Written by Mandy Kain and Radhika Arora
It’s no secret that Ithaca is not an urban environment. Those used to large cities may find Ithaca’s activities to be limited. However, the town is actually quite dynamic, with beautiful outdoor scenery allowing for fun recreational activities, local festivals, lots of restaurants/shops, and a vibrant activist community.
The Cornell campus itself is teeming with activities, as is Collegetown, adjacent to the campus—you never have to leave Cornell to find something to do, but there’s plenty of activity in Ithaca if you look for it. Activities range from athletic, like salsa-dancing, to academic, like any one of the many distinguished speakers who lecture on campus. For those who crave an urban setting, New York City, Philadelphia, and Montreal are all within reasonable driving distance. It’s no secret, though, that Ithaca’s weather, like much of the Northeast, is often gray, cold, and dreary. Still, the campus’s beauty is unparalleled in the spring and summer.