Two days in Ithaca...what should I make sure to see? (New York: for sale, apartments)

[annagrl775]

I will be visiting the Ithaca/Cornell area in about three weeks, and will have two days to explore (and hopefully decide if it seems like a good place to move our family to) while my husband is interviewing for a position. What are some recommendations for the Ithaca area that would give me a good feel for what it would be like to live there? Any local restaurants that are your favorites for breakfast or lunch? I'll be there on a Thursday and Friday, are there ever Farmer's Markets or community events on those days? I'm planning to meet with a realtor to learn more about the surrounding housing market, but I'd love the input of people that live in the area. Thanks for your time!

[ckhthankgod]

There have been many posts about the Ithaca area, but I will live some info. for you.

Complete guide to Ithaca, NY hotels, attractions, dining, shopping and recreation with maps and driving directions. The official web site of Ithaca, New York and Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau in the Finger Lakes.

theithacajournal.com | The Ithaca Journal | Ithaca news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY

Ecovillage at Ithaca

Ithaca Beer Company - Ithaca, New York

Sciencenter, Ithaca NY

Ithaca Farmer's Market

Ithaca HOURs Online: Home Page

Discovery Trail

The Nines in Ithaca, NY

The State Theatre of Ithaca, NY

Castaways of Ithaca, Tompkins County's Home for Live Music

Apartments for lease, Homes for sale, Forest City Realty Ithaca New York

greenstar.coop - Home

Welcome to the Ithaca Ballet

Hangar Theatre - Ithaca, New York - Home

The Bookery, Ithaca, New York

#8 Ithaca, N.Y. - Kiplinger.com

Museum of the Earth

Ithaca Board of REALTORS® - Home

State of the Art Gallery, Ithaca, N.Y.

Carriage House Cafe - Ithaca, NY - Comfort - Quality - Service - Visit our Cafe, Restaurant, and Hayloft for pastries, coffee, lunch, brunch, dinner, and special events.

INDEX

The History Center :: Welcome

Tompkins County CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Hope this helps.

[CarolL]

I dont' live in Ithaca—yet—but I will soon. DH and I fell in love with the area over the past four years while visiting DD and SIL while he was at Cornell. My suggestions:

Ithaca Bakery for breakfast and lunch and tons of great deli food, Maxie's, New Delhi Diamonds (carryout only), Zaza's, Willow, Boatyard Grill, Taste of Thai, Carriage House (nice nice breakfast). Try the famous Moosewood Restaurant for vegetarian fare. And, when in Trumansburg, try the Artisan Cafe for lunch.

I'm not a coffee drinker, but my friends say Gimme Coffee (several locations) is the best coffee anywhere. (DD and SIL have moved away, but DD still laments the lack of Gimme Coffee in their new locale. Nothing else measures up, according to them.) Collegetown Bagels are good. Definitely definitely definitely visit Wegman's, the best supermarket I've ever seen, and Greenstar Co-Op. No Farmer's Market on Thurs or Fri in Ithaca, but the one on Saturday is fantastic. The used book store is another great thing about Ithaca. (See previous posts for links.)

What to visit: Taughannock Falls, the park and the falls; Cornell campus, including the gorge; Lake Cayuga; wine trail; walk the Commons (have a brat if the brat guy's still grilling there); stop in at Buttermilk Falls. Pick a highway (particularly southbound) and drive out of town to see absolutely gorgeous scenery, especially now that leaves are turning.

If you have kids with you, stop in at Museum of the Earth and The Science Center. Much luck.

[CBaillo]

if you're a wine lover, and want bigger exposure to NY wines, i would go on the seneca trail instead of the cayuga trail (both east and west sides of seneca lake).

I would alo give a chance to the outlying communities, as places to live, unless you like more compacted living. There are areas of ithaca, that have wide open spaces, but mostly it's apartments, and houses right next to each other. If you want bigger property for your kids to run around in, and cheaper...your best bet is still in the neighboring communities. Depending on the areas you pick you're still looking at only 5-20 min, of NO TRAFFIC (i know it blew our minds as well moving from LA that there is never traffic on our commutes) driving into Ithaca. Look into Lansing, Trumansburg, Newfield, Dryden, Danby, etc. WOrth a look if you want smaller town living, and more traditional family views (as i had mentioned in your LA to Ithaca thread).

For in ithaca, a lot of good suggestions already. make sure to check out the commons, buttermilk falls, etc.

good luck. hope you like the area.

[Tioga]

CBaillo....the wineries should be a busy place..production wise..at the moment ..right?

[CBaillo]

ya coming up on the busy time of year now. It sort of had a late start this year, because we had a such a wet summer, and almost all the wineries were waiting a week or two later to harvest, in hopes of the grapes losing some of that extra water, and drying out a little.

[Tioga]

..Yet over here in Tioga county..our rainfall was just a normal(or maybe even less) amount during the summer months.