FUN things to do in Ithaca

Ithaca is a lovely place to visit in the summertime, and there are gobs of fun things to do while you are in town for our wedding weekend.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

First and foremost, you MUST visit a gorge and enjoy our beautiful waterfalls! Ithaca IS Gorges, you know. Ithaca Falls and the Cascadilla Gorge are short walks both from Cornell and downtown. If you are feeling more adventurous, Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H. Treman State Park are short drives away, just south of Ithaca on Route 13. Taughannock Falls State Park, home of our tallest falls, is just a few miles north of the Cayuga Nature Center on Route 89. All of the state parks have excellent hiking trails and a couple are open for swimming.

Enjoy the trails, six-story tree house and butterfly house on the grounds of the Cayuga Nature Center, site of our wedding weekend.

Explore the trails and birds of Sapsucker Woods at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Check out the lovely gardens and arboretum at Cornell Plantations.

Kayak, cruise or sail on Cayuga Lake.

Or just relax lakeside, taking in the spectacular view offered by the benches and swings at Stewart Park.

DRINK & EAT

The Finger Lakes are renowned for their award winning wineries situated around our lakes. Consider a tour of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Sheldrake Point Winery (north of the Nature Center) and Six Mile Creek Vineyards (just east of Ithaca) are two favorites.

Taste local brews and take a tour at the Ithaca Beer Company.

In addition to fresh veggies, fruits and crafts by local artisans, the Ithaca Farmers' Market (open Saturday 9-3 and Sunday 10-3) features tasty street food and an array of ethnic cuisine. Enjoy lunch on the shoreline of Cayuga Lake at Steamboat Landing.

*Newly arrived... The Sugar Shack, our 1st snowball/shaved ice/sno-cone establishment in Ithaca...Look for the tiny yellow hut right off E. State St. as you head uphill from the Commons. 20+ flavors of deliciousness you can mix-n-match.*

Ithaca is home to the "original" ice cream sundae - Purity Ice Cream scoops up some delicious ones.

Short Stop Deli, open 24 hours, makes yummy sandwiches, including the (in)famous Hot Truck sandwich.

Ithaca Ale House, Just a Taste Wine & Tapas Bar and Bandwagon Brew Pub are among our favorite restaurants on the Ithaca Commons.

SHOP

In addition to restaurants, the Ithaca Commons features a number of shops, boutiques, and local art galleries.

Local artisans sell jewelry, photos, paintings, woodworking, leather goods, home-crafted papers and more in booths at the Ithaca Farmers Market.

Google Map with Our Favorite Ithaca Highlights


View Our Favorite Places in Ithaca in a larger map

For more ideas and information, check out http://www.visitithaca.com/