College is a time to learn and grow for your future, but it's often the people that make your experience and friendships that last a lifetime. At Cornell, there is no shortage of activities to do with friends! We asked our Admissions Ambassadors to share their favorite ways to have fun, both on and off campus.  

Good Food and Good Company

Ithaca is a foodie's paradise, with a vibrant local restaurant scene, hotel students eager to deploy new skills with menus at the Establishment, and campus groups like Crème de Cornell. It's no surprise that food plays a central role in how students choose to have fun.  

• Late-night snack runs or eating food with friends. — Kimberly Z. '30
• Trying all of the restaurants around Ithaca. — Nina W. '26
• One of my favorite things to do with my friends is going out to eat after we pass a big school deadline! It's such a great way to de-stress and chat about our thoughts on the work and let ourselves relax after a potentially high-stress project (our go-to is Xian Street Food!). — Adison D. '30
• My friends and I love to explore new restaurants in Ithaca! Eating together is one of our favorite pastimes and allows us to destress for a bit. Some of my favorite places to eat out in Ithaca are Hawi (Ethiopian food), Hot Pot Meets BBQ (Korean BBQ and hot pot), and Taste of Thai. — Emily F. '27
• I like to go out to lunch or dinner at Ctown! [Collegetown Bagels] — Ines H. '28
• Something fun I like doing with my friends is exploring different restaurants and activity areas in Ithaca during our free time to destress. — Fathia A.O. '27
• I like heading down to the Commons to grab a bite at one of the many amazing restaurants, like Lev's Kitchen! —Ethan O. '27
• I love going out to eat at the different restaurants in Ithaca with my friends. Ithaca has a nice small-town feel and such a diverse range of cuisines to pick from. We hope to try all of them by the time we graduate! — Ava G. '29
• Get dinner on the Commons! We love Lotus and Thompson and Bleecker. — Katie W. '27

A Mix of On- and Off-Campus Options

Students are typically required to live on campus for their first two years, so they live where they learn. But with a regular bus schedule and a convenient college town setup, it's easy for Cornellians to make the journey to explore Ithaca and the surrounding area.

• Try new coffee/matcha around campus, grocery runs to Trader Joe's, or finding different fun events on campus (hockey games, etc.) — Maeve B. '29
• During warmer weather, I love watching the sunsets on the slope with my friends. — Emilie S. '26
• I love getting meals with my friends, whether that is meeting them at the dining hall or going off campus into downtown Ithaca. Over food, we can talk, debrief about our days, or catch up if it's been a busy week! — Sarina M.'29
• I like to go to the Frosty Cow when it is warm and grab ice cream with my friends, and then drive around afterwards. Also, movie nights with my friends: we watched the newest Bridgerton season together, which was super fun.— Sofia S. '28
• Slope Sunsets and doing food crawls on and off campus.— Joanne L. '29

Favorite Spots on Campus

At over 2,000 acres, Cornell's campus is beautiful and expansive. With so many natural areas and spaces to explore, students don't have to go far to enjoy their downtime.

• One of my absolute favorite things about being at Cornell University is going for long walks around the lakes and gorges with my friends, no matter the season, because it truly never gets old. In the fall, the trails around Cayuga Lake and the nearby gorges are full of color, making it feel like a postcard. Winter is quieter and almost magical, especially when the waterfalls freeze over and the snow is coating the trees. Spring brings rushing water and everything turning green again, and summer? Perfect sunset walks by the lake after a long day. — Tati R. '27
• I love to hop from dining hall to dining hall with my friends! Cornell has some of the best food, and there's no better way to enjoy Cornell's food than with friends. — Samantha S. '29
• Cards in the Clara Dickson first-floor common room!! — Charlotte H. '29
• My friend group likes doing themed events. For example, Galentine's, St. Patty's. We decorate with specific themes. — Sunoo K. '26
• Something fun I like to do with my friends is explore the different themed events hosted by the Student Union Board and other organizations! There have been Halloween, Winter, Valentine's Day, and other themed events that always give us something to look forward to (and there's always free food and gifts!) — Raya S. '29
• Get food in different dining halls (and dining hall hop on west campus!) - Niran R. '28
• Go to Cornell Cinema, get burrito bowls at 10:30 pm from Appel/North Star, and visit the observatory on North Campus :) —Annelise D.G. '29
• Go on walks around Cornell's large campus and just talk about life in general (especially in the fall and end of spring semester when the weather is extra warm!) — Bintou D. '30
• I like to watch new TV shows with my friends every week as they come out, like the Great British Bake Off, The Pitt, and The Summer I Turned Pretty. — Sophie A. '28
• Hang out in Ujamma! — Eskyla C. '28

The Local Scene

With one-of-a-kind shops, the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes, and  nearby art and cultural experiences, Ithaca truly offers something for everyone. 

• Looking for good finds at Thrift Shopper or Ithaca Reuse! — Jake Q. '29
• I love going to the Commons, having dinner, and exploring. I feel like I've noticed a new place every time I've been (Simeons!!) — Hannah R. '28
• Go on walks around Ithaca! — Sally M. '28
• I really enjoy walking around Collegetown with my friends. — Mackenzie L. '28
• Skiing at Greek Peak and enjoying all of the waterfalls during the summer. — Rachel E. '27