A local bumper says Ithaca is “gorges”. Anothersays it’s 10 square miles “surrounded by reality”.Though both are true, Ithacans prefer the latter. Itkind of gets to the spirit of the place.

Located about four hours northwest of NYC inNew York’s Finger Lakes, Ithaca is hard to findand hard to leave. It’s almost an hour from thenearest interstate and with just 30,000 year-round residents, it’s hardly a metropolis. Butthanks to Cornell University and Ithaca College,it has a worldly personality, big-city amenitiesand an embarrassing excess of great restaurants.Ithaca owes its existence to ice and water. Thelocal landscape took form 500 generations agowhen mile-high glaciers retreated, leavingCayuga Lake and the spectacular gorge/water-falls the area is famous for today. The waterwayspowered Ithaca’s early development and gener-ated tidy fortunes for local entrepreneurs like

Ezra Cornell. The university he founded in 1865now attracts 25,000 students a year, transform-ing Ithaca from an upstate mill town to an IvyLeague capital and inspiring the creative spiritthat drives the area today.

Visitors are often surprised by Ithaca – how atown so small and so removed from the main-stream could have so much to offer. The word“oasis” comes to mind, and that’s just fine withthe locals. But they prefer “10 square miles sur-rounded by reality”. It makes a better bumpersticker.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN ITHACAHike some Gorges, See some WaterfallsThere are approximately 100 waterfalls within10 miles of downtown, each in its own gorge.Hence the local slogan, “Ithaca is Gorges.” Fortrail directions and hiking information, grab a

free copy of the Visitors Bureau WaterfallGuidebook, listing 19 of the most popular (andspectacular) gorge hikes in and around Ithaca.Be sure to check out:

Ithaca Falls/Fall Creek GorgeImpressive gorge views from the Cornell campusleading to a 150-foot waterfall near downtown.

Taughannock Falls State ParkPronunciation: Tuh-GAN-ick. At 215 feet, it’sthree stories taller than Niagara. The car-friendlyoverlook is convenient but the best views arealong the rim trail and gorge trail, both easyhikes.

Buttermilk Falls State ParkA lush, sinuous gorge trail leads from the upperpark down to the swim area at the base of the90-foot falls.

Why Ithaca?

Cornell Skyline(credit: Ithaca CVB)

Enfield Glen in Robert Treman State Park(credit: Joe Braun Photography/Ithaca CVB)

Bon Appetit magazinejust named Ithaca one of

America’s bestsmall towns for foodies.

Cayuga Lake (credit: Ithaca CVB)

2011 National Convention – Ithaca, NYJune 16-18, 2011

A local bumper says Ithaca is “gorges”. Anothersays it’s 10 square miles “surrounded by reality”.Though both are true, Ithacans prefer the latter. Itkind of gets to the spirit of the place.

Located about four hours northwest of NYC inNew York’s Finger Lakes, Ithaca is hard to findand hard to leave. It’s almost an hour from thenearest interstate and with just 30,000 year-round residents, it’s hardly a metropolis. Butthanks to Cornell University and Ithaca College,it has a worldly personality, big-city amenitiesand an embarrassing excess of great restaurants.Ithaca owes its existence to ice and water. Thelocal landscape took form 500 generations agowhen mile-high glaciers retreated, leavingCayuga Lake and the spectacular gorge/water-falls the area is famous for today. The waterwayspowered Ithaca’s early development and gener-ated tidy fortunes for local entrepreneurs like

Ezra Cornell. The university he founded in 1865now attracts 25,000 students a year, transform-ing Ithaca from an upstate mill town to an IvyLeague capital and inspiring the creative spiritthat drives the area today.

Visitors are often surprised by Ithaca – how atown so small and so removed from the main-stream could have so much to offer. The word“oasis” comes to mind, and that’s just fine withthe locals. But they prefer “10 square miles sur-rounded by reality”. It makes a better bumpersticker.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN ITHACAHike some Gorges, See some WaterfallsThere are approximately 100 waterfalls within10 miles of downtown, each in its own gorge.Hence the local slogan, “Ithaca is Gorges.” Fortrail directions and hiking information, grab a

free copy of the Visitors Bureau WaterfallGuidebook, listing 19 of the most popular (andspectacular) gorge hikes in and around Ithaca.Be sure to check out:

Ithaca Falls/Fall Creek GorgeImpressive gorge views from the Cornell campusleading to a 150-foot waterfall near downtown.

Taughannock Falls State ParkPronunciation: Tuh-GAN-ick. At 215 feet, it’sthree stories taller than Niagara. The car-friendlyoverlook is convenient but the best views arealong the rim trail and gorge trail, both easyhikes.

Buttermilk Falls State ParkA lush, sinuous gorge trail leads from the upperpark down to the swim area at the base of the90-foot falls.

Why Ithaca?

Cornell Skyline(credit: Ithaca CVB)

Enfield Glen in Robert Treman State Park(credit: Joe Braun Photography/Ithaca CVB)

Bon Appetit magazinejust named Ithaca one of

America’s bestsmall towns for foodies.

Cayuga Lake (credit: Ithaca CVB)

2011 National Convention – Ithaca, NYJune 16-18, 2011