Ithaca

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Ithaca Farmer's Market

More Photos
n2dwoods
n2dwoods
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
2
Reviews
3
Photos
Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-2 of 2
Editor Pick

Ithaca Commons

  • September 6, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by dimmzy from Rochester, New York
Ithaca Commons

Ithaca Commons is a name given to the thriving downtown pedestrian mall that is covered like a Monopoly board with shops, restaurants, a mini-playground and people to watch.

Covering two blocks, this tree-covered area is the heart of the city of Ithaca and appears to have been lifted from Greenwich Village. Where else are you going to find a downtown with virtually no chain stores or chain restaurants? This downtown features not one, but two local bookstores, cuisine from no fewer than 10 countries and dozens of shops from a hemp clothing store to American crafts shop and a bike shop.

What's really nice is that if you have a non-shopper in your group, you can park him or her on one of the park benches and go your merry way. Ithaca is one of the best cities in the country for people-watching: its crazy-quilt collection of people represents snooty colleges (Cornell), local farmers (everybody outside of Ithaca), hippies (Cornell grads) and the growing population of vintners who have discovered the incredible grape-growing possibilities of New York's Finger Lakes. A mini-playground at the heart of The Commons offers a place for the kids to get out of their buggies and burn off energy between shopping expeditions.

Since it's a pedestrian mall, parking along the edge streets (Cayuga, Aurora, Green and Seneca) is at a premium. If you find a spot, prepare to feed coins: 2 hours will cost about $2.50. Downtown parking garages are your best bet. Leave your car and enjoy the scenery!

From journal Ithaca: Adventures in a

Ithaca Farmer's Market

  • June 20, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by n2dwoods from Plainsboro, New Jersey
Ithaca Farmer's Market

If you are in Ithaca on a weekend between April and December, you have to go to the Farmer's Market. Honestly, I think if you're there on a Saturday, you will run into every Ithacan stocking up on produce, or just being social and hanging out.

Now, this isn't just a produce market. Yes, you can get freshly grown organic fruits and vegetables, but there are also vendors selling wine from the local wineries (with tastings of course), local craftspeople selling jewelry, pottery, and housewares, bakers offering tasty treats, and people who make their own soaps and beauty products. There are also quite a few purveyors of hot foods, ranging from Indian samosas to burritos, smoothies, Laotian delicacies, Belgian waffles, and sushi. One popular activity is to stay for lunch and eat out on the pier.

Probably the best thing to do besides eating is just people-watching. Everyone will pass through, and Ithaca has some interesting people! You've got your aging hippies, college students, heavily tattooed folks, families, you name it!

The hours are as follows: 9AM-3PM Saturdays from April to October
10AM-3PM Saturdays November and December
10AM-3PM Sundays May through October
4PM-7PM Thursdays June through August

From journal What to do for 5 Hours or 5 Years in Ithaca

Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-2 of 2

Compare Ithaca Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Ithaca Travel Deals