Ithaca Travel and Tourism Guide

Ithaca is the epitome of a "college town" as Cornell University (an Ivy Legue school) and Ithaca College are housed here. It is known for its liberal leanings, giving more votes to Ralph Nader than George W. Bush in the 2000 election and is commonly listed among the most culturally liberal of American small cities. It was also named "America's most enlightened town" by The Utne Reader in 1997. Ithaca was listed as one of the "12 Hippest Hometowns for Vegetarians" by VegNews Magazine and is the North American seat of His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama.

Before it was called "Ithaca" it was known as "The Flats" and "Sodom," the name of the Biblical city of sin, due to its reputation as a town of "notorious immorality", because of its reputation as a place of horse racing, gambling, and readily available liquor. It was later renamed in the early 1800's, though nearby Robert H. Treman State Park still contains Lucifer Falls.

Ithaca is also known for the slogan "Ithaca is Gorges". This refers to the many natural gorges in the area. Many have taken the slogan and made it their own with phrases like "Ithaca is Cold" or "Your Mom is Gorges". Ithaca is also has a thriving arts community with hundreds of concerts and plays a year at Ithaca College, Cornell and many local theaters.