Things To Do

The Ithaca Commons

A large, open-air pedestrian mall that makes up the heart of Ithaca's very walkable downtown! There are stores, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops a-plenty. We highly recommend Collegetown Bagels for coffee, pastries and sandwiches; Viva Taqueria for margaritas and texmex; Taste of Thai and their "express" location off the Commons; Red's Place for burgers and local beer; and Moosewood for world-class vegetarian/vegan cuisine. Also just off the Commons, Bar Argos and its speakeasy next-door (Argos Warehouse) have incredible ambiance and craft cocktails featuring local liquors. The Ithaca Commons also features the START of the "Sagan Planet Walk", a self-guided to-scale model of the Solar System that starts in the Commons, and features stops w/ information and audio descriptions of the various planets.

Ithaca Farmers Market

One of the GOAT Farmer's Markets in the US, continuously open since 1973. They offer a huge variety of prepared foods, fresh produce, honey, wine, hard and soft cider, and other local goods including woodwork, art, ceramics, and more! Tory and Matthew have made many, many trips to this weekend farmer's market, both separately and as a couple. A trip down is a classic weekend morning activity, and definitely not to be missed!

Mulholland Wildflower Preserve

Tory and Matthew had their third date here, with a backpack picnic where both joked about how the other was clearly planning to steal their organs. On the way back, with the light fading fast, Tory led a gaggle of young, likely intoxicated youths out of the park and back to the parking lot! Expect a lovely hike through the woods, along with several swimming holes popular with locals and IC/Cornell students alike. There's some manmade dams that adventurous locals also frequently dive off of. The trails start out flat, are generally well-marked, but do have some steep segments further in, so wear good shoes!

Robert H. Treman State Park

A short drive South out of Ithaca, Treman is quite possibly Matthew's single favorite state park in the Ithaca area. Like Buttermilk Falls, it features a lovely public swimming area staffed w/ lifeguards, and also ample hiking trails that lead to some truly breathtaking waterfall vistas. Matthew and Victoria have taken many hikes up and down Treman's trails, and for the adventurous it can easily provide a full day of hiking and swimming activities! They also offer campsites and cabins for rent.

Buttermilk Falls State Park

A beautiful state park w/ a public swimming area staffed w/ a lifeguard. A great place for a hike or swim, beloved by locals and tourists alike.

Cornell Botanic Gardens

Matthew's love for Cornell's botanical gardens, plantations, and farms began early in his undergraduate. As a Teaching Assistant, Matthew led students on nature walks through them, to practice plant and fungus identification, and for ecology discussions. He shared them with Tory on a number of walks, picnics, and even a handful of 5k runs when they started dating.

Purity Ice Cream Co.

After our third date in Mulholland Wildflower Preserve, we got ice cream here. Another classic Ithaca spot (since 1936) for ice cream, sundaes, and milkshakes!

Wine Tours

Kitchen Theatre Company

A small (~99 seat) theater-in-the-round that Tory and Matthew both frequented before and after they began dating! They memorably saw a rather provocative "Venus in Fur" production there in their first year together, Matthew's first exposure to Marquis de Sade.

Sciencenter

Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm, Matthew has been visiting this museum on trips to Ithaca since childhood. A wonderful, interactive museum with tons of quality programming, as well as a full mini-golf course as well! For anyone with kids, or for any kids-at-heart, this museum is sure to provide a great time, and likely some fun new science facts!.

Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art

Located right on Cornell's Arts Quad, this museum designed by IM Pei hosts an impressive international collection of art with rotating exhibitions changing the contents of the museum. Permanent exhibits include works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Edgar Degas, and Henri Matisse. Also noteworthy: the fifth floor of the museum has arguably the best views in all of Ithaca.

Museum of the Earth

Located on the West side of Cayuga Lake, the MOTE is a fantastic natural history museum covering Earth's history from 4.5bya to the present day.