I have been visiting Ithaca, New York for years and continue to find new adventures each time I visit. Always an adventure. Enjoy:
1. Camp, hike or swim at Robert H Treman State park.
Robert Treman State Park is a large 1,110 acre park near Ithaca New York. The park is beautiful and has many waterfalls along a 4.5 mile round trip hike. You can park at the lower end of the park by the campgrounds and swimming area by the Lower Falls. In the summer the waterfalls empty into a beautifully clean and refreshing swim area. Jumping off the diving boards, swimming and walking along the rocky falls is fun. We have spent several summers camping in the affordable cabins which of course welcome children and pets, each equipped with 4 cots, a refrigerator and outlet for a lamp or coffee pot and a spot for barbeques and campfires.
2. Hike Upper Treman State Park
I consider this a separate trip. If you don’t have much time or are traveling with non hikers, the trip to upper Treman state park at the western portion of the park is well worth the visit. Take Route 13 South from Ithaca to State Route 327. Follow that road 4 miles to the upper park entrance. There is an old mill to visit with restrooms and then a 1.3 mile hike around Lucifer Falls. These falls are beautiful and the trails are well paved and groomed and easy for walking. Just beware, there is a steep staircase on the North side of the trail.
3. Kayak Lake Cayuga
Lake Cayuga is the longest Finger Lake in upstate New York. I had never kayaked in Ithaca even though I have been visiting this area for over 20 years. So…I googled kayaking and found a friendly spot called Puddledockers in Ithaca. For $27 I was assisted into a kayak in the river and sent forward toward Lake Cayuga for a two hour tour. I brought a sandwich and enjoyed the serenity of the lake. Weather permitting, a perfect way to spend a couple of hours.
4. Shop at Wegmans
Being from Long Island, I am so impressed with this grocery store every time I visit. It has that open warehouse feel of Costco, yet is welcoming with smaller portion sizes and ready made meals. I love a good cheese and seafood section. I found a nice sandwich area that had extremely fresh and well made sandwich rolls for my hero that I enjoyed on the kayak ride. They also make great coffee.
5. Stroll the Commons
The shops on the commons include gift shops with hand made crafts, jewelry and candles. Cars are not allowed on the 2 blocks in this downtown area that spotlights different festivals on the weekends. The seats and play areas for kids and adults draw many visitors to linger about. The restaurants vary from Mexican to Asian, fancy to fun. There is something for everyone in this area.
6. Walk around Cornell University
Fraternity houses, established older buildings and modern buildings encompass this vast campus on the hill overlooking Lake Cayuga. With 21,000 students, finding a place to park is a challenge. You can pay for parking in Collegetown at 114 Dryden Road. Football, baseball, and hockey games are fun to attend. You can also visit the school of Hospitality which offers the Statler hotel with 153 rooms and restaurant. Be sure to make a reservation in advance.
My connection to Cornell University includes my dad, David Sanders, who legend tells took a train from Long Island for his freshman year at the young age of 16 to attend college. He joined the Sigma Nu fraternity. He then later transferred to SUNY Oneonta to join my mom where they both graduated as education majors – my alma mater.
My son is currently in Law School at Cornell so the connection to the University continues.
7. Visit Cornell Botanic Gardens
Formerly known as the Cornell Plantations, these gardens are available to tour for free right next to Cornell University. Especially pretty in the spring and summer, the property is filled with flowers and plants native to New York and well worth a visit. The stroll around the gardens is perfect for all ages.
In fact, The gardens are so beautiful that my brother who lives near Ithaca celebrated his wedding to Denise in that garden.
In addition my sister and her husband had their son baptized in a chapel on campus. We all have a connection to Cornell now.
Still Running away for the weekend in Ithaca
8. Hike Buttermilk Falls
These falls are the closest to downtown Ithaca right off the main road on your way to the big stores from Ithaca. The beach by the falls is nice but late August or September when the rivers are low, the falls can be almost non existent at the beach. The trail to the falls up the gorge is challenging yet well maintained and travelled with steep stairs at the beginning of the hike.
9. Hike Taughannock Falls State Park
A 20 minute drive from downtown Ithaca to Trumansburg, these falls are located a short walk from Lake Cayuga. The overlook is a nice way to see the falls without actually hiking, but if you do hike there are plenty of spots to jump in the water. I love this park because the trail along the river is enticing and the falls are one of the biggest in the area.
10. Dine at Simeon’s restaurant
One of the best restaurants in Ithaca featuring American cuisine, a two story corner establishment and sidewalk dining. Upscale and a bit pricey, the food is delicious and delicious. Oysters are a staple for the happy hour 3-6 Tuesday – Friday and main dishes include specialties like Rabbit, Steak and Sea Bass. We recently celebrated a birthday and were pleasantly satisfied with our experience.
