Things to Do in Ithaca in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Ithaca
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
39°F (4°C)
High Temp
27°F (-3°C)
Low Temp
0.1 inches (3 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Sidewalks glaze overnight. Black ice lurks. Traction devices save hips.
⚠ Route 13 can vanish. Lake-effect squalls drop curtains of snow. Drive slow or wait it out.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Cornell's Winter Break means downtown Ithaca is surprisingly peaceful - you'll have the Commons mostly to yourself on weekdays
- + The frozen waterfalls at Buttermilk Falls State Park create spectacular ice formations that locals call 'the ice palace' - December through February only
- + Restaurant Week happens in early December with prix fixe menus at Ithaca's best restaurants, normally booked solid during semester months
- + Hotel rates drop 30-40% from peak fall foliage season, making the downtown Marriott and Hotel Ithaca affordable for once
Considerations
- − Daylight disappears fast - sunset hits 4:30pm and the grey skies can feel oppressive if you're not prepared for Northern winter light
- − TCAT buses run reduced winter schedules, meaning waits stretch to 30-40 minutes between campus and downtown after 7pm
- − Many of the famous gorg at Taughannock and Robert Treman close their gorge trails due to ice hazards, limiting hiking options significantly
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Ithaca in December settles into a hushed, crystalline state. The air carries a sharp, clean chill, often hovering just above freezing during the day and dropping well below after dark. You'll see the gorges framed by skeletal trees, their branches etched against a pale winter sky, and hear the constant rush of waterfalls that never freeze, their mist freezing into delicate beards of ice on the surrounding cliffs. Woodsmoke drifts from chimneys in the hills, a comforting note against the crisp, almost metallic smell of cold air. With no major festivals on the calendar, the rhythm here is quiet contemplation and cozy retreat, with students finishing their semesters and locals gathering in warm, softly lit spaces. This is a month for embracing the elements, for finding warmth not just in a glass by a fire. But in the stark, beautiful stillness of the Finger Lakes in winter. Visitors searching for things to do in Ithaca in winter will find that the focus shifts indoors and toward structured experiences that defy the cold. The famous trails are often slick with ice or dusted with snow, making the gorges more a dramatic backdrop from safe overlooks than a place for long hikes. Instead, the surrounding lake country, with its network of wineries tucked into rolling hills, becomes a primary destination, offering scenic drives and sheltered tastings. In Ithaca itself, the downtown streets, strung with simple white lights, invite brisk walks between cafes, bookshops, and restaurants, where the conversation inside is as warm as the coffee.
Keuka Lake Winery Tour
guided_experienceA guided tour of the wineries on Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes shaped like a Y, has a curated escape from the winter landscape. You'll ride in a comfortable vehicle past frozen vineyards and snow-dusted hillsides, stepping into tasting rooms that feel like warm cabins, filled with the oaky scent of aging barrels and the bright, fruity aroma of chilled white wines. The experience is a contrast between the silent, frosty world outside and the convivial, layered flavors within.
This tour provides a structured, worry-free introduction to the distinct wines of the Keuka Lake region, known for its Rieslings and unconventional reds, without navigating icy roads yourself.
Insider tip: Focus your tasting questions on how the winemakers' techniques adjust for the intense seasonal shifts of the Finger Lakes climate, which often yields more complex, mineral-driven wines.
This month: The bare vines and quiet vineyards offer a starkly beautiful, unobstructed view of the lake's unique geography that is hidden in leafy summer.
Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour
foodThis tour explores the southern end of Seneca Lake, the deepest of the Finger Lakes, visiting a selection of its well-known wineries. Inside, you'll taste the region's signature crisp, dry Rieslings and peppery Cabernet Francs, feeling the warmth of the tasting room's stone or wood floors underfoot and hearing the clink of glasses against a backdrop of low, knowledgeable conversation. Large windows often frame views of the slate-gray lake, its surface stirred by the December wind.
Seneca Lake's deep waters create a microclimate that allows a wide variety of grapes to thrive, making this tour a broad survey of Finger Lakes viniculture in just a few stops.
Insider tip: Ask for a taste of any ice wine or late-harvest dessert wine available; December is the ideal time to appreciate these intensely sweet, concentrated pours.
