Discovery Trail

From nature walks to hands-on fun, there's so much to see, do, and learn along the Discovery Trail. There are multiple fascinating sites spread out across downtown Ithaca, the Cornell campus and on the hill overlooking beautiful Cayuga Lake. The Discovery Trail offers cultural explorers of all ages many unique activities and entertainment, both indoors and outdoors. It is a collaboration of eight brainy, family attractions in the Ithaca area that strive to bring science, art, and history to life in fun ways that can be enjoyed by anyone looking to learn, play, and discover. All Discovery Trail attractions are open year-round, with various exhibits changing seasonally.

Virtual, Online Learning Experiences

• Learn at Home with Museum of the Earth
• PRI Online Fossil Collection
• Johnson Museum of Art Online Collection
• Live Learning Sessions with the Sciencenter via Zoom, Mondays - Fridays at 10:30 AM
• Spitzer's 15th Anniversary Create Your Own Selfie
• Sciencenter Live Stream on YouTube
• Sciencenter YouTube Channel
• Paleontological Research Institution YouTube Channel
• Sagan Planet Walk
• Spacecraft Planetary Imaging Facility Facebook

Discovery Trail Attractions

Sciencenter

The Sciencenter of Ithaca is a 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

Visit the Cayuga Nature Center, an outdoor and indoor playground with information about 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

Don't miss the 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, the History Center in Tompkins County offers visitors the chance to view 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, and more are waiting for you at the Tompkins County Public Library. Free admission.

Cornell Botanic Gardens

With more than 4,300 acres of landscaped gardens and natural beauty, the Cornell Botanic Gardens are a must see. Visit 14 specialty gardens, a 150-acre arboretum, and a vast collection of protected natural areas. Free admission.

For more information about the Discovery Trail, please view our online brochure.