All About Ithaca & Tompkins County
Ithaca (pop. 30,000), and Tompkins County (pop. 102,000) are located in the Central Finger Lakes Region of New York State at the southern tip of 40-mile-long Cayuga Lake.
Ithaca is 227 miles from NYC, 231 miles from Philadelphia, and 251 miles (408 km) from Toronto.
Ithaca is home to Ivy League Cornell University, Ithaca College, four New York State Parks (including Taughannock Falls State Park which boasts a New York waterfall with a higher vertical drop than Niagara Falls), and many art galleries, museums, theaters, and cultural attractions. Tompkins County abounds with outdoor activities to suit any enthusiast.
We Have Amazing Waterfalls
The local slogan, “Ithaca is Gorges” refers to the 100+ gorges and waterfalls located within 10 miles of downtown. The largest, 215-foot Taughannock Falls (pronounced Tuh-GAN-ick), is three stories taller than Niagara Falls. Along with the waterfalls, gorges and beautiful lakefront, the surrounding county offers access to 28,000 acres of public forestland for hiking, mountain biking, and outdoor recreation.
There are Lots of Things to Do in Ithaca
Popular activities include dining at local Ithaca restaurants, visiting museums and galleries, attending the theater, and enjoying the live (many free) musical attractions at the numerous music venues and events in the region. Our events page gives an excellent overview of the nature and variety of fun to be had, as does our attractions page.
