Ithaca event weekends: what to do between sessions
"Ithaca is gorges": waterfalls inside town, Cornell on the hill and the Cayuga Lake wine trail.
Events we cover in Ithaca
Arriving
Ithaca (ITH) has a few flights; Syracuse (SYR) is 1 hour. Buses run from New York City (4.5 hours).
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Cortland and Elmira | Chains 30 to 45 minutes away. |
| Mid-range | Downtown Ithaca | Walk to the Commons. |
| Splurge | Statler Hotel and lake inns | Cornell's own hotel and wine-country inns. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Hampton Inn Ithaca
- Mid-range: Hotel Ithaca
- Splurge: The Statler Hotel at Cornell University
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- Sciencenter.
- Museum of the Earth.
Rainy-day backups
- Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.
- Corning Museum of Glass (1 hour).
Free things to do
- Ithaca Falls and Cascadilla Gorge trail.
- Cornell Botanic Gardens.
- Taughannock Falls (parking fee).
Getting around
- TCAT buses; a car helps for wine country. Hotels for commencement weekend often sell out a year ahead and require two- or three-night minimums. Book as soon as the date is posted.