Dear EscapeMakers -- It's the most beautiful time of the year! Whether you've been to Ithaca before, or have yet to visit, now is the time to explore! Constantly evolving, the Finger Lakes region always has new opportunities for you to experience. Fall Foliage at peak! There's still time to catch the last leaf peeping in New York State! Due to the lakes themselves (heat retention and air flow), the Finger Lakes has a more temperate climate compared to the rest of Upstate. This climate allows for a better growing season and extended leaf peeping opportunities. Take a hot air balloon ride or cruise the Cayuga Scenic Byway to explore Ithaca's beauty. Did you miss Cider Week? Fear not, you can experience cider year-round in Ithaca! With outdoor seating and socially distanced practices, Ithaca can welcome you safely. There are 7 cidery tasting rooms open for your enjoyment. Spend an afternoon at Eve's Cidery eating a farmer's lunch and being guided through a flight of artisan cider. Get away from it all, in Ithaca! We all have a reason to getaway, spend a week upstate, to return and reset in nature. Ithaca's mesmerizing waterfalls, meandering trails, and endless fresh air are just a quick trip away. No matter how many times you visit, it always has that wow-factor. Escape to the Finger Lakes! Interested in lodging packages? Click here. For information about Ithaca and COVID-19, please visit www.visitithaca.com/covid-19-information-visitors www.VisitIthaca.com MORE INFO:
Dear EscapeMakers — It’s the most beautiful time of the year! Whether you’ve been to Ithaca before, or have yet to visit, now is the time to explore! Constantly evolving, the Finger Lakes region always has new opportunities for you to experience. Fall Foliage at peak! There’s still time to catch the last leaf peeping in New York State! Due to the lakes themselves (heat retention and air flow), the Finger Lakes has a more
Dear EscapeMakers -- As the temperature goes down, Ithaca heats up. The city and region intentionally create events to keep the community engaged in the colder months: food, music and wine festivals, educational walks through botanic gardens, and winter celebrations at the children's garden! Check out the Ithaca Events page to find your activity! Chili Cook-Off - 2/8 This annual foodie festival featuring over 40 chilis prepared by 30+ restaurants from across the region as the restaurants compete for the titles of Best Meat/Overall Chili, Best Vegetarian/Vegan Chili, and People's Choice Chili. Festival of Fire & Ice at the Ithaca Children's Garden - 2/8 An annual celebration of winter outdoor play, the festival provides time and space for us to remember the winter games we love and to discover new ways to play through the coldest season. Enjoy ice sculptures, sledding, hot chocolate, snow fort and den building, bonfires, and so much more! Ithaca Loves Teachers Winter Recess Festival - 2/14 The Ithaca Loves Teachers Festival, now in its 15th year, is a celebration of Pre-K through 12 public educators and school district employees. Ithaca will come together for a week to celebrate educators with entertainment, activities, family fun and discounts throughout the Tompkins County community. Science of Taste Food Tour - Recurring Rediscover your five basic tastes while exploring Ithaca's restaurants on this special tour designed with winter weather in mind. Savor 5 generous tastings and 3 delicious drink pairings. Explore one of your five basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami) with each course. Redefine how you experience food as we discuss the hidden elements behind each taste. The tour route keeps the group warm with short walks fromone establishment to the next! Finger Lakes Thaw - 3/19 A two-day, multi-venue music festival in downtown Ithaca that
Dear EscapeMakers — As the temperature goes down, Ithaca heats up. The city and region intentionally create events to keep the community engaged in the colder months: food, music and wine festivals, educational walks through botanic gardens, and winter celebrations at the children’s garden! Check out the Ithaca Events page to find your activity! Chili Cook-Off – 2/8 This annual foodie festival featuring over 40 chilis prepared by 30+ restaurants from across the region as
Dear EscapeMakers -- So, you want to escape the city, try something new, swim in a creek, and remind yourself what stars look like? Well, you're in luck! Ithaca has what you didn't know you needed: baby goats to cuddle and bottle feed, Zagat's #4 Must-Visit Farmer's Market, CBD farms, and all the farm-to-glass breweries, cideries and wineries you could desire. Let's get back to basics: how do you plan a trip to Ithaca? Step 1: Pick your dates • Open Farm Days - 8/10- 8/11 • Finger Lakes Cider Week - 9/27 - 10/6 • Int'l Rutabaga Curling Championship - 12/21 With year-round festivals and activities, anytime is a good time to visit Ithaca. Visit for a special event, like the ones listed above or be a savvy traveler and stay during the weekdays for lower costs on accommodations and travel. Step 2: Pick your accommodations • Cabin on a farm • Cozy bed and breakfast • Hotel downtown • Find a package There is such a wide range of accommodations, one is sure to fit your fancy. Want to settle into a rustic cabin surrounded by rolling hills? They have that. Desire an all-inclusive hotel, bistro and spa package? They have that - and everything in between. Step 3: Choose your travel method • Drive yourself • Take a bus • Yes, you can fly! Take OurBus for direct NYC to Ithaca transportation and use promocode VISITITHACA10 for a discount. Or try out Cornell's Campus-to-Campus bus that has Wi-Fi, snacks, and a Keurig for a luxurious ride from NYC! Step 4: Browse the experiences and offerings • Eat well • Walk the downtown • Hike the gorges • Explore the outdoors • Taste the terroir Once you have everything booked, it's time for the fun part. Reading every
Dear EscapeMakers — So, you want to escape the city, try something new, swim in a creek, and remind yourself what stars look like? Well, you’re in luck! Ithaca has what you didn’t know you needed: baby goats to cuddle and bottle feed, Zagat’s #4 Must-Visit Farmer’s Market, CBD farms, and all the farm-to-glass breweries, cideries and wineries you could desire. Let’s get back to basics: how do you plan a trip to Ithaca? Step
