As I enter my final year of college, I notice a lot of lasts occurring around me and my peers scramble to do as much as they can in these last couple of semesters. For some reason, I prefer the mundanity of Cornell routine over seeking adventure in the surrounding Finger Lakes region. As a result, I, surprisingly, have not done many of the essential Ithaca activities as some others. However, I am determined to make my last two semesters here worthwhile.
We are all well aware of the Sun’s 161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do list as well as Lifestyle’s take on it, but here are some of my bucket list items for my senior year, as well as some things I’ve done that I think every Cornell student should consider doing in their short four years here.
- Take a COE PE overnight trip class (or just spend more time outside!)
After taking Introduction to Outdoor Rock Climbing last semester, I am not a firm believer that Cornell Outdoor Education courses are the best way to satisfy the PE requirement or just try new activities you may not usually have the chance to. The outdoor rock climbing course involved a weekend overnight trip in Minnewaska State Park, which was also the first time I camped since I was a kid, and of course, a lot of fun outdoor climbing.
If overnight trips are not your fancy, COE offers a host of classes including day hiking, biking, paddling and many more opportunities to engage with the nature around you. Regardless, spending more time outdoors when the weather is still good is always a great idea.
- Go to a session of Astronomy on Tap
Ithaca’s chapter of Astronomy on Tap (a public lecture series) meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at Liquid State Brewing. Attendees can hear from local graduate students, professors, astronomers and other experts on all things astronomy while enjoying a beverage at Liquid State.
- Ice cream at Frosty Cow and Spotted Duck
While Dairy Bar ice cream is the norm on campus, nearby establishments like Frosty Cow, located in Dryden and Spotted Duck on Seneca Lake are worth the visit. I went to Spotted Duck (which specializes in ice cream made from duck eggs) in my freshman year and it was a wonderful experience and great ice cream. While it’s certainly a drive away, if you ever find yourself in the area, I recommend it as a cool opportunity to try some new flavors.
This year, I look forward to making the shorter trek to Frosty Cow and enjoying some ice cream while staring wistfully out into the lush pastures surrounding the area.
- Stone Bend Farm
I discovered this community-focused greenhouse which doubles as a pizza joint, taproom and venue last semester. The ambience inside is cozy and their wood-fire pizza was one of the few things I’ve eaten and immediately thought, “wow, Upstate New York is a wonderful place.” There is also no bathroom, with real plumbing on site, which really adds to the charm of it all.
- Book Barn
The Book Barn of the Finger Lakes is a barn full of used books. As someone who can easily spend hours in any bookstore and who is an avid believer in buying books secondhand, I look forward to carving out a good few hours and making the trip to Dryden this year.
- Corning Museum of Glass
While certainly not the most underground thing on this list, I will be prioritizing visiting the glass museum and maybe even participating in a glass making workshop. Located about 50 minutes away, Corning Museum of Glass is indeed the world’s largest museum with a focus on glass art and design.
- Gourdlandia
Located just a 15 minute drive from campus, Gourdlandia is an eccentric oasis all about gourds. A truly unique and wacky destination to visit, you can learn everything there is to know about growing, drying and carving gourds.
- South Hill Cider
If you take one of my recommendations, it should be South Hill Cider. Not only a spot to indulge in a cider flight paired with some small bites but South Hill is a truly quintessential place to visit, especially in the fall when apples are in season. Besides tasty ciders, they also serve snacks, cheese boards and sandwiches, often hosting live events on weekends. I love it for the ambience, reasonable pricing, and because enjoying the beautiful views of South Hill while sipping on a cider flight is a quintessential Ithaca autumn activity.
Senior year is your last opportunity to bask in all that Cornell and the surrounding region has to offer. Since most of us can now drink legally, many seniors may have cars and coursework is usually lighter, senior year is the perfect time to explore and make the most of our last few semesters!
Eirian Huang is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. They can be reached at ehh56@cornell.edu.
