While those of us that attend Ithaca College are used to seeing the small city covered in a blanket of snow, there is a very different atmosphere during the summer. As you’ve probably heard from your fellow students, Ithaca is a magical place during the summertime. There are many adventures you can go on and interesting sights to see, so I’ve taken the time to give you the top nine things to do in Ithaca this summer.
1. Gorges - Robert Treman State Park, Buttermilk Falls
Everyone has heard the saying “Ithaca is Gorges,” and you may even be tired of seeing the t-shirts all over campus. But, although annoying, the saying is very true. The gorges in Ithaca are beautiful and make for a great activity that can take up an entire summer day. You can swim in them, jump off of them and just hang out around them to enjoy the scenery.
2. Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
According to its website, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail was the first organized and longest-running wine trail in the country. With 17 wineries, an entire weekend can be spent on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Each winery on the trail has picnic areas and many have special tours, making this a great activity to do with a group of friends. There are also a few places to stay along the trail if you wish to tour for longer than a day. There’s nothing better on a summer day than good friends and great wine!
3. Ithaca Farmers Market
The Ithaca Farmers Market is a great thing to do during the summer. It’s an easy way to support local businesses and farmers, since all of the vendors are from within 30 miles of Ithaca. You can go for breakfast or lunch and even stock up on fruits and vegetables for your own kitchen. The Farmers Market is a lively place that you, and your friends can enjoy multiple times in the summer, maybe even every week!
4. Museum of the Earth
If the weather isn’t too great one day, and you would like something to do indoors, the Museum of the Earth is a fun and interesting placed to be! A brand-new dinosaur exhibit that was donated from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History is currently on display at the museum and is drawing in a lot of visitors. They also have a small collection of live animals like snakes, turtles and a few mammals. With many other exhibits like coral reef aquariums and a glacier exhibit, the museum can keep you entertained for quite some time!
5. Moosewood Restaurant
Moosewood has been called “a driving force in the world of creative vegetarian cooking” and was also named one of the thirteen most influential restaurants of the 20th century by Bon Appetit magazine. In all, the company behind Moosewood has published 13 internationally-acclaimed cookbooks and continues to improve their recipes and try new things daily. Have a meal at the popular Moosewood Restaurant and enjoy some legendary vegetarian cooking!
6. Cornell Johnson Museum of Art
Located on Cornell University’s campus, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is a fantastic place to visit over the summer. Having visited it for a class myself, I can vouch for it and say that there are many interesting and beautiful art pieces inside. I was able to see real life Andy Warhol sketches and prints up close and personal on my visit! Admission is free, so if spending money isn’t really your thing, this is a great place to go for the day in Ithaca.
7. Cayuga Lake
Just like the gorges, Cayuga Lake is the home to many activities. It is the longest of the Finger Lakes at 38.2 miles long and also the second deepest. You can rent paddle boards or kayaks, and you can also swim or sunbathe along the shore any day of the week. There are also many attractions along the lake, such as Taughannock State Park and Cayuga Lake State Park. Cayuga Lake is a great place to have a picnic and to just hang out with friends.
8. GrassRoots Music Festival
Located only 15 minutes from Ithaca in Trumansburg, GrassRoots Music Festival takes place July 16-19. Whether you plan on camping out or traveling, music festivals are always a great time in the summer. GrassRoots has an array of eclectic music genres that will keep you entertained all day. Along with the music, there are many other activities to enjoy like food and craft vendors, jugglers, stilt walkers and face painting. You can also volunteer to work at the festival in exchange for a free ticket!
9. Ithaca Boat Tours
There are many different kinds of guided boat tours that Cayuga Lake offers. There is a Farmers Market tour, an early Bird Picnic tour, an Eco Tour, a Summer Sunset tour and a Wine Tour. Most tours are between one and two hours long and are at set days and times, although the Wine Tour and special private tours are made through reservations. Boat tours are a fun and easy way to sightsee along the lake and enjoy a day out on the water with a group of friends.
