Ithaca is a charming, laid-back college town on the beautiful Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region that offers a wealth of activities and attractions throughout the year, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, maybe best known as a laid-back college town. Nestled between two magnificent gorges, the town is renowned for having spectacular natural beauty and offering an array of outdoor and recreational activities from hiking to climbing. The city is home to Cornell University, which also includes the sprawling Cornell Botanic Gardens, a beautiful arboretum, and the cascading multi-tiered Cascadilla Falls. So that there a lot of The Best Interesting Things to Do in Ithaca, New York that we listed below, you may not miss.
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Ithaca Farmers Market
Among the many must-do Ithaca activities are spending a lazy morning strolling through the stalls of Ithaca’s lakeside open-air farmers market. Locally grown, organic produce and fresh flowers maybe its specialty, but vendors at this funky pavilion also offer local wines and crafts. Hosted in a large, airy, waterfront pavilion, the Ithaca Farmers Market has something for everyone. With cuisine ranging from Sri Lankan to Korean to the standard breakfast burrito, you can snack as you peruse the local vendors and merchants, pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers, or just sit by the water and listen to the live musicians.
Walk Through the Solar System
The Sagan Planet Walk is located in upstate New York and is named after Cornell University professor, Carl Sagan. The solar system is a 1.5 billion scale model that stretches several miles.
The walk starts from Ithaca commons and ends at Sciencenter where Pluto is situated. Each planet station gives explicit details about the planet, NASA images and interesting facts. At every station, there is a model structure that compares the planet to the sun to make the walk more interesting. The Sagan Planet Walk was built in the year 1995 but since then, it went through certain changes.
At the moment, the asteroid belt and the model of the nearest star have been included.
Ithaca Waterfalls
Ithaca is home to over 150 waterfalls that flow in and around the town, funneling water through spectacular gorges carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago. The waterfalls can be seen at various places around town, including the Ithaca Commons and Cornell University, as well as just outside the city in some of the surrounding towns of Tompkins County. One of the most famous cascades is the Ithaca Falls, which stands at 100 feet tall and can be seen from downstream along the bridge over Fall Creek on Lake Street. The falls can also be reached by hiking the Ithaca Falls hiking trail.
Museum of the Earth
The Museum of the Earth is a natural history museum that explores the Earth in a fun and engaging way. Founded in 2003 as part of the Paleontological Research Institution, the museum aims to encourage an interest in the natural world and the importance of conserving the environment. The museum features an 8,000-square-foot permanent exhibition that documents 4.5 billion years of history, from the Earth’s origin to the present day. The museum also features several other permanent and temporary hands-on, visual exhibitions, interactive science features, art exhibitions, and a variety of rotating events every month.
Carriage House Cafe
Nestled in a mid-19th century carriage house that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Carriage House Café offers a quaint and cozy dining experience. Extensively restored but retaining many of its original features to preserve the building’s antique character, the carriage house boasts elegant décor and period furnishings, stylish seating and soft lighting, and combines rustic charm with award-winning cuisine. The restaurant serves an acclaimed brunch menu six days a week, refined lunch dishes, and an array of freshly baked pastries, homemade cakes and desserts, and house-roasted espresso and coffee drinks.
Explore the Ithaca waterfalls!
Wherever you are in the town you’re unlikely to be far away from a waterfall. Some of the most famous waterfalls in Ithaca are found in the three-state parks close to the city. there’s Taughannock waterfall (higher than Niagara!), Robert Treman, and Buttermilk Falls. There are beautiful hikes in each of these state parks too, perfect on a crisp fall day!
If you’ve not had your share of the falls in Ithaca, then make sure to check out the 150-ft Ithaca Falls near Cayuga Lake. Or, take a small hike in the town along the Cascadilla Gorge Trail that takes you up to Cornell in Ithaca. From here there are a series of stone trails and staircases and then the beautiful sight of 6 waterfalls among the tall gorge walls.
