Ithaca Walks

My second trip upstate last month took me to Ithaca and my alma mater, Cornell University, for the wedding of a good college friend.  S, N, and I took an excruciatingly early bus to Ithaca on the Friday before the wedding, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the day upon arriving.  We first needed some brunch and coffee, though, so we started things off at Stella's, one of our old college haunts.  This was where we'd go if we wanted a slightly swankier experience than the local dive bars and bagel shops could offer, and it gives you the feeling that you're nestled in some sort of artsy cavern.

S ordered a chicken confit sandwich, N got an omelet, and I went for the softshell crab benedict, with mimosas and coffee all around.
Once the food and caffeine had made us feel mostly human again, we decided to go for a quick hike in nearby Cascadilla Gorge.  One of the great things about Ithaca is that you can seriously stumble upon a gorge and a waterfall at nearly every turn.

I'm not sure that I fully appreciated all of this natural beauty around campus when I was in college.....I think that classes, exams, and keg stands socializing probably got in the way.  But I certainly appreciate it now, especially in contrast to living in New York City, where natural sights, smells, and sounds can be hard to come by.

It had been a cloudy day so far, but on our way back up out of the gorge, the sun came out in full force and made the water sparkle.

After ascending from the gorge, we walked around campus for a bit, as S and I reminisced about the all the good days and silly adventures that we had there, while N (who didn't go Cornell) politely pretended to be very interested in and entertained by all of our stories.

We ended the afternoon by collapsing at the Statler Hotel's bar, where we reunited with some other friends as well as the bride and groom for a mellow pre-wedding catchup session.

Feeling re-energized by the next morning, we had breakfast and then set off for another walk through campus.  We skirted Beebe Lake....

 and then made our way to the Cornell Plantations.  Part botanical garden, part arboretum, and part nature preserve, the Plantations are full of interesting plants and serene beauty.

We walked for over an hour, enjoying the scenery, breathing in the fresh floral air, and then cursing our allergies in the same breath (the sneezing was all very glamorous, I assure you).  Then it was time to head back to our hotel and trade in our sneakers for our dancing shoes and watch our friends get hitched.

Pin It Now!