Ithaca is an Ivy League town, with the eccentric professors and overworked students of Cornell University calling East Hill home. For non-academics this means that there's no shortage of youthful energy (except during exam week), and one good place to enjoy it is the Collegetown district, a thriving stretch of bars, shops, and restaurants along College Ave., just outside of the Cornell campus.
The non-university-affiliated counterpart to Collegetown is The Commons, a pedestrian mall located at the intersection of 79 and Aurora, right in the heart of downtown. The Commons are full of unconventional stores and oddball characters, as well as coffee shops, cafes, and nightspots. Different times of the year will find The Commons offering summer concerts, art displays, live reindeer (the earthbound variety), and festivals for both apples and chili.
The best things to do in Ithaca are the little things, like exploring the farmer's market, or spending a day by the lake at Stewart Park. In fact, it's best to spend as much time by the lake as possible, which is why many visitors return year after year to rent lake-front cabins. Even if you opt out of the waterfront property, a good Bed & Breakfast will do just as well, just remember to skip your complimentary breakfast one morning and head to Ziffy's Diner on Lincoln Street for some greasy eggs and a heaping mound of home fries.
Most people who come to Ithaca are not looking to pack their days with sightseeing and tourism; they are looking for a relaxed environment to escape the grind of the real world. Hence the inspiration behind another bumper sticker: "Ithaca, NY: 10 Square Miles Surrounded By Reality." If you don't believe it take a ride to the top of South Hill as the sun is going down. The brilliant colors of dusk wane over the small little town and the boats on the lake making their way toward the docks. Just to the east of Cayuga the lights on Rt. 13 curve around to form the outline of what looks like a swan. It's a sight that is, truly, gorges.
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