Hello All!
In my last post I gave a few suggestion for finding a good place to travel during this pandemic. Now, I’ll talk about my trip to Ithaca and the Finger lakes to give some perspective of what it’s like to travel during this time.
To start, we had been debating where to go for weeks. Our hope was to go to Arcadia National Park, but because of Maine’s rules during COVID 19, that wasn’t an option for a weeklong getaway. Then we changed our focus to the Finger Lakes, however the weather was looking bad during the time we wanted to visit. We had to resort to our last option: the beach. The beach provides a lot of fun outdoor options, but we wanted to hike, bike, and see something new. However, last minute, the weather changed in the Finger Lakes and we were able to organize our trip a few days before we intended to leave. Below is an itinerary loosely based on what we were able to do in Ithaca!
Ithaca, NY : 3 nights, 4 days
Day 1:
Arrive in Ithaca and drive around the city to sightsee. We stopped at the Fall Creek Gorge Suspension Bridge located next to Cornell’s campus *There are a lot of steps going down to the bridge. The opposite side has no steps leading to the bridge making it more accessible for others.
We then “checked” into the Inn on Columbia’s Maison Mango Residence, which was a cute historic house located a few blocks from Ithaca Commons. *We highly recommend this place as it comes with a kitchen and is modern inside. The kitchen was important to us as we weren’t sure whether we would feel comfortable eating out and needed a back up space to eat take out. In addition, breakfast is included in your stay so we arrived to find yogurt, granola, coffee, orange juice, and more in the refrigerator and the counter. Every night the keepers leave an array of muffins and scones by the door for the next mornings breakfast. The service and home was great in light of COVID 19 and the established protocols made our stay feel safe.
After we got settled in the house, we walked the few blocks (a fairly easy and short stroll) to Ithaca Commons. Ithaca Commons seemed like the hub of the tiny city and provided many opportunities for eating. After looking around, we decided to eat at Simeon’s. This place offered a nice selection of food and was located at the corner, near the Commons sign. *This was our first experience dining out during COVID, but there was a nice breeze between streets that night making it suitable for eating out. Our family chose to eat outside rather than inside, but ultimately it’s about your comfort level during this time. Still, regardless of whether your outside or inside, it is important to show respect to waiters and other staff by wearing a mask when they approach you just to make sure everyone’s comfort level is accounted for.
Day 2
The next morning we got up fairly early to go for a hike at Robert H. Treman State Park. *The innkeeper had told us about the hike the night before. He advised that we park at the top and walk down, then turn back around whenever we were done. However, when we got on the trail there were two trails leading up and down. They were assigned to limit the number of people passing on a certain trail. Unfortunately, we later found out that there was only one point, a bridge that was a little further than Lucifer Falls that connected to the other trail. Let’s just say it wasn’t as quick 2 miles down and 2 miles back up. The terrain is steep and very hilly so the 4 miles felt more like 10. It lasted us a day, but the hike was well worth it. The waterfalls are stunning and the paths are amazing. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes though because the trail is steep at times. You are not allowed to swim at the falls ( people do it anyway), but at the bottom, there is a designated area for swimming with a lifeguard and diving board! There are also vending machines with cold drinks at the bottom making a nice halfway snack! I definitely recommend this hike (my favorite during this trip) as it was absolutely gorgeous. My only things is to make sure you plan enough time to complete it!
For dinner, we decided to try takeout. We agreed on a ramen restaurant called Maru Ramen. It was very good and it helped that we had a kitchen to eat it in!
Day 3
Today we decided to take a short bike ride, starting at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market to the Allen H. Treman Marina. *The path was located next to the water and the marina was absolutely beautiful. They have a big nest in the middle of a field next to the water, which are home to some Osprey!
On our bike ride we passed by a food truck which sold Mediterranean food. I don’t remember the name, but it had outdoor picnic tables and the food was delicious. You’ll pass right by it on the bike path so keep an eye out!
After our bike ride we stopped by another waterfall called Ithaca Falls. It was a short walk from the street and was equally beautiful as Lucifer Falls, though not quite as big.
The next stop was Cornell’s Botanical Gardens which was not open, but is entirely outside side and free to the public. It was a pretty stroll with many picture opportunities.
For dinner, we ate at a restaurant called Mixed. *It was absolutely delicious and my whole family highly recommends it. They serve a bunch of “small plates” ( for lighter fare, one is definitely enough) and offer a set menu. The chef and owner is from Thailand so some of the food has Thai influences it in, but there are choices for everyone. This was my favorite restaurant by far and highly recommend on Trip Advisor!
Day 4
We had to leave the house by 11, so we decided to have lunch out. We decided to eat at the famous Moosewood Restaurant, which opened at 12. *We have two cookbooks from them, so we had been wanting to go for some time. The outdoor seating was spacious and the menu offered some interesting choices. Overall, the food was delicious and I highly recommend for vegetarians and non vegetarians alike!
Our last stop before leaving was Taughannock Falls State Park. *The trail to it was .75 miles but you can also walk on the rocks leading up the falls. There is also a trail that going around the top of the falls that sounded promising, but we didn’t have time. The waterfall was as pretty as the others and definitely worth it.
Overall our trip turned out to be a success. We felt that we were able to make the most of our time in Ithaca. The itinerary filled our days along with giving us plenty of rest time at the house. The key is to choose a place with plenty of outdoor activities and I one hundred percent recommend this trip to everyone who loves the outdoors.
Feel free to share your past plans and where you traveled during this time below, in the comments! I wish you all the best with planning!
Safe Travels,
Ella
The Traveling Wanderer 