Ithaca area
Around Ithaca area
Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · New York · 151k people
Ithaca area
Locals say Ithaca · “Ithaca is Gorges”, “The Gorges”, “Ten Square Miles Surrounded by Reality”
Where gorges meet good vibes.
Cornell RedGorge Green
Welcome to Ithaca, where the gorges are deep and the community is tight. Whether you're here for the colleges, the lake, or the farm-to-table food, you'll find your people. Come join the conversation and share your favorite local spots.
Clubs for Ithaca area
No clubs for Ithaca area yet.
The room
Ithaca area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Ithaca's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Ithaca. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Ithaca area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Cornell University Ivy League campus with stunning gorges and architecture
- Ithaca College Hilltop campus overlooking Cayuga Lake
- Buttermilk Falls State Park Waterfalls and natural swimming pool
- Taughannock Falls State Park Home to a 215-foot waterfall, one of the tallest east of the Rockies
- Robert H. Treman State Park Gorge trail with multiple waterfalls and swimming areas
- Ithaca Farmers Market Waterfront market with local produce, crafts, and food
- Outdoors Hike the rim trail at Taughannock Falls
- Outdoors Swim in the natural pool at Buttermilk Falls
- With kids Visit the Sciencenter
- With kids Discover fossils at the Museum of the Earth
- Evenings State Theatre of Ithaca
- Evenings The Haunt
- Locals love Gorge hiking trails
- Locals love Farm-to-table restaurants
Through the year
- Ithaca Festival May/June Annual arts and music festival downtown
- Apple Harvest Festival September/October Celebrates local apple harvest with food, crafts, and music
- Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance July Four-day music festival in Trumansburg
- Cortaca Jug football game November Big rivalry game between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland
- Ithaca Brew Fest September Craft beer tasting event
Ithaca has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The best time to be out is fall for foliage and spring for waterfalls. Best: Fall for foliage and spring for waterfalls
Talk like a local
- “The Commons”
- The downtown pedestrian mall
- “Cayuga”
- Shorthand for Cayuga Lake
- “Gorging”
- Hiking the gorges
- “Big Red”
- Cornell University's nickname
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Cornell Big Red NCAA Division I
- Ithaca College Bombers NCAA Division III
Eat and drink
- Farm-to-table cuisine Ithaca is known for its strong local food scene, farmers market, and restaurants sourcing from nearby farms.
- Apple cider and cider donuts The region is part of apple country; local orchards and cider mills are popular.
- Ice cream from Purity Ice Cream A local institution since 1936, known for homemade flavors.
- Ithaca Beer Local craft brewery with a strong regional following.
Where people go
- Gorges and waterfalls Iconic natural features like Taughannock Falls, Buttermilk Falls, and Robert H. Treman State Park.
- Cayuga Lake The longest of the Finger Lakes, central to recreation and scenery.
- Farmers market The Ithaca Farmers Market is a beloved institution, with local produce, crafts, and food stalls.
- Cornell University campus Historic and scenic, with gorges, botanical gardens, and iconic architecture.
- Ithaca College campus A smaller liberal arts college known for its music and communications programs.
Heritage and traditions
Ithaca is proud of its deep connection to the Finger Lakes, its gorges and waterfalls, and its vibrant, progressive college-town culture that blends Cornell University's intellectual energy with a strong sense of community and environmental stewardship.
This time of year in Ithaca area
- Fall apple picking fall Orchards open for u-pick, cider, and donuts; foliage draws crowds.
- Ithaca Porchfest fall Neighborhood bands play on porches across the city in a free, family-friendly event.
- Cayuga Lake Wine Trail Harvest Celebration fall Wineries along the lake host tastings and harvest-themed events in the fall.
Say it like a local: “the gorges” — The local waterfalls and canyons
Festivals
- Ithaca Porchfest fall Neighborhood bands play on porches across the city in a free, family-friendly event.
- Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival spring A week-long series of films, talks, and exhibits on environmental themes, hosted by Ithaca College.
