Local Community

The Dryden Rail Trail runs along the lake and is a great place to see a variety of turtles and birds, including Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons.

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 spot 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.

Looking for some thrills? 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 mini-golf is your speed, Cortland has two option in the Cortland Min Golf next to A&W Restaurant and Shipwreck Amusement Center, home to the world’s longest mini-golf hole.

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.