Ithaca, New York is a gorgeous town in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York that’s just a bit different from the rest of the region.

Living in Ithaca is a blessing, and there’s so much about the town that makes it unique and fun. If you live in Ithaca, you’re familiar with all of these different traits of our little section of the hill that makes it special.

1. The Gorges

This one is an obvious part of this list. After all, Ithaca is “gorges.” There’s never a shortage of trails to hike and waterfalls to see in Ithaca. Just remember: gorge jumping is dangerous. Don’t do it. Please. Just don’t.

2. The Street Art

Maybe one of my favorite things about Ithaca is the abundance of street art. There are the standard black eyed Susans that decorate the parking garage downtown, and most of the electrical boxes that scatter the streets have some sort of design painted onto them. New ones are being painted and created constantly, decorating the streets of Ithaca (and making for some fun photo opportunities).

3. Festivals

Apple Fest, Chili Fest, and Harry Potter Weekend are just a few of the fun events that go on in the Commons. At least once a month there’s a fun festival or event to attend downtown to keep you busy on the weekends.

4. Local Restaurants

If you have a dietary restriction, it’s more than likely that there are at least a handful of restaurants in Ithaca that will accommodate it. I’ve only been to a handful of restaurants that haven’t had a vegan or vegetarian section on their menu, and lots of places even offer gluten free options. There’s even a vegan café that’s Star Trek themed — how much more specific can you get?

5. The Local Music

The Haunt is always popping with a new artist to see most weekends, and Ithaca Underground works with a lot of the local musicians to book them gigs in the area. If you don’t want to go to one of the concerts, just walk around the Commons — you’re bound to find someone playing music.

6. The Local Businesses

Whether you’re just stopping in for a quick browse at Petrune, or going to the Farmer’s Market for some local produce and cheese, there are a plethora of businesses to support in Ithaca. Getting to know the people who work in Ithaca closely makes buying from them that much better. Plus: it’s always more sustainable to buy locally, and Ithaca makes that easy!