A trip to Ithaca never seems long enough! There are so many interesting places to visit, it can be hard for travelers to know where to begin. To help, eight top local sites have organized The Discovery Trail, a compilation of tour options so tourists can take full advantage of the area. The sites range from history to nature, science to art, and provide a delightful journey into the great charms of our region. Plan to stay several days with us at the Inn at Gothic Eves. That way you can head out after breakfast and be able to take in a different tour each day.
To get started, check out the Discovery Trail website and download the tour that best suits your interest. There are six suggested itineraries: History Buff, Ivy League Experience, Outdoor Enthusiasts, Outdoor Winter’s Day, Family Fun and On Cayuga’s Waters. Take one or two and you’ll be able to sample all seven of the participating locations.
Outdoor Winter’s Day tour is tailor-made for this season with ice skating at Cass Park or cross-country skiing at the Cayuga Nature Center, where you can also visit their live animals in their outdoor environment. Side trips take in the falls at Taughannock Falls State Park and a visit to the Village of Trumansburg.
History Buffs will enjoy the same-named tour, which visits Ithaca Bakery, a local favorite since the 1950’s. At The History Center in Tompkins County, you can enjoy exhibitions and artifacts, including a shop from the 1980’s. Also included is a stop by the Tomkins County Public Library and Cornell Plantations, where a walk through the Botanical Gardens and Arboretum make even a dreary winter day seem delightful.
Parents, would-be students and scholarly types will enjoy the Ivy League Experience which explores the Cornell University campus, including the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell Lab of Orinthology and Cornell Plantations.
Not listed here, but also on the Discovery Trail are the Museum of the Earth at PRI, a Paleontological Research Institution where you can explore earth’s prehistoric past, and the always-fun Sciencecenter, a great stop if you have children in tow.
Give us a call at the Inn at Gothic Eves and we’ll be happy to help you with your stay.