- Ithaca Jazz Festival spring Local and national jazz artists perform in venues around the Commons.
- Ithaca International Folk Dance Festival summer A weekend of workshops and performances celebrating global dance traditions.
- Cayuga Lake Wine Trail Harvest Celebration fall Wineries along the lake host tastings and harvest-themed events in the fall.
Landmarks with a story
- Clinton House A Federal-style brick building from 1829, now a museum of local history.
- Tompkins County Courthouse A 1930s courthouse with a distinctive tower, anchoring the county government.
- DeWitt Park A historic park with 19th-century homes and a veteran's memorial.
- First Presbyterian Church A Gothic Revival church from the 1840s, a landmark on the Commons.
- Cornell's Sage Chapel A Victorian chapel on the Cornell campus, used for concerts and ceremonies.
- Cornell's McGraw Tower A 173-foot clock tower with the Cornell Chimes, offering panoramic views.
Food traditions
- Cornell Dairy ice cream Made on campus at Cornell's dairy plant, it's a beloved treat with rotating flavors.
- Maple syrup season In late winter and early spring, local sugarhouses open for pancake breakfasts and syrup sales.
- Farmers Market breakfast Weekend trips to the Ithaca Farmers Market often include fresh pastries, crepes, and local coffee.
- Cider and donuts Apple orchards around the lake offer fresh cider and warm cider donuts every fall.
- Cayuga Lake wine The local wine trail is a point of pride, with Riesling and other cool-climate varieties.
Music and arts
- Folk and roots music scene Ithaca has a thriving singer-songwriter community, with open mics and house concerts.
- Cornell Chimes The chimes tower plays daily concerts, a beloved campus and city tradition.
- Hangar Theatre A summer theater company known for musicals and new plays.
- State Theatre A restored 1920s movie palace hosting concerts, films, and events.
A little history
- 1865 Cornell University founded
- 1892 Ithaca College founded
- 1850s Ithaca was a stop on the Underground Railroad
- 1874 Great Fire destroyed much of downtown
- 1880 Ithaca Gun Company established
Rivalries
- Cornell vs. Syracuse Upstate New York bragging rights
- Ithaca College vs. SUNY Cortland The Cortaca Jug football rivalry
- Cornell vs. Ithaca College Local college rivalry for city pride
- Game day Cortaca Jug
- Game day Cornell hockey fish-throwing
- Outdoors Visit Sapsucker Woods
- Outdoors Hike the Cascadilla Gorge Trail
- With kids Cornell Lab of Ornithology visitor center
- With kids Ithaca Children's Garden
Ithacans speak a fairly neutral American English, but with a few local pronunciations: 'Ithaca' is 'ITH-uh-kuh', 'Cayuga' is 'kay-OO-guh', and 'Taughannock' is 'tuh-GAN-ick'. Locals refer to the downtown pedestrian mall as 'the Commons' and often say 'gorges' when talking about the local waterfalls.
Only here
- The 'Ithaca is Gorges' slogan, celebrating the local waterfalls.
- Ithaca Hours, a local currency used by some businesses (though less common now).
- One of the highest percentages of PhDs per capita in the US.
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Sapsucker Woods, a birding mecca.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce it 'ITH-uh-kuh' – the first syllable rhymes with 'with'.
- Get a car; public transit is limited and the city is hilly.
- Dress for winter: it's cold and snowy from December to March.
- Visit the Farmers Market on weekends – it's a social hub.
- Explore the Commons for shopping and dining, but watch for the cobblestones.
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Areas in Ithaca area
Nearby
Every areaElmiraNew YorkA river town wrapped in autumn hillsAuburnNew YorkWhere history lives by the lakeSyracuseNew YorkA city of salt and soulSayrePennsylvaniaWhere the river bends and the ridges roll on.Watkins GlenNew YorkWhere the gorge meets the lake.NorwichNew YorkWhere the hills meet the riverCorningNew YorkWhere glass meets the Finger LakesSeneca FallsNew YorkWhere history meets the lake
Ithaca-Cortland, NY CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.