Ithaca: Science, Waterfalls and Culture

Ithaca lies at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake in New York State’s Finger Lakes region. The destination offers a variety of things to explore: a pedestrian zone downtown, interactive science exhibits, and outdoor experiences at waterfalls and on hiking trails. This variety helps you tailor your stay to your travel group’s interests—whether you want to focus on culture, science, or scenery.

Pedestrian Zone and Events Downtown

Ithaca Commons is a four-block pedestrian zone in downtown Ithaca. It offers a distinct urban focus for anyone looking to explore the city center during their trip. Ithaca Commons also includes an event space for concerts, performances, and other events. If a particular event is central to your visit, check the relevant dates before you travel. This lets you plan around a specific cultural interest rather than treating events as just a general possibility.

Science to Explore

The Sciencenter offers more than 250 interactive exhibits. If you enjoy trying things out for yourself and discovering scientific topics in an engaging way, it offers a distinct focus for your stay. Exhibit topics may change, so it can be useful to check what is currently on offer before your visit. The Sciencenter’s seasonal Science Park complements the indoor exhibits with outdoor displays: its interactive exhibits explore sound, motion, water, and physics. This gives you a choice of scientific topics, from acoustic phenomena to motion and water. Since the Science Park is seasonal, take its availability into account when planning, without assuming specific opening hours or dates for your visit.

Waterfall and Trails

Ithaca Falls is a 156-foot-high waterfall. It can be seen from trails in the Ithaca Falls Natural Area, which is managed by the City of Ithaca. Here, the outdoor experience centers on a clearly identified viewpoint. Another option for outdoor activities is the five miles of trails at Sapsucker Woods. Visitors can ask at the reception desk of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about activities to enjoy while hiking these trails. Visitor programs and trail conditions may change. Ask about current activities during your visit and check conditions before setting out on a hike.

These offer different ways to spend a day outdoors: viewing a named waterfall or hiking several miles of trails. Consider which type of outing better suits your interests. When looking for a vacation rental, you can take this focus into account, along with the location that best fits your plans.

Nature in the Wider Region

The wider region also offers scenic places to explore: the Cascadilla Gorge Trail passes through one of the Finger Lakes region’s most picturesque gorges. Access may be seasonal. If you plan to include this trail in your itinerary, take the seasonal access into account. Together, the waterfalls, trails, and gorge offer different ways to experience nature in Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region, without limiting your stay to just one type of outing.

Discover more destinations: Brooktondale, Trumansburg, Dryden.

Return to the regional travel overview: Tompkins.