Private Historic Walking Tour in Ithaca Cultural Landmarks
culturalA private walking tour through Ithaca's downtown and Cornell University campus focuses on the cultural and architectural landmarks that shaped the town. You'll hear stories of utopian dreams and academic rivalry while seeing the contrast between ornate Victorian homes and stark modernist structures, your breath visible in the cold air as you walk. The feel of cobblestone underfoot in the Commons and the sight of gothic towers through leafless trees provide a textured historical narrative.
This personalized tour connects the dots between Ithaca's idealistic founding, its Ivy League institution, and the very layout of its streets, offering depth you cannot get from a plaque or guidebook.
Insider tip: Dress in layers with sturdy, insulated boots. The tour proceeds regardless of weather, and standing still to listen can make the cold seep in quickly.
Wonderful Watkins Glen Scavenger Hunt
otherThis interactive scavenger hunt leads you through the village of Watkins Glen, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, solving clues and discovering details often missed. You'll follow the hunt on your phone, looking up from the screen to spot carved stone details on old buildings, read historical markers glazed with frost, and perhaps hear the distant roar of the Glen's winter waterfall. It turns a small town stroll into an engaging puzzle.
It is an active, fun way to explore Watkins Glen at your own pace, good for families or groups wanting to stay moving and warm during a winter day.
Insider tip: Start early enough to finish before late afternoon, when the low winter sun leaves the streets in deep, cold shadow.
Keuka Lake Wine Tour - Customizable
foodA customizable private tour of Keuka Lake wineries allows you to design an itinerary based on specific interests, whether it's sparkling wines, rustic farmstead producers, or the latest natural wine experiments. You'll feel the luxury of a dedicated vehicle on winding lakeside roads, see the intimate interiors of smaller tasting rooms often bypassed by larger groups, and discuss viticulture directly with vintners who have more time in this quieter season.
The complete flexibility to tailor your visits makes this good for serious enthusiasts or those celebrating a special occasion who want a focused, unhurried experience.
Insider tip: Use the customization to include a winery with a full restaurant or substantial food pairings. Dining options around Keuka Lake can be limited in December.
Seneca Lake Wine Tour - Customizable
foodThis private, customizable tour focuses on the expansive Seneca Lake wine trail, letting you choose from among dozens of wineries to match your palate. You might spend time in a busy, modern facility with a roaring fireplace, then move to a quiet farm winery where you can smell the damp earth of the cellar and taste unfiltered wines poured directly from the barrel. The drive between stops offers panoramic views of the long, winter-stilled lake.
Seneca Lake has the highest concentration of wineries in the region, and this tour lets you efficiently visit a hand-picked mix of its most celebrated and its most obscure producers.
Insider tip: Request a stop at a winery known for its aged library vintages. Winter is a fitting season to taste these deeper, more contemplative reserves.
Where to Stay in Ithaca in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December
Downtown Ithaca Ice Festival
First weekend of December brings ice sculpting competitions, ice slides, and local food vendors to the Commons. The sculptures stay up through the weekend but are most impressive Friday evening when they're freshly carved and lit.
Mid to Late December
Cornell December Concerts
Cornell's music department hosts their winter concert series in Bailey Hall with free performances most evenings. These aren't student recitals - think professional-quality orchestra and choral performances in a venue that seats 1,200.
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View Ithaca Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best December breakfast happens at Ithaca Bakery where locals line up for sticky buns at 7am - they're still warm from the oven and the line moves fast because everyone's getting coffee before work
Gorges close their trails at different times - check the New York State Parks website each morning. But generally assume Buttermilk's gorge is closed while Taughannock's rim trail stays open longer
The Commons parking garage offers 3 hours free if you enter after 6pm - good for dinner and drinks when downtown restaurants are accessible
Cornell's campus buses run on holiday schedule between semesters - the Route 10 bus that connects downtown to campus becomes hourly instead of every 15 minutes
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming all waterfall trails stay open - the gorge trails close for ice by early December. But the rim trails offer better winter views anyway
Booking hotels without checking if Cornell is on break - some restaurants close entirely during winter break, limiting dining options
Wearing regular hiking boots without traction devices - the packed snow on trails becomes ice within days of falling
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