Hope Lake Lodge
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The Ithaca-Cortland region is a true winter wonderland with ample outdoor winter adventures, but the fun doesn’t end there. Winter activities pair perfectly with the region's inspiring cultural experiences, rich culinary discoveries, and opportunities to learn something new. Visitors will find a variety of ways to enrich their winter getaways with one-of-a-kind classes, artistic workshops, culinary courses, and educational experiences.
Whether the Ithaca-Cortland region inspires you to continue learning past your college years or if you want to make the most of your trip to spend time with a current student, there’s so much to see, do, savor, and explore in this extraordinary region during this chilly time of year. Follow along for the perfect getaway that balances winter adventures and hands-on, educational discoveries inspiring visitors to do something, make something, and learn something new.
Dedicate a day to discoveries and hands-on classes in the Ithaca-Cortland region.
First, dive into the region’s culinary scene and see how the bounty of Finger Lakes agriculture is celebrated year-round. Nestled in the rolling hills between Marathon and Willet near Cortland, Dragonfyre Distillery is a craft farm distillery, specializing in handcrafted whiskey made from locally grown ingredients. If beer is more your thing, stop by Homer Hops Brewing, a homegrown craft brewery and taproom in Cortland. Here you’ll find their flagship IPAs plus stouts, sours, porters, and seasonal ales. Both Homer Hops Brewing and Dragonfyre offer tours of their facilities, allowing guests to learn about the beer and whiskey-making process. Cortland Beer Company & Farm Distillery crafts both beer and spirits, sometimes combining the two for a whimsical cocktail at their bar in historic downtown Cortland.
Discover a hidden talent and create something in one of the many inspiring classes in the region within the historic Cortland Corset Building. The Cortland Corset Building is the beautifully repurposed former home of the 1920s Crescent Corset Company factory, now a multi-use building and home to artist studios, eateries, and shops. Get your hands dirty and take a ceramics class at Pottery Works Cortland, Cortland’s first community pottery studio. Magpie Custom Creations offers sewing and crafting classes, and handmade items of all kinds. Cinch Art Space is Central New York’s only resource for exclusively handcrafted and entirely local one-of-a-kind gifts, functional art, and fine art while hosting a variety of creative classes.
Or take a trip into Ithaca and head to Poured Candle Bar in Ithaca to create bespoke, one-of-a-kind candles, diffusers, and perfumes from over 40 fragrance choices. Tucked away in hip Press Bay Alley, the owners recently brought this luxury, one-of-a-kind experience to Ithaca from their shop in Hudson, NY. Want to roll up your sleeves? Hammerstone School offers a variety of carpentry courses providing a welcoming space designed specifically for women and people of marginalized gender. Learn from experienced instructors in a supportive environment, regardless of your skill level.
After a day of learning, dine at Dasher’s Corner Pub in Homer, a retro-style restaurant paying homage to its rich past. The pub’s original bar and back bar from 1905 are still in use below the original light fixtures. Order one of their famous Whiskey Sours that’s created with a hand-crack cocktail mixer from 1865 that was unearthed in the basement’s dirt floor. Order off the pub’s diverse menu of steaks with design-your-own custom toppings (like a signature longbone ribeye steak complete with your initials), a whole fresh live lobster, or choose from an array of seafood. You’re guaranteed to go to bed full and happy.
Find winter inspiration in both the great outdoors and the great indoors.
Stay at Hope Lake Lodge at Greek Peak for cozy winter vibes and to maximize time on the slopes. Spend the morning on skis at Greek Peak Mountain Resort, the largest ski resort in central New York. Here, downhill newbies can learn to ski or snowboard with Greek Peak’s $99 learn-to-ski package which includes equipment rentals, a lesson, and a lift ticket. For the more experienced shredders, the fresh powder can typically be found across the 55 trails, plus there are terrain parks, snow tubing, and a full-service Nordic Center with groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails. For a slower pace, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing can be found at Lime Hollow Nature Center, home to 12 miles of scenic and serene trails on 592 acres, and snow recreational equipment is available for rent in the visitor center.
