Buttermilk Falls is one of our favorite hiking spots in Ithaca. It also has an area out front where you can sit at picnic tables, enjoy a snack, and take a look at the gorgeous waterfalls! (You don't need to hike or walk very far to get there.)
If you're going to be in Ithaca for a few days and need a breakfast recommendation, this is where we usually got breakfast when we lived in Ithaca. Not to mention, this is where our cake will come from! (P.S. Max recommends the roundhouse breakfast sandwich, and Courtney recommends the rosemary salt bagels.) There are many locations in Ithaca. This one on Triphammer is one of our faves, since there is lots of parking available here, and it just has a nice mellow vibe to it. Don't forget to check out all the local art that is displayed on the walls here!
If you're coming from out of town for the wedding, and have some time to spare on the day after, swing by the Ithaca Farmers Market, which is open on Sundays this time of year! It's one of the things we miss the most since we moved to Boston this year. There are amazing local finds, from fresh-picked carrots to delicious raw honey. And there is also lots of delicious food! (We love the samosas you can get there.) There is usually live music, and of course, it gives you a gorgeous view of the lake!
If you're in the mood to check out the delicious wines that the Finger Lakes are so famous for, then why not check out Six Mile Creek Vineyards? There's even some delicious local cheese to try with your flight of wine, so don't miss it!
Cass Park is the local seasonal rink in Ithaca, and it may just be open by the time of the wedding! If it is, then consider enjoying some ice time there! They even have skates and helmets you can rent. It is very inexpensive, even for non-residents. (P.S. This is definitely where Courtney caught the figure skating bug, so check it out!)
This is our favorite U-pick farm in Ithaca. Depending on how their season goes, they may still have apples to pick this time of year. And if they do-- you should totally give it a try! There's no apple like an apple grown in upstate New York.