Finger Lakes/Ithaca NY

I'm planning a day trip from NJ up to the Finger Lakes area and am thinking of

the Ithaca area as it's reasonably close and allegedly scenic (yeah, I know

it's not the optimal time of year for this region). Can anyone recommend a spot

for water/gorge/nature shots?

 

Thanks much,

EO

Several great waterfalls right in Ithica, others close by. You can pick up a brochure describing them all, also do a web search for Ithica waterfalls.

Assuming the weather has been cold enough for the waterfalls to begin to freeze, you should be able to take some really neat shots. Some of my favorite places are:

 

1) Ithaca Falls - about a block or so from Ithaca High School

2) Taughanock Falls - about 5 to 7 miles north of town on Route 89 (west side of Cayuga Lake, in Taughanock Falls State Park)

3) Triphammer Falls - Cornell University Campus

4) A hike up Cascadilla Gorge from downtown Ithaca up to Cornell's southern entrance

5) Buttermilk Falls State Park - waterfalls and gorges - just south of Ithaca on Route 13

6) Treman State Park - waterfalls and gorges, just south of Buttermilk, also on Route 13

7) Hike into the gorge below the Suspension Bridge on Cornell's campus

8) Great views of Cayuga lake and West Hill from the top of Libe Slope on Cornell's Campus (also from the top floor of the Johnson Art Museum)

 

Ithaca is a great place - the flora is obviously better in the warmer months (the Fall is spectacular) - but you should still have some good photo opportunities.

 

Have fun!

 

P.S. Check out the Moosewood Cafe for dinner (downtown Ithaca)

Elwood,

I would recommend going to Watkins Glen State Park, it is a beautiful gorge you can walk down or up and very scenic. Also in the area is Montour Falls and there is also Seneca Lake. There are alot of fine shops in the village and excellent places to eat. Watkins Glen is where Formula 1 races used to be held, so there is some history of racing there also. Here are some links if you want to check it out before you head up that way.

"http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=105"

"http://www.watkinsglen.com/search.cgi"

"http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/watkins.shtml"

Have fun and take alot of photos.

Milton

Don, Michael, and Milton - thanks much for the helpful info. Someone mentioned that Watkins Glen may be closed in the winter - is this true?

Oops - never mind. The link provided by Milton clarifies that Watkins Glen is indeed open year round.

Great responses above. I'll only add that you'll want to go back in the Spring or Fall to catch the lush plantlife that enriches so many of these scenes outside of Winter.

Cornell is very pretty in winter with snow covering the Ivy League campus buildings.