Ithaca, NY: An "Enlightened City"

The UTNE Reader recently pronounced Ithaca to be an “enlightened city.” A testament to this is the fact that the Dalai Lama recently established a monestary in Ithaca. The only one in North America.

Ithaca, NY has been recognized by many publications as one of the best places to live and/or retire in the country. Nestled at the foot of beautiful Cayuga Lake, Ithaca and Tompkins County are home to stunning natural sites, thriving shopping districts, first-class arts and cultural attractions. 

Ithaca presents a wonderful balance of urban energy and country comfort. Atoms to artifacts, foxes to fossils, robins to rhododendrons, sculpture to storytellers, Ithaca presents something for everyone. Arts and creative expression exist throughout the community and even our gardens offer a unique opportunity to appreciate Ithaca’s beauty.  Many of these gardens focus on learning and provide a tapestry of color reflecting pride in our community. 

Recently, Expansion Management Magazine named Ithaca NY as “one of the top relocation destinations for businesses” based on the quality of the public school system, ranking Ithaca, NY 2nd among metropolitan areas of all sizes.  Newsweek has included Ithaca High School on a list of the top 1200 high schools in the country. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance placed Ithaca, NY among the top 10 in its article, “The nation’s 50 best places to live.”