This upstate NY town was just named the best in America to visit
Ithaca was ranked No. 1, beating out hundreds of contenders across the country. CNN Travel evaluated towns based on a mix of factors, including food, attractions, local culture, and overall uniqueness.
Ithaca's natural beauty helped secure its win. Located in the Finger Lakes region, the town is famous for its hundreds of waterfalls and gorges—including those at Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman State Park—inspiring the tagline 'Ithaca is gorges.'
CNN also praised the town's vibrant cultural scene. Longtime favorites like the Ithaca Farmers Market and South Hill Cider (known for guided tastings and live music) offer memorable experiences. Arts and entertainment spots like the historic State Theatre, Hangar Theatre, and Cinemapolis add to the charm, while the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center provides meditation sessions open to the public.
Downtown, the Ithaca Commons is home to over 100 shops and restaurants.
Ithaca's two colleges—Cornell University and Ithaca College—contribute to its diversity, creativity, and energy. Free concerts, college sports, and campus attractions like Cornell Cinema, the Cornell Botanic Gardens, and the Johnson Museum of Art enrich the town's cultural life.
CNN Travel spotlighted Ithaca's cider scene, with about a dozen local producers, and its plant-based dining, inspired by nearby farms. Highlights include:
Moosewood Restaurant: America's longest-running vegetarian spot
Angelhearts: Known for its vegan donuts
Asempe Kitchen, Tacos CDMX, Franco's Pizzeria, and New Delhi Diamond's
Top places for drinks include The Watershed, The Downstairs, Liquid State Brewing Company, and Personal Best Brewing.
Ithaca, New York
Missoula, Montana
Asheville, North Carolina
Bend, Oregon
Annapolis, Maryland
Petaluma, California
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Northampton, Massachusetts
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Rapid City, South Dakota
CNN Travel received nominations from readers and contributors, then selected 10 finalists based on several criteria: dining, attractions, scenery, travel accessibility, diversity, and each town's unique character.
'America's most interesting towns bring together the best of a beautiful country,' the report states. 'These destinations show off what makes the United States so distinctive.'
This is CNN Travel's second annual Best Towns to Visit list, and this year's picks skew smaller in size—ranging from about 15,000 to 115,000 residents—but all were chosen for their individual 'wow factors' and sense of community.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ithaca NY ranked the best town to visit in America by CNN
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