About Ithaca

ABOUT ITHACA

Ithaca, New York

Ithaca, New York is located in the Finger Lakes region at the base of Cayuga Lake. The city is known for its downtown pedestrian shopping area and over 150 waterfalls that have inspired the slogan “Ithaca Is Gorges.” Two esteemed institutions, Cornell University and Ithaca College, make Ithaca a true “college town” with a diverse population of over 30,000 students. Ithaca is four hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, one hour from Syracuse and two hours from Rochester. Each year, the area welcomes around 500,000 tourists from around the world looking to explore the area’s rich culture, fine dining, and outdoor recreation.

Ithaca has been nationally recognized for its natural beauty and vibrant community. The city has been named the Emerging Nature Destination of the year (Luxury Travel Guide), the #2 Best Small Collegetown (USA Today), one of the Best Places to Live (Men’s Journal), and the Healthiest City in New York State (24/7 Wall Street). Situated in the center of the Finger Lakes American Viticultural Area, Ithaca is a short drive from over 120 wineries that make up the largest wine production region in New York.

As of 2023, the population of Ithaca and the surrounding towns is just over 100,000 with numbers expecting to rise by an estimated 25,000 in the next 8 years. The economy in Ithaca is based primarily in educational and health services. Cornell University is the biggest employer in Ithaca followed by Borg-Warner Automotive and the Ithaca City School District.

Just a few sites to see when visiting Ithaca:

Taughannock Falls – Highest Vertical drop Waterfall in the Northeast
Ithaca Farmers Market : 150 vendors including local farmers, wineries, restaurants, and merchants meet lakeside on Saturday and Sundays
Cornell Botanic Garden: Cultivated gardens, arboretum, and natural areas that serve as outdoor classrooms for instruction across seven Cornell colleges
Namgyal Monastery: Built on Ithaca’s South Hill, this is the North American seat of the 14th Dalai Lama
Johnson Museum of Art: Located on the northwest corner of Cornell’s art quad, the museum features collections from around the world and throughout time
Science Center: Non-Profit hands-on science museum with rotating exhibits
Museum of the Earth: Natural history museum which hosts exhibits covering 4.5 billion years of history
Cayuga Nature Center: Educational organization providing environmental education to youth
Hangar Theater: Once a municipal airport hangar, the space now hosts shows with local talent and traveling companies.
Festivals: Ithaca loves a good festival! Check out visitithaca.com for more information on local festivals, live music, and other happenings.