Lori And Bill’s Guidebook of Our Favorites
Food scene
Good basic Italian Food with wood fired pizza. Walking distance from airbnb. take-out available.
42 locals recommend
Ciao
2 Hickory Hollow LnGood basic Italian Food with wood fired pizza. Walking distance from airbnb. take-out available.
Zocalo Mexican Bar and Grill
40 Catherwood RdGood Mexican Restaurant with great Margaritas!
Quiet atmosphere. Bar menu available in bar area for more of a Tapas type menu.
29 locals recommend
The Heights Restaurant and H Bar
903 Hanshaw RdQuiet atmosphere. Bar menu available in bar area for more of a Tapas type menu.
Authentic Italian Cuisine! One of our favorites! Reservations required.
51 locals recommend
Gola Osteria
115 S Quarry StAuthentic Italian Cuisine! One of our favorites! Reservations required.
Great location on the water. Good food with some outdoor seating. Live entertainment on Friday nights during the summer.
88 locals recommend
The Boatyard Grill
525 Old Taughannock BlvdGreat location on the water. Good food with some outdoor seating. Live entertainment on Friday nights during the summer.
Farm to Table! Great Food
Part of the training program for Tompkins Community College culinary program.
24 locals recommend
Coltivare
235 S Cayuga StFarm to Table! Great Food
Part of the training program for Tompkins Community College culinary program.
Recently renovated. Great food. On the commons and Aurora St
38 locals recommend
Simeon's American Bistro
224 E State StRecently renovated. Great food. On the commons and Aurora St
Craft brewed beers. Good food and relaxed atmosphere. Outside beer garden and kid friendly!
They have a new location in College Town on College Ave.
160 locals recommend
Ithaca Beer Co.
122 Ithaca Beer DrCraft brewed beers. Good food and relaxed atmosphere. Outside beer garden and kid friendly!
They have a new location in College Town on College Ave.
Comfortable casual dining. Great Burgers and Beer!
Very popular! Located across from the Commons, downtown.
61 locals recommend
Ithaca Ale House
301 E State StComfortable casual dining. Great Burgers and Beer!
Very popular! Located across from the Commons, downtown.
Kilpatricks Publick House
130 E Seneca StGreat Irish Pub! The only one in Ithaca. Off the Ithaca Commons.
Warm and comfortable ambiance and very good food. Excellent Friday fryless fish fry.
24 locals recommend
The Antlers Restaurant
1159 Dryden RdWarm and comfortable ambiance and very good food. Excellent Friday fryless fish fry.
A fantastic little European restaurant located in Cayuga Heights, just minutes away. Creative food, intelligent service and genuine hospitality in beautiful surroundings.
A wonderful Sunday Brunch
Allechant
903 Hanshaw RdA fantastic little European restaurant located in Cayuga Heights, just minutes away. Creative food, intelligent service and genuine hospitality in beautiful surroundings.
A wonderful Sunday Brunch
Vegetarian Restaurant. Established 50+years ago. Well known through their cookbooks.
Reservations definitely needed in advance.
114 locals recommend
Moosewood Restaurant
215 N Cayuga StVegetarian Restaurant. Established 50+years ago. Well known through their cookbooks.
Reservations definitely needed in advance.
Sightseeing
Beautiful view up Cayuga Lake and a wonderful newly renovated park for children.
113 locals recommend
Stewart Park
71 Stewart ParkBeautiful view up Cayuga Lake and a wonderful newly renovated park for children.
Cornell Botanic Gardens
124 Comstock Knoll DrBeautiful walking trails
Johnson Museum of Art
114 Central AveLocated on Cornell Campus. Extraordinary Museum!
Sciencenter
601 1st StChildrens museum with hands on learning.
Museum of the Earth
1259 Trumansburg Rdprehistoric fossils and engaging exhibits.
Great trip for a rainy day. Market St. hosts good restaurants and shops.
252 locals recommend
Corning Museum of Glass
1 Museum WayGreat trip for a rainy day. Market St. hosts good restaurants and shops.
City/town information
Lovely town at the south end of Seneca Lake. Beautiful views of the lake from the park and Marina. The Wine Trail on Rt. 414 leads you into town.
144 locals recommend
Watkins Glen
Lovely town at the south end of Seneca Lake. Beautiful views of the lake from the park and Marina. The Wine Trail on Rt. 414 leads you into town.
Golf Courses
Hillendale Golf Course
218 Applegate Rd NChallenging front 9 and narrow back 9. fun course
Stonehedges Golf Course
549 Stevens RdTrumansburg Golf Course
23 Halsey StElm Tree Golf Course
283 NY-13Walden Oaks Country Club
3369 Walden Oaks BlvdRaNic Golf Club. Formerly Country Club of Ithaca. Our Absolute Favorite. Family owned and operated since 2021.
Country Club of Ithaca
189 Pleasant Grove RdRaNic Golf Club. Formerly Country Club of Ithaca. Our Absolute Favorite. Family owned and operated since 2021.
