4 Great Reasons to Move to Ithaca, NY
Ithaca, NY is best known for its connection with Cornell University. Aside from that connection, it is a typical small to mid-sized upstate New York city with a large student population (relative to permanent residents.) It also has a reputation for being politically liberal – though as a former resident I wonder if that reputation is really merited.
In short, the 4 great reasons to move to Ithaca, NY are its beautiful natural setting, diverse food offerings, unique culture, and its educational institutions.
So if you’re an aspiring college student please get off campus, come down the hill, eat out, and plug yourself into the community. And if you’re planning to raise a family, take a look at all of the schools and local culture we have.
We will welcome you open-armed!
I’m lucky to call Ithaca home. I’ve spent ten years of my adult life there and I miss living away from it now.
Nature
Waterfalls – “Ithaca’s Gorges” we say, and it’s printed on all the t-shirts as well. But truly, this is something that I love about Ithaca. There aren’t too many places where it’s possible to take a short walk on your lunch break and eat next to a beautiful waterfall.
There are more waterfalls in the area than I could ever hope to name. But some of the most known are Ithaca Falls, Buttermilk, and Taughannock (actually in Trumansburg.) The city has put together a site showcasing some of the best here.
The Hills – West Hill, South Hill, East Hill – all have their individual character. But what they have in common is they are good for building powerful thighs! Cornell students walking up East Hill every morning will soon discover what I mean.
You’ll notice in the first few weeks after arriving, and then you’ll forget out about it. Then, you’ll see the hills in a new light when your family comes to visit and you steam-roll them in the ascent.
Autumn – Perhaps tree colors are no better than in other parts of the Northeast, but with all of the hills and gorges you’ll be able to see more trees at once, thus making the views that much more impressive.
Cayuga Lake – The second largest of the Fingerlakes finds Ithaca just at its southern tip. You can access the lake from Stewart Park, East Shore Drive, Cass Park, or from Taughannock Park in Trumansburg.
Frustratingly there aren’t many legal swimming locations, though East Shore Drive is a possibility even if swimming isn’t strictly allowed. In any case, Cayuga is lovely to look at, and there are several organisations that take advantage of it. See the Cascadilla Boat Club, Cornell Community Sailing, and the Ithaca Dragon Boat Club meetup if you’re interested.
Emerald Necklace – The Finger Lakes Land Trust has taken it upon itself to create what they call the “Emerald Necklace” around Ithaca. In their words “The Emerald Necklace is a proposed greenbelt that will ultimately link 50,000 acres of existing public open space that extends in an arc around Ithaca…” They focus on preserving pristine landscapes and agricultural areas, educating people about the environment, increasing the ease of access to these sites (hiking trails,) and protecting water quality.
Food and Drink
Diverse Food Options – Thanks to the diverse ethnicities of students who are attracted to Cornell, a number of different ethnic restaurants have sprung up. You can find Indian, Thai, Chinese, Ethiopian, Greek, French, Mexican, Japanese, and Korean restaurants. As well as all of the newest, popular chains with American fare. Ithaca is also home to a nationally influential vegetarian restaurant; The Moosewood.
Ithaca Milk – There are a lot of dairy farmers in upstate NY, allowing Ithaca Milk to flourish. They bottle some of the most delicious milks and yogurts I’ve ever drunk/eaten. If dairy is your thing, their products deserve a place in your shopping cart.
Ithaca Hummus – Ithaca Hummus is another hometown darling. They make wonderful hummus and I invite you to give it a try.
Coffee – Gimme! Coffee, Ithaca Coffee Company, are the major players in local coffee. They operate cafes and sell their coffee wholesale throughout the area. Gimme! Coffee has even received awards for its roasting prowess. If cafe culture is your thing, Ithaca is far from lacking.
Beer – Ithaca Beer Company is our most well-known brewer and for good reason. They source their ingredients locally and distribute their beer along the east coast. Their best-known beer is the Flower Power and it is righteous.
Wine – I’m not sure if many wines are produced in downtown Ithaca, but the Fingerlakes Region is New York’s version of Napa Valley. It is climbing in the rankings year after year, and in another twenty years will be quite well-known. Here is the official Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association site with much more information.
Greenstar – Greenstar is a grocery store organized as a co-op. That means they are not primarily profit-driven. They feature local foods, pay good wages, and pass savings along to member-owners.
I have memories of this store as a child. The smell of spices and exotic foods mark it as a different kind of grocery store – especially to a child’s sensitive nose.
