"What's stunning about [Ithaca], though, is the sheer volume and quality of social innovation, pragmatic activism, spiritual seeking, open debate, and homemade and imported cultural fun that goes on here--in an atmosphere of robust local pride." --Jon Spayde Utne Reader, 6/97

Ithaca is a unique town, nestled in the hills overlooking Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. The gorgeous scenery and abundant natural beauty are complemented by a vigorous and diverse intellectual and social mix.

There is a little of everything in Ithaca, whether you're looking for outstanding ethnic cooking, art house movies, or cross-country ski trails. Once you've been here for a short while it will come as no surprise to find that many of the area's residents came here to school and decided to make Ithaca a permanent home.

Some Ithaca highlights are mentioned below, but there is much more going on here than a few short paragraphs can describe.

Ithaca Visitor's Center - General guide to Ithaca hotels, attractions, dining, shopping, and recreation with maps and driving directions.

Ithaca Events - Event listing for Ithaca and Tompkins County

Dining in Ithaca - Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than NYC and a wide range of options to choose from.

Buttermilk Falls State Park - Buttermilk Falls State Park takes its name from the foaming cascade formed by Buttermilk Creek as it flows down the steep valley side toward Cayuga Lake.

Cinemapolis / Fall Creek Cinema / Cornell Cinema - Three area cinemas devoted to showcasing quality new and classic films. These theaters show art movies, cult classics, foreign films, and the best of the independents - in short, any great movie that might be missed by mega-movie complexes.

Fingerlakes NYS Fingerlakes Region

Hangar Theatre - A professional regional summer theatre that attracts nationally acclaimed actors, directors, and designers. Five mainstage productions are staged each year from June through August.

Moosewood Restaurant - The nationally recognized vegetarian restaurant, made famous by the cookbook "Sundays at Moosewood."

Taughannock Falls - A glorious waterfall, cascading 215 feet down through natural rock walls that rise in places to 400 feet. The surrounding state park includes miles of trails, tent and trailer sites, showers, cabins, and a swimming beach. In the winter, the sledding slope opens for old-fashioned thrills.

Treman State Park - Robert H. Treman State Park an area of wild beauty, with the rugged gorge called Enfield Glen as its scenic highlight

Watkins Glen/Schuyler County - Seneca Lake wineries, racing, parks, dining

Wine Tours - The Finger Lakes region is well-known in the East for wine production. The Cayuga Wine Trail stops at estate wineries located on routes 89N and 96N. Close to Cornell, the Six Mile Creek Vineyard is the only winery situated inside the limits of Ithaca.