Dear EscapeMakers -- Stroll through orchards rich with glistening fruit, gaze at the hills blanketed with autumnal-colored trees, and sip a golden, effervescent glass of goodness - Ithaca is the epicenterof craft beverages and culinary explorations! Plan that leaf-peeping, fall getaway around Finger Lakes Cider Week (September 27-October 6). Located at the base of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is home to Cornell University, over 150 waterfalls, a booming craft cider scene, and jaw-dropping scenic views. With the highest density of craft cideries in NY state (10 within a 30-minute radius),it's no surprise that cider lovers flock to Ithaca for a taste! TAKE THE SPECIAL "CIDER BUS" FROM NYC! Checkout the unique and rustic lodging options at one of the many Farm Stays and B&Bs FLX Cider Week kicks off with the three day annual Apple Harvest Festival. Cider makers, pie bakers, and apple-themed vendors line the streets of downtown Ithaca offering the famous cider donuts, delectable craft ciders and limitless apple-themed delicacies. Browse the craft fair or venture into the brick-and-mortar artisan shops; stop by the farm fair to meet animals or attend a farmer talk; participate in the Monks & Makers event to meet the cider makers and taste quality cider or sign up for Coltivare's farm-to-table cider pairing dinners or an educational event in their teaching kitchen. Cider Sunday at Cornell University is an all-ages event that offers orchard talks and fresh pressed and hard cider tastings with food pairings. What ties this Ivy League college to a regional cider event? Cornell's Horticulture, Pomology (study of fruit) and Hard Cider Project Work Team have had a huge impact on NY and national cider research and production. Renowned cider makers, Eric Shatt of Redbyrd Orchard Cider and Dr. Ian Merwin of Black Diamond Farm and Cider, come from Cornell and
Dear EscapeMakers — Stroll through orchards rich with glistening fruit, gaze at the hills blanketed with autumnal-colored trees, and sip a golden, effervescent glass of goodness – Ithaca is the epicenterof craft beverages and culinary explorations! Plan that leaf-peeping, fall getaway around Finger Lakes Cider Week (September 27-October 6). Located at the base of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is home to Cornell University, over 150 waterfalls, a booming craft cider scene, and jaw-dropping scenic views. With
Dear EscapeMakers -- The crisp feeling of Fall is in the air in Ithaca, NY. You can feel the slight hint of it, even as the sunshine still plays on the leaves and lake. You can taste the Fall in the many local offerings tempting your taste buds. Fall is the season for freshly pressed cider and cider donuts. Grab some at the Ithaca Farmers Market, one of the most renowned farmers markets in the country. The Ithaca Farmers Market offers fresh foods from within a 60-mile radius of Ithaca and this waterfront market on the shores of Cayuga lake also offers prepared delicacies and wine and craft cider tastings to boot! Plan a visit during Finger Lakes Cider Week to be fully immersed in the diverse and delicious options being created in the craft cider boom across New York State. Interested in exploring the farms themselves? Find your cider donuts at Littletree Orchards or Indian Creek Farms. Taste the harvest at Finger Lakes Cider House as they press apples from the season, serving up their ciders along with a variety of other local craft ciders. Pair it with a local cheese from Lively Run Dairy just up the road, and enjoy a view of the changing colors along the shores of Cayuga Lake. Celebrate fall with vendors at the 36th Annual Apple Harvest Festival on the Downtown Ithaca Commons Sept 28-30. Or maybe you think science, magic and fantasy go better with great local foods. If so, plan your visit later in October for Wizarding Weekend. You can take advantage of some great accommodation packages during the fall season as well! Cider and apples certainly define the fall season in Ithaca and Tompkins County, however, we would be remiss if we left out their friends also experiencing a fall harvest
Dear EscapeMakers — The crisp feeling of Fall is in the air in Ithaca, NY. You can feel the slight hint of it, even as the sunshine still plays on the leaves and lake. You can taste the Fall in the many local offerings tempting your taste buds. Fall is the season for freshly pressed cider and cider donuts. Grab some at the Ithaca Farmers Market, one of the most renowned farmers markets in the
Dear EscapeMakers -- Winter's chill has finally made it to the Finger Lakes region, but Ithaca, NY is proud to offer a wealth of memorable food and farming-related events even in the colder months. Ithaca is never short on festivals, and winter is no exception - this year's Ice Festival on December 9th will feature a Chowder Cook-off, and the weird and wonderful Rutabaga Curl at the Ithaca Farmers Market on December 16th is a party in itself. Enjoy a country-style setting with big-city amenities at one of the Farm-to-Fork lodging partners to truly complete your stay! Make plans to visit Ithaca later in the month to shop from local farmers at the Press Bay Alley Holiday Farmers Market on December 21st - or give the gift of an unforgettable learning experience with a breadmaking class at the renowned Wide Awake Bakery or a special Farmscape Yoga class! December 16th Hawk Meadows Mushroom Farm Holiday Open House Details ALL DECEMBER Local Fiber Pop-Up Shop inside SewGreen Details 2-Night Artisan Breadmaking Farm to Fork Package Details Want to see more of Ithaca? Download their travel guide! A small, portable guide full of must-see waterfalls, can't miss activities, and stories about Ithaca and Tompkins County. And check out more Ithaca Events here!
Dear EscapeMakers — Winter’s chill has finally made it to the Finger Lakes region, but Ithaca, NY is proud to offer a wealth of memorable food and farming-related events even in the colder months. Ithaca is never short on festivals, and winter is no exception – this year’s Ice Festival on December 9th will feature a Chowder Cook-off, and the weird and wonderful Rutabaga Curl at the Ithaca Farmers Market on December 16th is a