Finally made a trip here!!! Kids spring break. Perfect rainy day escape for an energy burn for…read morecurious minds. Our MOST membership got us in free (saved about $60) Free parking on site You can bring a cooler and eat in Community area (tables and plenty of seating) Great outdoor space for kids to run around Area for water play, Lego building and a cool weather and tornado section Reptiles/snakes/fish section & even got to meet a reptile which was a bonus!

We took our kids (3 years old and 11 months) to check this place out. What a find!…read more There's a lot of really cool science concepts that they definitely don't understand yet, but they still had so much fun exploring. We spent hours here! There is a section specifically for little, which they loved! The water table and the pet/vet section especially. In the "big kid" sections our 3 year old loved seeing all the fish and lizards, the little penny black hole and the vacuum tubes with the Pom-poms. Even the outdoor area was a blast! So many cute and clever ways for kids to learn and play. We had the hardest time getting him to leave. I ended up convincing him we could get a stuffy at their gift shop to take with us. Never thought I'd buy a stuffed white blood cell, but here we are! Again, super cool! Lastly, the staff was all so pleasant and nice, which is always extra appreciated in a kid-centered place.

Came here with two other people and we all really enjoyed it! There was a lot to see in the museum…read moreand it was really informative about a variety of science topics. It was interesting for adults and children, and there were many families the day we came. Although there was a lot of reading, there were several interactive displays too.

I struggled with rating this museum because I am torn about my feelings towards it…read more On one hand, their specimens are absolutely jaw dropping if you're into fossils or geologic history. On the other hand, it's the size of a post stamp. It is a beautiful building and all the exhibits have impeccable designing, but don't expect this experience to take more than an hour at most. I stopped to read every single placard and it took me roughly forty five minutes to get through everything. I can see this place being understimulating for the average kid, but at least my kid loved it because he loves fossils and sea shells. I am very appreciative of the work they do here to keep history alive, I just wish there was a bit more to it.

Tompkins Center for History and Culture is located in Bank Alley just off the Ithaca Commons…read more Previously the Tompkins Trust building, the architectural character of the Palladian windows, Ionic and Corinthian pilasters, and elaborate brackets under the roof are a perfect home for the diverse history of Tompkins County. The atrium exhibit tower, honoring the Indigenous People exhibit, welcomes all who enter the space. As one walks into the center itself, five towers house exhibits related to PLACE: People, Land, Architecture, Culture and Enterprise. Utilizing the bank's footprint, one can enter the Howe/Nobles Story Vault. Inside, one may choose to record one's own story or watch recorded stories of others who call(ed) Tompkins County home. Tucked just above the main floor is the Cornell Local History Research Library where one may research family histories or just dive into the past through print materials. The old safe (Passage Through Time) houses a walking timeline of local history. A first time visitor will find herself quietly tumbling through the early days of Ithaca, with rich details and artifacts carefully knitting together a rich tapestry that are the towns of Tompkins County. As she exits this air-conditioned gem, she will remark to the staff that the next visit will need to be longer. And she'll bring her family. And then, she'll bring by her friends.

I attended an excellent local prohibition guided walking tour offered by the History Center in July…read more2022. The tour was fun. Our tour guide Ben was dynamic and knowledgeable; he tailored the tour to the participants' interests and stayed longer to answer questions. Learned a lot!

Great day at a fun fair. Fun to taste apples from a variety of local farmers. I also loved the free…read moresamples of cider. It was crowded, but not too crowded and other vendors if you got tired of the apples, but who gets tired of apples. Fun memorable date or outing for kids. Free to get in and very reasonably priced items. Parking close can be challenging if you get there later in day.

Awesome! Usually held the first weekend in October. Living up to its motto, "Tempting to the Core,"…read morethis festival attracts over 30,000 people and features performers, entertainment, farmers, wineries, bakeries, crafters, food vendors, an apple pie eating competition, music, dancing, eating, food from local restaurants, education, a Ferris wheel, giant slide, Iron Chef event, crafts, and APPLES. The Festival also tries to be environmentally friendly, as it uses compostable utensils and paper plate. A local favorite is the kettle corn. I'm a fan of the candied apples. Om nom! Lots of fun, definitely come enjoy the celebration if you're in Ithaca around this time!

I loved learning about all of the local history. They had a lot of Stop from the shoshani indians…read morewhich were from the Watkins Glen Montour falls area. Lots of old farm equipment, Dolls, Children's toys, Clothing quilts, Things from the war. All kinds of things from history from the area. Things from the railroad the salt plant. Lots of information on seneca lake the local Wineries to visit definitely worth checking out.

I've been to quite a few university art galleries, and while I have no partiality to Cornell, this…read morewas an impressive one. The building itself is brutalist and didn't inspire a ton of confidence in what lies inside. I was also not thrilled at the limited parking; I found a university visitor center just up the road had parking. And the structure is rather odd in that there is a tower, but also an adjacent annex building that doesn't have much in it, but which you can (and I did) enter through, to a belowground space. The main tower houses a couple of floors of exhibitions, then a couple of floors of offices that aren't open to the public, then a higher level with exhibitions and views of the campus. The top level is apparently an event space that is not normally open for visitation. It is an interesting arrangement. The results were aesthetically impressive. The collection spanned global history, but my visit was also greeted by a photography series of a road trip spanning the East Coast. This resonated for me as a frequent traveler up and down this part of the country, and while my Yelp reviews and accompanying pictures probably don't have the artistic merit to find themselves in this museum, I saw plenty in common with my experiences. There was plenty else to ponder, however, and even on a rainy day, there was enough visibility to make ascending to the top floor well worth it. There is no charge to enter and you don't have to have any university affiliation either, which is true for most, but not all university galleries. This one is well worth the stop.

The Herbert F Johnson Museum of Art on the campus of Cornell University is a great attraction to…read morespend a few hours while in Ithaca. Admission is always free, but you do have to pay for parking on weekdays. The building itself is designed by IM Pei and is meant to let visitors experience art and also view the natural surroundings, as there's several floors from which you can get great views of Cayuga Lake and the Cornell University campus. While it doesn't compare to world class art museums, it's perfect for a college/university art museum with a diverse collection of paintings and ancient artifacts. The lobby is a wonderful gathering place with plenty of space to sit and open windows to admire the views. It's the perfect way to kill some time, so recommend a visit to art lovers visiting Cornell University or those needing a rainy day activity while visiting Ithaca.

Amazing!!! Very good workers there, good food, and slushies! Definitely go if you are at the park…read moreand need something to munch on.

This place makes me mad! The last 3 times we've been here , we've timed our walk to get an ice…read morecream. They are open until 5, but never keep their word!! Today the worker was outside. It was 4:47. There were 2 sets of people wanting food. I asked what time he closed and he said 5 but sometimes earlier. I said it wasn't 5 and he had customers. He said he doesn't pay attention to the time when he's busy. I'd fire him immediately if he's not following the rules or paying attention to time when he's at work. It robs from our experience at a park we love! Not very happy!!!

Great museum housed in an historic 2 story Montour Falls building. You'll find all kinds of…read moreinteresting Schuyler County and Finger Lakes history here!