Top Attractions

What visitors see & do in Ithaca
These are the top-10 tourism attractions in Ithaca and Tompkins County,  ranked by consumer preference. Surveyed 2009.

1. Gorges/Waterfalls
The visitors bureau estimates 150 waterfalls within 10 miles of downtown, each with its own gorge. Hence the local slogan, "Ithaca is Gorges." The most popular are:

Ithaca Falls/Fall Creek Gorge
Impressive gorge views from the Cornell campus leading to a 150-foot waterfall near downtown.

Taughannock Falls State Park
Pronunciation: Tuh-GAN-ick. At 213 feet, the tallest waterfall in the northeast. The car-friendly overlook is convenient but the best views are along the rim trail and gorge trail, both easy hikes.

Buttermilk Falls State Park
A lush, sinuous gorge trail leads from the upper park down to the swim area at the base of the 90-foot falls. More here.

Enfield Glen/Lucifer Falls/Robert Treman State Park
Perhaps the most beautiful of Ithaca's gorges. The hiking is somewhat strenuous but well worth the effort.  More here.

2. Restuarants
College-town economics, educated palates, abundant local ingredients and creative chefs combine to make Ithaca a great eating town. The town has more restaurants per capita than New York City. More here.

3. Colleges
Ithaca College and Cornell University are destinations in their own rights. Must see at Cornell: The Johnson Art Museum, Lab of Ornithology, Cornell Plantations botanic garden. Must see at IC: Live theater, music recitals, Handwerker Gallery. Use these links for additional info:

Cornell University
Cornell Campus Tours 
Cornell Events Calendar 
Cornell Sports Calendar 

Ithaca College 
IC Campus Tours 
IC Events Calendar 
IC Music Calendar 
IC Sports Calendar 

4. Downtown Commons
The Ithaca Commons, a downtown pedestrian mall opened in 1974, is the center of the community's arts, dining and entertainment scene.

5. Winery Tours
With more than 100 wineries, the Finger Lakes Region is the third-largest wine producer in the U.S. Riesling is the area's signature variety. Sixteen of the best wineries are on Cayuga Lake, forming the Cayuga Wine Trail.

6. Music/Theater/Arts
Live music, theater and gallery shows are nightly events in Ithaca. The variety and quality are a distinct pleasure of life in a major college town. Details and calendars:

Ithaca Theatre Collective 
IthacaEvents.com 
Historic State Theatre 

7. Shopping
Antiques, college gear, comics, crafts, fashion, home décor, musical instruments, vintage duds, used books, more

8. Farmers Market
Saturday morning at the Farmers Market is an Ithaca tradition. With 150 vendors, this covered waterfront market is the largest in the region. Fresh and prepared foods, crafts, live music.

9. Discovery Trail
Celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2009, the Discovery Trail is a collaboration of eight brainy family attractions in the Ithaca area. 

Sciencenter
The hands-on science museum for all ages with more than 250 touchable exhibits.

Museum of the Earth
Explore 4 billion years of life on earth at Ithaca's Museum of the Earth, home to interactive exhibits and one of America's largest fossil collections.

Cayuga Nature Center
An outdoor and indoor playground to discover the animals and plant life of the Finger Lakes region. Explore 120 acres of fields, ponds and gorges, meet 40 live animals, then climb high into the forest canopy in a six-story tree house.

Cornell Johnson Museum of Art
A premier college art gallery holding more than 30,000 works in an iconic I.M. Pei-designed building. Free admission.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology
If the natural world were a national park, the "Lab of O" would be its visitor center. Take an inside look at the global environment by following the life and travels of birds. Don't miss the Macaulay Sound Library, the world's largest natural sound archive. Free admission.

The History Center in Tompkins County
A treasure trove of regional history with traveling exhibits, a research library and a vast photo collection with more than 100,000 images. Free admission.

The Tompkins County Public Library
Weekly readings, lectures, arts presentations. Free admission.

Cornell Plantations
More than 4,300 acres of landscaped gardens and natural beauty. Visit 14 specialty gardens, a 150-acre arboretum, and a vast collection of protected natural areas. Free admission.

10. Cayuga Lake
The longest of the Finger Lakes, enjoy the views from Ithaca's Stewart Park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Cruises available from Tiohero Tours and Cayuga Lake Cruises. Rent kayaks from Puddledockers. Best swimming: Taughannock Falls State Park or Myers Park in Lansing.