Location: Ithaca
Top Things to do in Ithaca
Countries
What to do and see in Ithaca, New York (NY): The Best Sights & Landmarks
"Ithaca is gorges" can be read on proud t-shirts across New York State, and there is definitely truth in advertising. Sitting on the shores of Cayuga Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes, the hilly town of Ithaca is surrounded by dense forests, towering waterfalls, and many gorges. The natural beauty has a distinctly academic feel, as local universities have filled the woods with museums and education centers like The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which features a 220 acre wildlife sanctuary.
Restaurants in Ithaca
1. Gourdlandia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Visit, Learn, Make, Shop! Gourdlandia is more than a gallery, not quite a farm. Learn about growing gourds and turning them into art, explore the gourd garden (summer and fall), shop, be inspired, maybe even make something. There are projects that are available for visitors at any time… just drop in and make something beautiful! Hours vary, please check website calendar or call.
Reviewed By travelingwinetaster - Freeville, United States
So I found Gourdlandia on a google search and I decided to check it out. Let me just saw that this was a super cool place. When I got there I wasn’t quite sure what to expect and of course what I thought I would see was totally incorrect. As I walked to the front door from my car. I looked out at land and a farm. It was peaceful and I just didn’t know what to expect. As I opened the door, the owner, a woman named Graham greeted me. She was kind with a bit is a sparkle in her eyes. I could tell from the moment I met her that she truly LOVED creating her artwork using all different types of gourds. Let me say just how beautiful her work is! There were boxes and lamps and wall art and faces and nightlights and necklaces and more items than I can name. Each one was unique and beautiful. Some were rather whimsical and others were more serious. All of them made me want to look at each one and see the intricate details. It was a wonderment. I enjoyed talking with Graham and learning more about gourds in general and her gourd art in particular. She definitely has a beautiful heart and that is so apparent in her beautiful work. I see it as a skill that few people have. I believe Graham sees it as her calling. You can just tell how much she enjoys creating beautiful, unique pieces of art. I highly recommend visiting this interesting place and buying a piece of her work that makes you smile. Next time I’m in the area, I will definitely stop there to see what new items await!
2. Odyssey Bookstore
3. Cornell University
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 712 reviews
Reviewed By wanderlucky7
Visited and toured because my daughter is starting graduate school in the fall. What a spectacular campus!!! If you are driving through and want to see beautiful buildings, pretty views this is the place. Wow, make sure you see the Arts Quad!
4. Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 424 reviews
Reviewed By K2867CRdebbies - Rimersburg, United States
Even though the Visitor’s Center and Gift Shop are currently closed during COVID 19, we still enjoyed the various trails and habitats in Sapsucker Woods. The trails take you through different habitats that are home to many species of birds. The trails are very well maintained and even include some large sculptures. Don’t forget your binoculars and bug spray! This is a MUST SEE for all bird enthusiasts.
5. Ithaca Beer Co.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 224 reviews
Reviewed By majesdane - Liverpool, United States
Went here for lunch with my SO. This was her first time visiting a brewery and she had a great time. Loved the selection of beers on tap and ended up buying a case to bring home (as well as a case of root beer, which was outstanding). The food was delicious and fairly priced. I'd be interested in trying their game hen meal for two next time I go back; it definitely seemed to be a popular choice. Unfortunately we missed the opening of the beer garden, but we did get decide to go on one of the brewery tours. We lucked out and had the whole thing to ourselves! The tour guide was friendly and talkative and answered all the questions we had. It was interesting learning about their whole process of brewing. At the end, we got to sample some of their beers and sodas. The sodas were great and I very much enjoyed the coffee blonde ale! Overall I had a great experience here and will surely come back again next time I'm in the area. The brewery's proximity to Buttermilk Falls Park also helps make it worth the trip.
6. Namgyal Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Mahessori - Vlodrop, The Netherlands
The beautiful Tibetan Buddhist monastery is located on the road leading out of Ithaca. Set up a long, winding drive, it provides a home for Buddhist monks, classes in Tibetan Buddhism, and visitors to their temple.
7. Sciencenter Sagan Planet Walk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Take an out-of-this-world visit along the Sciencenter's Sagan Planet Walk! This 1,200 meters long (3/4-mile), 1:5 billion, scale model of our solar system was built by the Sciencenter in 1997 as a memorial to Ithaca resident and astronomer Carl Sagan. The walk begins with the Sun station at the downtown Ithaca Commons and ends at the station representing the dwarf planet, Pluto, located at the Sciencenter. Each station has a scale model of the planet and an informational plaque. Along the way, you might discover that the sunny side of Mercury is hotter than a pizza oven, or that it rains strong sulfuric acid on Venus, or that a year on Pluto takes 248 Earth years. Planning to land on Jupiter? Forget it – this planet is hot and gaseous, and has no solid surface.
8. Corners Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 3 reviews
Corners Gallery + the living room is one of Ithaca's must stop shops! We are an art gallery, design shop, and custom framing studio all in one! Just minutes from Cornell University and downtown, with plenty of free parking. Women owned and operated. Corners Gallery + the living room donates a portion of each sale to local non-profits doing work to better our communities.
Reviewed By rp123452019 - Ithaca, United States
My experience with Corners Gallery has been unparalleled when it comes to quality and genuine customer service. Not only do I receive beautiful framing for my artwork but I continue to return because Ariel takes the time to know my style and my needs. I refer my clients and they always comment about how happy they are with the pricing, quality and overall look.
9. Suspension Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 121 reviews
This place is temporarily closed.
Reviewed By LynnF340 - Germantown, United States
This was quite lovely with parking right nearby. When I got halfway across, I felt some tremors -- not unusual for a suspension bridge. It was my first time and I really enjoyed it.
10. Downtown Ithaca
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 184 reviews
Reviewed By Navigator29721930263
Downtown Ithaca is a great place to visit, go see some of the cute shops and eat at some great restaurants in downtown!
