Towns north of Ithaca?

[mn242]

Originally Posted by homeward bound

Can anyone give me his/her take on towns like Lodi, Trumansburg, Ovid, Aurora, Interlaken, etc.? Also, how is Seneca County doing economically & culturally? Is it a drab or good place to raise kids? Do its smaller towns feel isolated or cozy, run-down or quaint? How so? Thanks so much--we're headed up there soon and are trying to plan our trip.

Hi. We are considering these places too to get away from NC and back to "paradise". Did you ever visit, and what did you find? We are headed up that way in a few weeks. Been in university teaching and admin for 34 years now.

We also know the area you live in in Southern Virginia. Lexington is beautiful as are parts of Charlottesville, but very, very expensive, especially when compared to the Finger Lakes.

[Sgoldie]

I'm going to strongly suggest Canandaigua for you. It's just a hop to what Rochester has to offer and it's close to the thruway and outlet shopping. The town is laid out in a pleasing way and there are activities along the lakeshore as well as at historic mansions. It's on a par with other places you've been interested in such as Cazenovia and Cooperstown. The west side of the lake has a very nice lakefront park for camping and picnics and it's quite hilly as you proceed south with some incredible views. Victorians in town and well kept up places along the shore on the west shore which is the only one I'm familiar with. They've just built a new culinary [something] to highlight nearby wine country which should be interesting. There's a community college in town.

My distant second choice in that vicinity would be Geneva, however the downtown itself is somewhat rundown. The college is very pretty along the lakeshore and it's a good school.

Auburn is mixed. Not a bad place at all. It's got some appealing features and nice homes, shopping but the citizenry isn't as upscale in it's totality as Canandaigua possibly due to the prison. I'd move there any day before I moved to Seneca Falls. On a par with Geneva.

Watkins Glen isn't too bad. Lots of car nuts including exotic cars because of the raceway, and it's on the lake. The other places you've mentioned are very small, the ones I know at least, and may not be the best choice.

The other option is Skaneateles which is the nicest of all. You really should check this out.

[Royal Ranger]

Not to scare you away but the cost of living in this area is 19% higher than the national average and the taxes are 24% higher than the national average. I live in the town of Lansing and what others have said about nice is true. BUT, you pay, pay, pay. Hurry up and move so you can help us improve the tax base.

[perthvillage]

We too are looking into moving to the Ithaca area and are glad to get this information. Homeward bound... so glad that you discussed the matter of minorities. I am considered as being in that category (minority) and actually that is one of the concerns we have ie how do folks in the area respond to diversity.The mention of crime immediately after mention of minorities also says something. I hope weloveantiques is reading this.

[Mar1lyn27]

Just curious. Why not ithaca proper?

[missingFLX]

I'm trying to get things tied up around here so that I can move back to the towns North of Ithaca. I'm missing it terribly. That's where I grew up and that's where I want my toddler to be. Great place!

[yankee_transplant]

Groton is a nice little town. I grew up there, but haven't lived there since 1990. It has recently become more sophisticated, but has kept its small town charm.... and its good neighbor noseyness. ;-) It is definitely cheaper than Ithaca, and within commuting distance to Syracuse.

Chris Parrish
Atlanta, GA

Originally Posted by homeward bound

Thanks again for everyone's feedback. Does anyone know anything about Groton? Someone in town here mentioned it as a "family kind of place and very pretty."

[theboobguy]

Ovid is great, depending on what your looking for. My extended family lives there and we always visit. Just a stones throw away from geneva, seneca falls, waterloo, and Cayuga and seneca lake. Houses are cheap, some places look like they havent seen a dollar in a long time, but everyone is friendly. Just depends on what your looking for i guess.