11. Try wine tasting in the Finger Lakes
The past 20 years have brought more and more vineyards and wineries to the area. Ports of New York is fun to visit as it is right there in town. The ports are tasty, if you like sweet wine. They also serve two wines, one red and one white. Cayuga lake and Seneca Lake offer a variety of tasty wines and breathtaking views – well worth a visit.
For a wine tasting with a view head north on 89 to the Frontenac Point Vineyard & Estate Winery. They have nice selection, outdoor seating and a view over Lake Cayuga.
12. Have brunch at the Carriage House Cafe
Cozy and comfy, this charming brunch spot is a must. The Brie stuffed french toast and omelettes are delicious. The food is local and organic and the service is top notch. A great find.
13. Discover First Dam
After seeing pictures on Pinterest about this place near Cornell University I felt compelled to find and visit it. This was more difficult that expected. I googled and drove to several places before actually finding it. So here is the big secret. Drive east from downtown Ithaca on Route 79, State Street. Turn onto Giles Street and park at the Mulholland Wildflower Preserve. This preserve is a lovely trail along a creek that is flat and very pretty. To see the First Dam, you need to return to Giles Street, walk across the bridge and climb down the path to the falls. The building seems haunted and I am sure there are tales to be told there.
14. Have a beer at College Town Bagels
On the edge of Cornell University, near “College town” is a fun little establishment that serves both bagels and local beers. I arrived on a Friday afternoon and all the students were piled in and outside the building under an awning. It is great to be surrounded by youth and the brains of the future. Here they are.
15. Hike locally at Cascadilla Gorge Trail
Starting at Treman Triangle Park, this well established trail winds it way along the gorge passing a number of waterfalls. The path is easy to walk but does include a number of stairs. We saw several students jogging along the trail even though leaves could be slippery. Very pretty and conveniently located near the Commons.
16. Visit Sciencenter
If you find yourself visiting and the weather is not cooperating, this museum is amazing and fun. With over 250 exhibits and even an outdoor science park and miniature golf course, it is a guaranteed fun learning experience, especially if you have kids in tow.
17. Visit my brother and his family
My brother went upstate New York to college and never came home. Less traffic than Long Island, he made his home in a small town outside Ithaca over 20 years ago. I have been visiting him and this area since his son was born and have grown to love it as well. Part of the love comes from shared memories of family reunions over the years and the other part comes from the beauty of gorges and rivers and lakes in the region. When I visit his home, I am reminded of my dad. My dad always used a wheelbarrow to create the best gardens. So does my brother. As long as he lives there, I will always have an extended home away from home.
As a young, unexpected widow I seek therapy in nature, being with family and creating new adventures and travels to engage in. Ithaca is a place I go back to again and again. Read about more adventures on my blog.
64 Responses
Ithaca is so gorgeous!! You brought me back to all the waterfalls there. I still need to visit again to check out Cornell Botanic Gardens, and now I’m curious about the first dam trail as well. Thanks!
You’re welcome. Enjoy!!
Great Places and Amazing Pictures!! I’ll have to go visit!
Thanks. You’ll be happy you went
Awesome, beautiful pictures, wonderful family memories!
Hope you had fun there this weekend!!
Never heard of that state before! Numbers 8 & 9 looks amazing!🤗
Very inspiring read full of beautiful memories. You are a very sweet mom. 💞
Thanks
I love waterfalls and would love to visit and hike Buttermilk Falls. I also love that it’s not so far away from downtown 🙂
Buttermilk Falls are great.
This looks beautiful! And all those waterfalls, I would just love to go and chase some waterfalls there, thanks for sharing!
I love waterfalls too!
Loving the waterfalls, would love to go, thanks for sharing!
Thanks
What a great post! Very inspirational, thank you 🙂
Thanks for reading.
I’ve been thinking about the Finger Lakes for a while, and I didn’t realize Ithaca was perched right there! I love the shots of the waterfall, that would be a definite ‘must-see’ for me.
Thanks. You should visit. So pretty especially in the fall
I feel like the outdoor areas of New York state are often forgotten because people only think of New York City! I can’t wait to check out some of these spots the next time I’m back East, especially Taughannock Falls — that waterfall looks incredible! Thank you for sharing this list so others can reference it during their NY travels :).
Thanks for reading!!
You’ve pretty much covered all the things I love: traveling to a new destination, hiking, eating, and drinking wine! Ha! Love it! I’d never really thought about visiting Ithaca, but now I may have to add it to my list, with all of those gorgeous hikes and opportunities to get out into nature! Plus, that Wegman’s supermarket looks pretty nice too! Thanks!