Hikes and Bike trails near Ithaca
Hiking is a must while in Ithaca, especially while chasing waterfalls. Regardless of the time of year that you’re here, the waterfalls are stunning. Ithaca Falls, Buttermilk Falls State Park, and Taughannock Falls State Park should all be on your radar while in the city. In the warmer months, you can swim next to waterfalls Robert H. Treman State Park and Buttermilk Falls while in the cooler months, the falls freeze over, creating stunning natural icy landscapes.
Sweedler and Thayer Preserves
1 Townline RdA challenging hike with great views and much less crowded
Beautiful Hike that starts downtown and connects to College Ave.
A hidden beauty!!
128 locals recommend
Cascadilla Gorge Trail
Cascadilla Gorge TrailBeautiful Hike that starts downtown and connects to College Ave.
A hidden beauty!!
Gorge Trail: more challenging hike through rocks and water to a beautiful view! A favorite of one of our guests!
373 locals recommend
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Gorge Trail: more challenging hike through rocks and water to a beautiful view! A favorite of one of our guests!
An area of wild beauty with the rugged gorge called Enfield Glen as its scenic highlight.
333 locals recommend
TREMAN STATE PARK
105 Enfield Falls RdAn area of wild beauty with the rugged gorge called Enfield Glen as its scenic highlight.
The unpaved trail runs through a rural backdrop as it makes its way from Cass Park in Ithaca to Taughannock Falls State Park near Trumansburg. See reviews and detail online.
47 locals recommend
Black Diamond Trail
Black Diamond TrailThe unpaved trail runs through a rural backdrop as it makes its way from Cass Park in Ithaca to Taughannock Falls State Park near Trumansburg. See reviews and detail online.
Amazing bike trail- worth a drive through on Highway 1 (especially if you drive over to Seneca Lake and the wine trail there!)
6 locals recommend
Finger Lakes National Forest - Hector Ranger Station
5218 NY-414Amazing bike trail- worth a drive through on Highway 1 (especially if you drive over to Seneca Lake and the wine trail there!)
Swimming
Lifeguard Supervised swimming in the area
Park and with lifeguard supervised swimming on the East shore of Cayuga Lake
20 locals recommend
Myers Point
Park and with lifeguard supervised swimming on the East shore of Cayuga Lake
Park and Lifeguard supervised swimming in Cayuga Lake
507 locals recommend
Taughannock Falls State Park
1740 Taughannock BlvdPark and Lifeguard supervised swimming in Cayuga Lake
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Swimming at base of falls
TREMAN STATE PARK
105 Enfield Falls RdSwimming at base of falls
Local Waterfalls
Ithaca Falls Natural Area
Lake StreetBeautiful Waterfall, close by and an easy walk in
Great Hiking trails along side of gorge. Home of the famous Lucifer falls. We love starting at Upper Treman. Ending with Ithaca Beer in close proximity.
333 locals recommend
TREMAN STATE PARK
105 Enfield Falls RdGreat Hiking trails along side of gorge. Home of the famous Lucifer falls. We love starting at Upper Treman. Ending with Ithaca Beer in close proximity.
Easily accessible and also has a challenging hike trail through rocks and water
373 locals recommend
Buttermilk Falls State Park
Easily accessible and also has a challenging hike trail through rocks and water
Highest Falls east of the Mississippi. Easy hike in to view Falls
There is also an overlook to view the falls
35 locals recommend
Taughannock Falls
Highest Falls east of the Mississippi. Easy hike in to view Falls
There is also an overlook to view the falls
One of the 5 major waterfalls in the Fall Creek Gorge. Can be viewed from the Stewart Ave. bridge
Forest Falls
One of the 5 major waterfalls in the Fall Creek Gorge. Can be viewed from the Stewart Ave. bridge
The first of the 5 major waterfalls within Fall Creek Gorge.
Fall Creek flows through a huge, deep gorge which cuts through Cornell campus.This can be viewed from the Thurston Ave. bridge
Triphammer Falls
The first of the 5 major waterfalls within Fall Creek Gorge.
Fall Creek flows through a huge, deep gorge which cuts through Cornell campus.This can be viewed from the Thurston Ave. bridge
Great day trip to enjoy wineries on Seneca Lake, beautiful views of the lake and an amazing hike up the Gorge at the State Park.
Very popular and crowded, especially weekends.
437 locals recommend
Watkins Glen State Park
1009 N Franklin StGreat day trip to enjoy wineries on Seneca Lake, beautiful views of the lake and an amazing hike up the Gorge at the State Park.
Very popular and crowded, especially weekends.
Easy walk to an amazing waterfall! Local favorite fishing spot for some great salmon!
156 locals recommend
Ithaca Falls Natural Area
Lake StreetEasy walk to an amazing waterfall! Local favorite fishing spot for some great salmon!