The Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitor's Bureau has lots of information about Ithaca, including maps, events, lodging, and places to eat.

The Discovery Trail links many of the local museums.

Of course, Ithaca is located right on Cayuga Lake and there are many opportunities for Outdoor activities, wine tasting, shopping, and tours.

Ithaca is also a great place for families.
Family Activities in Ithaca during Columbus Day Weekend:

• October 11-13 - Friends of the Library Used Book Sale at 509 Esty St.
• October 11-12 11 am - 5 pm - Greater Ithaca Art Trail - 49 local artists are opening their studios to display their art for the public.
• Saturday, October 11 afternoon - Spin: The Science of Rotation exhibition opens at the Sciencenter
• Saturday, October 11 afternoon - Fossil ID day Museum of the Earth is celebrating their 5th anniversary with a Family Day
• Saturday, October 11 11:00 am to 1:00 pm - Ask an Astronomer Event at the Johnson Museum of Art related to the Spectacular Saturn exhibit. This is an opportunity for the public to talk to astronomers in the exhibit hall about the Saturn system images. There will also be Saturn-related art activites for children.
• Saturday, October 11, 7:30 to 9:30 pm - Public Concert at Cornell Bailey Hall performance of Holst's "The Planets" by combined Cornell-Ithaca College Orchestra, with world premier of new Cassini-inspired Saturn movement by composer Roberto Sierra.
• Sunday, October 12, noon to 5 pm - Astronomy Day at the Sciencenter including an outdoor walking tour of the Planetwalk with DPS member-staffed stations.
• Sunday, October 12, 7:30 to 9:30 pm - Public Lecture at Cornell Bailey Hall by Sagan Medalist Jeff Taylor from the University of Hawaii and emcee Bill Nye
• Monday, October 13, noon to 2 pm - Family Open House at Cornell Barton Hall with E/PO activities.

Maps

• Ithaca area
• City of Ithaca
• Downtown Ithaca

Outdoor activities

• Hikes and Parks
  • Buttermilk Falls State Park - Waterfalls and 5 hiking trails
  • Robert H. Treman State Park - Waterfalls and 6 hiking trails
  • Taughannock Falls State Park - Big waterfall and 4 hiking trails (1 easy)
  • Cornell Plantations - Arboretum, botanical garden, hiking trails

• Boating equiptment rental
  • Puddle Dockers - Kayaks, canoes and accessories for rent to use on Cayuga Lake

• Boat tours
  • Tiohero Tours - Narrated boat tours of Cayuga Lake
    
  • Cayuga Lake Cruises - Lunch and dinner cruises everyday, Brunch cruise Saturday and Sunday

• Golf
  • Newman Municipal Golf Course
  • Hillendale Golf Course

• Downloadable maps
  • Cornell Plantations
  • Sapsucker Woods Bird Sanctuary
  • The Gorges of Cornell

Wineries, Cideries, and Breweries

• Cayuga Lake Wine Trail - Some of the wineries along the lake closest to Ithaca
• Seneca Lake Wine Trail - wineries along the next lake to the west
• Keuka Lake Wine Trail - this lake is just west of Seneca Lake
• List of Ithaca area wineries, including some not on the wine trails
• Bellwether Hard Cider
• Ithaca Beer Co.
• Wagner Valley Brewing Company - located near Seneca Lake
• There are also several comparies offering transportation to wineries.
  • The Finger Lakes Wine Society maintains a list of tour companies
  • Another list of tour companies
  • Finger Lakes Winery Tours - an independent tour company
  • Quality Wine Tours - another tour company
  • Finger Lakes Limosine & Coach - another tour company

Local Shopping

• The Ithaca Commons is a pedestrian mall int he heart of downtown Ithaca with specialty stores, restaurants, and bookstores
• The Ithaca Farmer's Market takes place on weekend mornings in a covered pavillion by the lakeshore and on Tuesdays near downtown and features prepared foods and crafts in addition to wonderful local produce

Museums

• Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art - On-campus art museum designed by I.M. Pei, amazing views of campus, lake, and city. During the conference they will be featuring Spectacular Saturn, an Exhibition of images from the Cassini spacecraft.
• Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution - Natural history museum
  
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary - Small museum and observatory with 220-acre wildlife sanctuary
• Sciencenter - Hands-on science museum aimed at interaction, includes exhibits on "Mars and Stars" and the Sagan Planet Walk. During the meeting, they will be open everyday and hosting a traveling exhibition on "Spin: the Science of Rotation", which opens on Saturday, October 11
• Corning Museum of Glass - History, technology, and art of glass-making; includes the Palomar Observatory 200-inch telescope mirror blank on display

Tours

• Experience! The Finger Lakes - winery, waterfalls & gorges, and food tasting tours; Individual and group tours available. They've also set up a couple special group tours as a field trip option for the afternoon of Wednesday, October 15th