey in New York we suggest you attend any below events or festivals that captivate visitors over a period of time. Popular events and festivals include Apple Harvest Festivals, it is a 3 days food and drink exhibitions usually scheduled during September 29th to 1st October. The festival includes local farmer’s products exhibitions, artisan’s items, live entertainments and apples. Additionally music, cider treats and craft items are major things also exhibit in these festivals.
Ithaca Festivals of Arts another festival contains parades, live entertainments, discos, craft fairs and family friendly activities. During these events people were fortunate to see 100 local and regional vendors and makers since 1977, and they were exclusively involved in activities selling and presenting their locally made things in front of the visitors.
Book Exhibition in Tompkins County Public Library popular events for book lovers. Held each year for three weeks in May and October, where visitors read, buy or thrift books that they are looking for. Every book is organized very carefully in every section and that helps to find books ranging from Historic, Science, and Fiction to Children’s and Foreign languages. Try to visit on October 19th and Student Night evening when we can expect more records, artworks and first edition books.
Top 5 Best Hotels in Ithaca, New York
1. Canopy by Hilton
Canopy by Hilton is a perfect hotel in Ithaca for those who want to enjoy panoramic views of Downtown Ithaca from your hotel rooms. Located just miles from Ithaca College, Cayuga Lake, the hotel boasts 131 rooms and Suites and 1 restaurant. Its restaurant caters vibrant dining options with crafted cocktails, artisanal breakfasts, and local beers and wine options. Hotel easy access to the Ithaca Vineyards, Cayuga Lake Wine Trails and Cornell University or Ithaca Commons.
2. Argos Inn
Argos Inn is a LEED certified hotel located off the Ithaca Commons. Argos Inn recognised as the beautifully restored and registered historic mansion in the heart of Ithaca, New York. The hotel is decorated by the classic Inn, antique French furniture and 20th century artwork of Joan Miro, Salvador Dali and other local artisans. Boast total 13 rooms and 1 Bar Argo’s cocktails bars where late night drink, floating chandeliers and Moroccan lanterns are available. Never miss to explore colorful Ithaca landscapes and warm temperatures from its guest rooms, offering a very crystal clear view.
3. Inns of Aurora Resort and Spa
Located just 20 minutes away, Inns of Aurora Resort and Spa is a 6 high end and more peaceful hotel in the entire Ithaca. It is a place where more historic exquisitely restored collections are available to explore to guests under its heartfelt hospitality and contemporary approach of wellness and design. Hotels guest rooms decorated with furniture and Pleasant Roeland’s personal collection. Additionally rooms available to guests at the starting price of $450 per night with queen and twin beds facilities along fantastic views of the lake. Try out evening glass of vino, homemade granola, Spanish fete omelette, coffee, cream top yogurt and bubbly soft drinks available at 1833 Kitchen and bar, a farm to table restaurant.
4. Inn at Taughannock Falls
Spending night in the Inn at Taughannock Falls is a really breathtaking experience since the impressive scenery of Taughannock Falls State Park is available to visitors. Located just 9 miles from Ithaca, New York, always overlooking Cayuga Lake, and Inn boasts a total of 26 vintage and modern guestrooms, suites and private lake houses. Spans total 12 acres of area offers Northeast’s largest outdoor garden event venues with lake views making great place for luxury accommodation options for any occasions of travel. The hotel’s waterfront restaurant provides unique American-Mediterranean Cuisines and a vast collection of wines. Hotels private dining is the perfect place to host weddings, rehearsal dining, business meetings, birthday parties and bridal showers.
5. La Tourelle Inn and Spa
Just minutes from downtown Ithaca, Cornell and Ithaca College, La Tourelle Inn and Spa is a total 15 acres of property perfectly suitable for those who are looking for laid back travel feeling and modern comforts. Hotels’ newly renovated rooms are exclusively designed according to comfort, relaxation and classic traditional touches. Hotels total 54 rooms blended with balconies, fireplaces, kitchenettes and jetted bath tubs. The Lounge, Firelight Camp’s outdoor bar, and continental breakfast is a place where guests find more vibrant culinary experiences. Try sauna, personalised massages, and facials under its steam rooms and boutiques.
Best Time to Visit Ithaca, New York
Since the landmark has a year round destination in New York, visitors could expect multiple activities in each season. If you are willing to step on this land during the spring season, you will probably enjoy snow melting in waterfalls. Spring also witnesses blooming flowers and perfect time to explore Cornell Botanic Gardens.
Winter is not a great time to visit since most of the region’s landmarks are covered by snow which brings a cold and freezing feeling.
Fall is one of the perfect seasons to explore the breathtaking beauty of Ithaca. Fall helps us to spot colorful foliage, mild temperatures that help explore regions without much tourist traffic. Fall witnessing stunning backdrops for outdoor backpackers like hikers, harvest season for leisure strollers when fresh, local products are exhibited at Ithaca Farmers Markets.
If you want to spend hours of sunny days in regional parks, university campuses and local farmers markets, then you need to be there during the summer season. The season helps us to take swimming at a state park, boating in Cayuga Lake, and attend festivals like Apple Harvest Festivals and festivals of arts.
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