Nowadays I find it’s a great place to run into friends. Greenstar, along with the Moosewoods Restaurant, are both responsible for furnishing Ithaca with its liberal image.
Farmer’s Market – Yes, farmer’s markets used to be everywhere, and they are now seeing a come-back in America. But the Ithaca Farmer’s Market is truly something special. If you can find a space to park, you’ll find everything you could ask for to start your weekend right. There’s a place for kids to play, products from local farms, delicious foods to order, and Artisinal goods. The Farmer’s Market has everything you could ask for.
Local Culture
Music – Ithaca has a strong musical tradition. Maybe, it’s because Ithaca College’s School of Music has brought many people with musical talent to the area and they stayed and raised musically bent families. No matter the reason why, music is an important aspect of the local culture.
- Grassroots – Just a few miles from Ithaca (in Trumansburg) on the third weekend of July, you can find the Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance. Think Woodstock but on a much smaller scale, with plenty of food, no human waste problems, and reasonably family-friendly. It has been so successful it has branched off into a sister festival in the Shakori Hills of North Carolina.
- Porchfest – Porchfest is a festival where neighbors are welcome to watch and listen to bands and performers as they play on the porches of houses in the Fallcreek and Northside neighborhoods. This is a great way to run into friends and neighbors and discover new bands.
- Summer Concert Series – These are free concerts hosted on the Commons throughout the Summer. After a long day of work, it is very nice to relax into the evening with a bit of music and dancing. For more information, see here.
- Ithaca Festival is another event to look forward to. It’s celebrated just after the college students leave in the summer, and it is begun with an enormous parade with many local organisations, businesses, and clubs taking part. In recent years the parade has featured chainsaw jugglers, the Volvo ballet, and the golden retriever rescue group. To me personally, these are the coolest groups. But it is always a pleasure to see the pride Ithacans have in their community. More information can be found here.
Buddhism – On South Hill, you can find the Namgyal Monastery, not far past Ithaca College on Route 96B. Ithaca has the honor of being the North American Seat of the Dalai Lama and it is here where Buddhism is taught and studied.
Kava – Kava is a drink made from the root of a particular plant found in the South Pacific. It has a bitter taste so is often mixed with other flavors to make it easier to drink. It has mild socializing and anti-anxiety effects and should not be consumed alongside alcohol.
There used to be two Kava bars near the Commons. Now there’s just one, but that’s one more than most upstate towns can boast. If you’re looking to go out and want an alternative to all of the alcohol-centric establishments, try out Sacred Root. You’ll be chumming away with those beside you in no time.
Tompkins County Worker’s Center – This is a local center to help folks who are having a hard time at work. Did you know that wage theft represents a larger problem, in dollar terms, than other forms of theft? Well, this is what the Worker’s Center is there to put an end to. They also help organise workers into unions, help immigrants, and offer connections to legal counsel for all manner of other workplace problems.
The Worker’s Center is also responsible for conducting the Tompkins County Living Wage Survey. This creates a baseline that they can then use to certify local employers who ensure their employees a wage sufficiently elevated to live with dignity in the area.
The list above is not exhaustive. It just highlights a few elements of local culture that are worth mentioning in detail. But there are many other aspects of our culture too. There is the ice sculpting contest in the winter, the Apple Harvest Festival, numerous book stores, bars, and a great local library.
Education
Cornell – A member of the Ivy League, Cornell was founded in 1865. It is a land-grant university and is particularly well known for its Agriculture Sciences College. It also has deep roots in China, which is why many of the undergraduates come from there.
In recent years, Cornell has partnered with Technion University of Israel to construct the Weill College of Medicine in New York City. Cornell’s landlocked position, hours from the major East-Coast cities, leaves it at a competetive disadvantage compared to other top tier universities like Harvard, NYU, and Princeton. I think Cornell’s expansion into NYC was taken with this in mind.
Ithaca College – A private college on South Hill as opposed to Cornell’s East Hill. It has very good Music and Media (advertising and film) programs. Ithaca College has a smaller student body compared to Cornell so it doesn’t make as big an impression on the local community. Still, I’m grateful that the college has brought many wonderful people into the area.
Alternative Schools – For the not-quite college-aged student, Ithaca is bursting with alternative schools if public education isn’t your thing. There’s a Montessori school, New Roots, Cascadilla, and Lehman Alternative.
I hope I’ve painted Ithaca in a good light. If you think there’s something missing from this list please add a comment below.