Local Attractions

Ithaca is Gorges

Ithaca is Gorges is seen on bumper stickers everywhere in Ithaca. Indeed, the dramatic gorges and waterfalls carving their way through the city to Cayuga Lake make Ithaca an unusually beautiful place. State and municipal parks, marinas, and bicycle and walking paths provide access for hiking, boating, birding, fishing, skiing, photography or just sitting.

Ithaca has received national recognition as an exceptional place to live. Such distinctions as America’s Most Enlightened City and being named 4th in a list of 500 in Life in America’s Small Cities have made Ithaca a well-known destination. Kendal at Ithaca residents enjoy all that the area offers. https://www.liveinithaca.org/ provides a wealth of information about the Ithaca community.

Places to Visit

Strolling Ithaca’s downtown is a pleasure. It has been made into Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian mall, lined with galleries, shops, offices, theaters and a variety of restaurants. Book lovers come from great distances to attend the annual fall Friends of the Library Book Sale, one of the largest and best known in the country. The Sciencenter, the only community-built science museum in the world, and the new Museum of the Earth attract children and adults to their programs and exhibits. For those who thrive on the performing arts, several live theater companies make Ithaca their home, as do art film theaters. The Community School of Music and Arts offers instruction for all ages.

Lakeside Recreation

Ithaca is on Cayuga Lake, the longest of the 11 Finger Lakes. Boating, swimming, and hiking abound in the warm months, with skiing, skating and ice fishing enjoyed in the winter.

Farm to Fork (or Mouth)

Throughout the Finger Lakes area, estate wineries offer tours and tastings, and several house fine restaurants. Likewise, many Kendal at Ithaca residents love to explore the region’s burgeoning scene of breweries and cideries. On the shore of Cayuga Lake, the Ithaca Farmers’ Market draws thousands each weekend for bountiful, locally grown produce, cheeses and other treats.

Campus Connections

Cornell University and Ithaca College further add to the stimulating ambience of Ithaca. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a world-renowned avian research facility with an observatory and walking trails open to the public. The Plantations, the Cornell arboretum and horticultural research center, has hundreds of acres of gardens, ponds, trails, and programs available for the public’s enjoyment.  Concerts, drama, and lecture series at both institutions bring world-class events to Ithaca. And residents love to root for local athletes, with Cornell part of the Ivy League.