Whether you are a new student, visiting or a veteran of the cold, we can always use a good excuse to remember and appreciate the great place that we live in for eight months each year.

1. The Views

You don’t really go to Ithaca College until you’re scrolling through Instagram and 20 posts in a row are of a sunset over campus and the lake. Not that you can really blame anyone. Ithaca's landscape is always picturesque. In fact, the view from practically any point on campus at any time of day could be touted as picture perfect. IC sits on South Hill perched just above Lake Cayuga, one of Upstate New York’s 11 Finger Lakes. The views from campus are truly breathtaking through every season, but especially in the fall when the blue of the lake is offset by the reds, yellows and oranges of the changing leaves. So, Instagram away! What is there to complain about when we go to school in such a beautiful place?

2. The Professors

When you’re not being distracted by the views outside your classroom window, you’re learning from Ithaca College’s top-notch professors. The faculty at IC is full of well-rounded, knowledgeable men and women who really care about their students. Most of the classes are relatively small, allowing students to build personal relationships with professors. Many Ithaca College faculty members are actively working in their fields of study, which means they can provide the most hands-on, up-to-date, real-world learning experiences. They’re truly some of the best at what they do, and we’re lucky to learn from them.

3. The Alumni

You can take a man out of Ithaca, but you can’t take Ithaca out of a man. There is nothing quite like Bomber pride, and it stays with you even after you finish your years on campus. People who go to Ithaca love Ithaca, and the school is known for its strong Alumni network. Many IC Alumni are very active in campus affairs, and they are often quick to hire fellow Ithaca College grads. Ithaca has a strong sense of inclusion and community that lasts a lifetime.

4. Late Night

I have two words for you: Taco. Tuesday. Monday through Thursday, Towers dining hall is open from 8 pm to 12 am for late night dining that is known around campus simply as “Late Night.” Each day of the week has its own special selection of greasy foods to satisfy midnight cravings and sustain late-night study sessions, and everybody’s favorite is Tuesday night, which features build-your-own tacos and nachos. Late Night is revered on IC’s campus, and we simply wouldn’t be able to live without it.

5. Cortaca

As a Division III school, Ithaca doesn't always enjoy the limelight of college sports fans . However, on one day out of the year, more than half the campus rallies behind our football team for an incredible show of Bomber pride. Cortaca is the annual football game between Ithaca College and rival neighboring school SUNY Cortland, and it is the most passionate game of D3 football that you will ever see. The intense rivalry between the schools began in 1930, and it has only grown with each passing year. Nothing says, “We’ve got spirit, yes we do!” quite like 3,000-plus IC students screaming, “Cortland is a state school” … even when we’re down by 10 points. But hey, you know what we say! Win or lose …

6. Student Organizations

There’s never a dull moment at IC, and with over 150 clubs and student organizations there are more than a few ways to get involved on campus. From the four a capella groups to the diverse selection of club sports to the variety of academic and service organizations, anybody can find their niche at Ithaca. A visit to the OrgFair, held at the start of each semester, allows students to learn more about the clubs they can choose from and can help decide what’s right for them. There’s plenty to choose from, so anyone can find a group where they feel that they belong.

7. Downtown

Even though the Commons have been under construction for, like, forever, Downtown Ithaca is a major player in putting Ithaca, New York at the top of the list of "Best College Towns." Just a ten-minute bus ride from IC, the hip downtown area is a great place to hang out with friends, go out to dinner or indulge in some retail therapy when finals get a bit overwhelming.

8. The Restaurants

Speaking of Downtown Ithaca, it would be nothing if not for its array of delicious restaurants. Whether you’re frequenting College Town Bagel (or, affectionately, “CTB”) for a hangover cure, Viva Taqueria! for some spicy Mexican food, the Ale House for a juicy burger and a local IPA or the famous Moosewood Restaurant for a vegetarian meal, it's impossible to miss something good. Ithaca is home to some of tastiest food around, which is a relief when you seriously need a break from on-campus dining.

9. Kendall Day

Another long-standing Ithaca tradition, Kendall Day, is held on the last Saturday before spring semester finals. The all-day party invites hundreds of students to make Kendall Avenue their momentary escape before returning to studying. Hosted by students who live on the street, Kendall Day is a notorious last hurrah for IC students before the stress of exams really kicks in.

10. The Gorges

It’s on t-shirts. It’s on bumper sticks. It’s on coffee mugs. Pretty much everywhere you look, some piece of paraphernalia totes the phrase “Ithaca is Gorges.” Though the statement may be tired and corny, it is true. Ithaca is full of humongous gorges that are absolutely breathtaking. In the sparse warm months at the beginning and end of each school year, students flock to Second Dam for gorge-jumping and swimming and Buttermilk Falls for scenic hikes. In the winter, the falls are frozen over and are a beautiful sight. We can’t deny it; Ithaca really is gorges, and it's the very best place to call home.