Après-ski, unwind by exploring downtown Cortland, where you’ll find rich history, century-old architecture, arts, and culture. Cortland County Historical Society's Suggett House Museum offers tours to learn more about the history of the area, while the CNY Living History Center is home to The Brockway Museum, The Homeville Museum, The T.O.Y.S. Museum and the new Antique Firehouse & First Responder Museum. Or consider taking in the 1890 House Museum, which invites visitors to step back in time to the 19th century and take a closer look at the daily lives of both wealthy industrialists and the servants and factory workers who sustained their lavish lifestyle.
An appreciation for nature often translates into an appreciation of the arts. Spend an afternoon browsing galleries like the Ake Gallery, located on the bottom floor of the historic Crescent Commons building. This gallery takes a fun approach to art, removing the stuffiness from the art gallery experience, and offering affordable and fun fine art. The Dowd Gallery was founded in 1967 and presents rotating annual exhibitions featuring work primarily by nationally and internationally acclaimed contemporary artists while maintaining a permanent collection of over 500 objects dating from the 13th through the 21st century.
For dinner, stick to downtown Cortland and head to BRIX, in the heart of Main Street, best known for Neapolitan-style brick oven pizza but is also a hotspot for comfort foods, local brews, and a good time. Relax and unwind in BRIX’s comfortable setting among the local college students.
Relax in nature and take in winter in the Ithaca-Cortland Region.
If a slopeside stay isn’t your speed, stay at the Best Western Finger Lakes Plus for spacious and comfortable rooms or the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites for a stylish stay near everything the region has to offer. Fuel up before the day’s explorations. For breakfast, head to the Truxton Outpost for hearty sandwiches (pro tip: order the Brushfire Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwich– it’s a best seller for a reason), baked goods, and coffee. For other coffee options, Cortland has you covered! Stop by BRU 64 in downtown Cortland for an exceptional coffee drink and morning baked goods. If you’re crunched for time and ready to start the day, hit the drive-through of Coffee Mania for a quick caffeine fix. Coffee Mania boasts a few outposts around the area and serves their own house-roasted coffee and inventive coffee drinks.
Go chasing waterfalls and stop by Tinker Falls before heading to Ithaca. In a region filled with waterfalls, this one holds a unique secret: there’s a cavern behind the falls that visitors access. Just be sure to take extra precautions in the winter. During the winter season, the cascades create beautifully frozen ice towers that are truly awe-inspiring. In Ithaca, visitors can trek to Taughannock Falls, one of the most popular attractions in the Finger Lakes year-round, awaits. The Gorge Trail is a 1.8-mile out and back, is considered easy, and your work is rewarded with captivating views of the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Rockies. Even when the temperature drops, it’s worth bundling up as the frozen cascade is a sight to behold.
But inspiration isn’t just found outdoors. Ithaca’s museums, galleries, and public art installations stir heart and soul. Museum of the Earth's astounding permanent exhibition takes visitors on a journey through 4.5 billion years of history, from the Earth’s origin to the present day. Interactive displays, hands-on features, stunning fossils, and science-inspired art tell the story of our planet and how our species is affecting the natural world today. Throughout town, you'll find nearly a dozen art hubs including the Johnson Museum of Art’s ancient to modern collection in its six stories and State of the Art Gallery, a cooperative fine art gallery featuring work from both local and national artists curated into stunning exhibits. Consider paying a visit to the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center, the only place in the world where you can find all the written works of all Dalai Lamas.
By the time dinner rolls around, you’ll find no shortage of palate-pleasing options including ample farm-to-fork eateries and options along “Restaurant Row” on Aurora Street in Ithaca. Vegetarians often seek out the legendary Moosewood Restaurant, best known for their plant-based cookbooks published since 1974. Mercato Bar and Kitchen, a popular seasonally-driven, chef-owned eatery, is particularly cozy this time of year with an open kitchen, hopping craft cocktail bar menu, and a buzzy vibe.
Where to stay in Cortland County.
After a day of snowy adventures, finding the perfect place to unwind is essential, and Cortland County has plenty of cozy options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a lodge with stunning mountain views and spa amenities, a modern hotel with all the comforts of home, or sleek accommodations that keep you close to the action, there’s something for everyone. Prefer something unique? The area also offers charming Airbnbs and vacation rentals to suit your style.
Whether you’re looking for a ski resort, a charming hotel, or a unique Airbnb, Cortland County has it all. For a full list of accommodations, visit Experience Cortland Lodging options here to start booking your winter getaway now!