Weekends Are Great for Experiencing All Our Region Has to Offer

With the first weekend of the academic year – and a long weekend, at that – now seems like a good time to share some of the things to do in our area. 

Like to get outdoors? You’re in luck! The Dryden Rail Trail runs several miles, including a picturesque stretch along Dryden Lake that is a great place to see a variety of turtles and birds, including Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons. There are several access points to the trail, which is popular for walking, jogging, and biking. Dryden Lake Park is a nice place to picnic either before or after you start your walk (and it’s free). 

The Dryden Rail Trail is as flat as can be – if you like a little more incline in your hiking, check out one of the many New York State Parks in the area. Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca and Fillmore Glen in Moravia offer some of the best trails in the area, although you can’t go wrong with Taughannock Falls, Robert Treman, or really any of them!)

What if you think hiking is too slow? Greek Peak Mountain Resort has something to offer all year. Just 15 minutes from campus, you can go skiing, snowboarding, sledding in the winter, mountain biking and hiking in the summer, and take on an outdoor adventure center that includes ziplines and a mountain coaster all year long. An indoor water park is open year-round, too.

If you like the classics, head just up the road to Cortland. Max out your fun on a course: Cortland Mini Golf next to A&W Restaurant and Shipwreck Amusement Center, home to the world’s longest mini-golf hole (plus Shipwreck has an indoor course for when the weather doesn’t cooperate). Or rent some shoes and knock them all down at two local bowling alleys: Cort-Lanes and 281 Bowling.

Into live music and theatre? Homer Center of the Arts and State Theatre are the place to go locally to see touring music acts, while the Cortland Rep and Ithaca’s Hangar Theatre bring fantastic shows to our neighborhoods.

If you like coffee, the area has some great local options. The Corner Brew is the perfect place to sit and relax in the heart of Dryden – if you head to Cortland Coffee Mania is a favorite while Ithaca has a soft spot for Gimme! Coffee.

The Ithaca Farmers Market is an experience unlike anything else in the area. Ithaca is a unique place, and for more than 50 years, people from all over the region have been coming to the Market to experience a little bit of Ithaca.

Located in the heart of downtown Ithaca, The Commons is a four-block pedestrian shopping area jam-packed with more than 100 independently owned and operated shops and boutiques, gift shops, restaurants, art galleries, street vendors, and entertainers.

This is just a sampling of things to do. Need more ideas? Visit the local experts online at Experience Cortland County and Visit Ithaca NY.