Thanks. You would love it there!!
This just proves there is more to do in see in NY than NYC haha. Love this. The waters falls look amazing and shopping around the commons is my type of thing. Will definitely keep this on my NY bucket list.
Great. Thanks for reading!
Wow – what a fantastic article and love the pics. Makes me wanna go there and add it to the itinerary! The first three will be a definite because camping and hiking is my thing! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you
I didn’t realize there were so many waterfalls in and around Ithaca! To be honest whenever I travel to NY it’s to visit NYC, definitely need to check out other cities and will keep Ithaca in mind for next time. So much to do and see!
Thanks for reading. It is beautiful
This was so interesting for me because I had never really thought of Ithaca, NY! I love your photos of the waterfalls–they’re gorgeous; strangely they remind me of some we have in Tennessee!
Thanks for reading. I’d love to spend some time in Tennessee. I loved my visit to Nashville.
Ithica definitely looks like a hidden gem! I’d love to visit sometime.
Thanks for your comment. It really is gorgeous!!
So many cool waterfalls! I would love to go hiking and camping in this area. But as a fashion and food lover the shopping and Wegmans sound amazing. Great list!
Thanks
I’m not much of a hiker but I’ll always go chasing waterfalls. Lovely photos too of your brother’s wedding. Would love to see that area someday 🙂
Thanks
Wow what a beautiful place to visit!! Food and waterfalls and two of my favorite things so I would love to go!! 🙂
The Cornell Botanic gardens seems like such a good idea. Visiting gardens is so relaxing… seems like you had fun! https://www.elaishajade.com/
Yes. It’s a beautiful garden
Absolutely beautiful! I would love to spend time here!
Nice post. the falls was really great and I think you had an exciting experience.
I didn’t realize there were so many waterfalls in this area. I drove by Ithaca last summer but didn’t stop to visit. Now I want to go see the town!
It’s s great place
I’ve never heard of Ithaca before and I am amazed how unspoiled some of the areas are. I would love to go kayaking and the waterfalls, amazing! Such a nice place to go with teens for a nice fun day!
Thanks for reading
Ithaca looks like a fab place and obviosuly has many happy memories ofr you. Love the waterfalls and lakes and would also really love to visit Wegmans, looks like a great shop and I’m a sucker for cheese!!
Me too. Their cheese section is great
I’ve never heard of this place before, and now I feel as if I already went 😄😂😎
It’s so great to discover a new place through your blog. Ithaca looks so beautiful, and it totally fits my travel style. I’m always in love with nature, so Ithaca is on my list now 🙂
Enjoy!!
There are so many nature places near Ithaca that I think it’s made for me! I’d love to hiking in that state park and stand under the waterfalls and also kayak in that lake! I hadn’t even heard of this place until this post, so definitely another place added to my list!
Thanks for reading
Love all the hiking info! I was so unaware the state of NY had such hikes and waterfalls! will have to drag my American cousins along when I next visit them! In fact I might even send them this link as a hint of what I wanna do when I come a-visiting!
Thanks for reading!
Some of the places in your post are the reasons why I have fallen in love with Upstate New York! Ithaca is a must see for those who are contemplating visiting Upstate. Next time you visit, you should consider catching a film at the Cornell Cinema and then eating the pumpkin duck curry at Taste of Thai.
Sounds like great recommendations. I love Thai food! Thanks for reading
As a long-time resident of the Ithaca area, I was interested to see what you would highlight. You did well. A few things I would add include that Cayuga Lake (not Lake Cayuga) has about 20 wineries to visit, and more than 100 in the Finger Lakes region overall. Cayuga Lake is part of New York’s canal system, so boaters can travel from Ithaca to the Great Lakes, New York City, Lake Champlain, or along the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic. There are extensive, interconnected hiking trails throughout the region that connect the parks and waterfalls you mentioned as well as many others and downtown Ithaca. Thank you for featuring our beautiful area.
P.S. The Wegmans picture is not the Ithaca Wegmans, although it does give a sense of the store.
Thanks for reading and for your comment. I didn’t realize that Cayuga Lake reaches all those bodies of water. That’s cool. All the photos are mine so I am sure that was the Ithaca Wegmans – just a few years ago, it’s probably been changed up a bit since then. Such a great store. We need one on Long Island!!
I have never been to America, and my impression of New York is always the towering skyscrapers of NYC and central park. I never imagined that New York state would have hiking trails and brick buildings such as these. Thanks for sharing and helping to make me a little less ignorant about the world. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing other parts of our state. New York also has some beautiful beaches. Thanks for reading