Health and Wellness

Ithaca Weather

Ithaca has a temperate climate  with four seasons. Summers are warm with an average high of 80°F (27°C). Winters are cold with an average high of 31°F (-1°C)  and lows that can dip to below 0°F (-18°C). Rain is common in the spring and fall.

You will definitely need a warm coat and snow boots in the winter, and you’ll want to dress in many layers to stay warmer. If you are from a warm climate, it’s best to buy your winter clothing in Ithaca or from shops or online sites that specialize in cold-weather clothing. Stores in warmer places often don’t carry clothing that is warm enough for our winters.

Transportation

TCAT Bus

Ride the local bus to and from campus, with service throughout Ithaca and other parts of Tompkins County. Convenient phone apps help you plan your trip.

Campus-to-Campus Bus

Take this express bus service between Cornell’s New York City and Ithaca campuses.

Own a Car

If you own your own car or would like to, learn what you’ll need to do to fulfill New York State requirements for registration, insurance, and driver’s license.

English Language and Culture

Libraries

Local Media

Hiking and Outdoor Recreation

Performing Arts

Movie Theaters

Festivals

Ithaca  and the Finger Lakes celebrate festivals of all kinds. In Ithaca, the festivals start in February with the Chili Cook-Off. The Ithaca Festival in June is the town’s biggest festival, with a parade and three days of events and street markets. The Apple Harvest Festival in October and the Ithaca Ice Festival in December round out the year.

Live Music

The Finger Lakes region offers great live music, including bluegrass, rock and roll, reggae, and more at the nationally famous Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg. You can hear world-class opera at the Glimmerglass Festival in nearby Cooperstown.

Local Produce and Food

Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region have an abundance of farms and cottage industries that offer local produce and food products. Many people join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to receive fresh produce, meat, and other products weekly from local farmers during the growing season.

Wineries, Breweries, Cideries, and Distilleries

The Finger Lakes are unique for their viticulture microclimates, mild areas around the lakes that allow growers to cultivate grapes and other fruit. More than 130 wineries dot the region, along with cideries, microbreweries for small-batch beer, and distilleries for a variety of spirits. Many have tasting rooms.

Restaurants

When it comes to food, Ithaca has something for everyone. Our town is known for its numerous restaurants, many featuring locally produced food and spirits. Collegetown and the Commons have many popular eateries, including an array of international and ethnic options. You will find vegetarian and vegan items on most menus, as well as humanely raised meat. Here are a few popular local restaurants you might enjoy.

Moosewood Restaurant

A nationally famous vegetarian restaurant, which opened in 1973 and is still collectively owned.

Ithaca Beer Company

A microbrewery that also offers hamburgers and simple food made from local produce and meat.

Coltivare

A farm-to-bistro restaurant specializing in locally produced food and run by the Tompkins-Cortland Community College food program.

Mia Tapas Bar & Restaurant

Asian-inspired cuisine focused on local produce and sustainably harvested seafood.

Maxi’s Supper Club

Cajun cuisine and raw oyster bar with an emphasis on fish.

State Diner

Since 1936, serving classic American diner food as well as authentic Greek and Italian dishes.

Grocery Stores

Shopping

Furniture and Housewares

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