Spotlight

The unofficial start to summer means burgers fresh from the grill, patriotic displays, and friendly cornhole games with the ones you love.  We’re here to help you plan a fun-packed weekend for you and your family. Keep reading for a list of family-friendly activities, Cortland County escapes, and tasty BBQ for your three-day weekend.  MEMORIAL DAY PARADES Who doesn't love a…

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, it's finally spring! And what better way to celebrate the return of sunshine than a delish meal outdoors? We've put together a list of some of Cortland County's fantastic alfresco spots. From dinners downtown to brunch under the mountain, Cortland County has no shortage of picturesque patio dining.  Microbrews and music Nothing beats a cold draft on a…

Lights, camera, action! The Blackbird Film + Arts Festival is back, live and in-person, Thursday, May 19 through Sunday, May 22 at SUNY Cortland and throughout downtown Cortland. This year's event will feature amazing independent short films from around the world, as well as music video party, a paint & sip, free film screenings, workshops and more! Keep reading for everything you need to know…

Experience Cortland is rounding up unique Airbnbs across Cortland County. Stay tuned throughout the year as we highlight accommodations and their nearby attractions to ensure guests have an inspiring experience. Please note, locations and their amenities grow and change throughout the year. Contact the host directly through Airbnb if you have any questions. The heady scent of horseflesh and sweet…

In celebration of the Bee's Knees Event, Ms. Nel's sixth-grade art class has filled the Visitors Center with spring-themed artwork. Working in oils and watercolors, the vivid gallery fills the walls and windows with bees, honey, and flowers. We asked Ms. Nels' budding artists if they would take a moment from their busy school day to answer a few questions about their work.  Join us at the…

With the travel industry on the road to recovery and people more ready than ever to plan their next trip, we're celebrating this year’s National Travel and Tourism Week! Happening May 1-7, 2022, National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) is a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Travel Association - and we have fun plans in place. Join us as we celebrate all things travel in Cortland…

Join us on May 14, 10 am- 2 pm, at the Cortland County Visitors Center. Celebrate the sweetness of spring with us at the Cortland County Visitors Center's Bee's Knees Event. We are honoring the unsung hero of gardens across the county, the humble bee, with local children's art, garden art, spring plants, garden necessities, and of course, honey tasting. Several local beekeepers will be present to…

Doesn't your mom deserve a meal where she doesn't have to do the dishes? She's endured your learning to play the tuba, scraped knees, spelling bees, and endless heartaches. The least you can do is treat her to a delicious, stress-free meal. Lucky for you, Cortland County has an excellent selection of Mother's Day brunches to choose from, one for every taste. Updated May 5 at 11 a.m. This post…

Pack those tents and bags of marshmallows, and head out to enjoy the great outdoors in beautiful Cortland County! Cortland County campsites offer way more than the basics — tent camping, trailer camping, sites with or without electricity and water. They also offer shower houses, laundry rooms, and full hook-ups for your RV.  Many have an on-site convenience store and dining too.  So pack up…

Do you fanaticize riding off into the sunset, cantering over rolling hills, splashing through streams? Or maybe you daydream of driving a perfectly matched pair of horses down a country road.  Perhaps you own a horse of your own and are simply looking for new trails to roam. Cortland County is home to stables and trails of every sort, each offering its own unique equine adventure. If you're…

"Have I gone mad? I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I will tell you a secret, all the best people are." -Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll) Celebrate May Day in style at the 1890 House Mad Hatter Tea Party! Don your zaniest, frilliest, silliest, mad hat and promenade about the Victorian mansion in all your finest. Sip tea, pinkies up, while swaying to the serenade of the Underground…

Whether you're adventuring in one of our many beautiful campgrounds, sprawling state forests, or just pitching a tent in the backyard, be sure to stock up on a few of our favorite Cortland County camping essentials, to make your campfire experience even more enjoyable. BUG OFF! No matter how much you love nature, no one loves mosquitos (or ticks, or black flies, or my personal nemesis no-see-ums).…

This blog is the third in a series, exploring hiking and traveling with your faithful, four-legged, friends in Cortland County. Do you have a favorite trail or place in Cortland County that you love sharing with your dog? Perhaps, you snapped the perfect photo of you and Fido, exploring locally?  I want to know about it! Email me at Candace@experiencecortland.com and just maybe we'll see you in…

Live theatre performances are returning to Dwyer Memorial Park this summer, as Cortland Repertory Theatre prepares for their 50th Anniversary Summer Season! Audience members will be treated to five live productions, including three musicals and two plays, from June 8 to August 20. Shows will return inside the Little York Pavilion in Preble, rather than outdoors as was last summer's season.…

April 16th is a big day for Ashe Martin. A muralist and mosaic artist, Ashe is celebrating the grand opening of Forged from Ashe Studios, in the Cortland Corset Building. Having practiced the craft for well over 10 years, Ashe is incredibly excited to begin teaching others. We asked Ashe to share a little about the space, before the big event.  What inspired you to open Forged from Ashe? I…

Plan a visit to the 1890 House Museum on a sunny afternoon and find yourself bathed in a kaleidoscope of rainbows. The architectural treasure is located in the heart of downtown Cortland, built for the late 19th-century inventor and industrialist, Chester Wickwire. Those who venture in will be treated to ornate decorative stenciling, parquet flooring, and oak and cherry woodwork, but it is the…

Although spring might be playing pee-a-boo, this year in Cortland County, Easter is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Let us help you organize your holiday! From Easter bonnets, baskets, brunches, and hunts, we have your guide to all things Easter.  WHERE TO EAT If cooking a tasty Easter brunch is not on your to-do list this year, several Cortland County restaurants offer feasts, dine-in, or…

Experience Cortland will be featuring a Cortland County artist at the Visitors Center throughout the year. The program was developed to showcase local artwork and photography to travelers and locals in hopes of them taking a piece of Cortland County home. Feel free to stop by during regular business hours to view the work. Come meet Rose in person, April 1, from 12 pm.-3 pm, at the Winter Farmers…

The Cortland County Visitors Center is celebrating its last market for the season. The indoor farmers market has been designed to fill your dinner plate. Small but mighty, this winter market is sure to have everything you need for the perfect meal. Carefully curated with a selection of makers and farmers, local to Cortland County; the upcoming month you'll find fresh pork, roasting chickens,…

Calling all comic book and pop culture fans! Cortland’s lone comic bookstore, Heroes and Villains, will be holding its 5th Annual Heroes and Villains Con.  The one-day event on Saturday, April 2 will be held at the Cortland Corset Building at 75 East Court Street in Cortland, N.Y., and will run from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be a combination of professional artists and writers and…