Trumansburg

Trumansburg is a village the Finger Lakes region of central New York, between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. It offers a distinctive mix of an old rural village and modern funkiness. Named after Abner Truman, it is in the Town of Ulysses.

Get in
Most people arrive by car. NY Route 96 is Main St, passing through Trumansburg on its way from Ithaca to Waterloo and Geneva. T'burg is about 10 minutes from Ithaca.

TCAT (Tompkins County Area Transit) bus route 21 runs down Main St to Ithaca and the Cornell campus with good service in the morning and evening, sparse other times. During the summer, there is seasonal service between Ithaca and Taughannock Falls. Ithaca taxis will take calls from Trumansburg.

It is possible to bicycle among Ithaca, Trumansburg, and Taughannock Falls, although the ride from the falls up to the village has some steep hills. TCAT buses all have bike racks, so one can ride one way (such as downhill from T'burg to Ithaca) and take the bus the other.

Get around
The village is only a mile across, and the downtown is only a few blocks long, so most places are walkable. There are two small municipal parking lots, but street parking is always available except during special events.

See

 * Taughannock Falls State Park - Taughannock Park Road (On Rt.89, just south of the village, via well marked road from Rt.96). Lake swimming, boating (rentals are available), hiking, picnicking, and camping. Take a pleasant, flat walk from the Route 89 entrance to the base of the falls, the tallest (215 feet) east of the Mississippi. There is a more vigorous hike around the edge of the falls basin. For instant gratification you can drive up the road connecting with Route 96 and pull off to visit an overlook to the Falls. There are often summer concerts here on Thursday evenings. Note that entrance to one State park gets you admission to all state parks for the day.
 * Taughannock Falls State Park - Taughannock Park Road (On Rt.89, just south of the village, via well marked road from Rt.96). Lake swimming, boating (rentals are available), hiking, picnicking, and camping. Take a pleasant, flat walk from the Route 89 entrance to the base of the falls, the tallest (215 feet) east of the Mississippi. There is a more vigorous hike around the edge of the falls basin. For instant gratification you can drive up the road connecting with Route 96 and pull off to visit an overlook to the Falls. There are often summer concerts here on Thursday evenings. Note that entrance to one State park gets you admission to all state parks for the day.

Do

 * The Paleontological Research Institution on Rte 96 between Ithaca and Trumansburg, was started in 1932 by a Cornell geologist who had a falling out with the university and has been an academically respectable independent organization ever since. The Museum of the Earth showcases the PRI's extensive fossil collection and has frequent special exhibitions.
 * The Paleontological Research Institution on Rte 96 between Ithaca and Trumansburg, was started in 1932 by a Cornell geologist who had a falling out with the university and has been an academically respectable independent organization ever since. The Museum of the Earth showcases the PRI's extensive fossil collection and has frequent special exhibitions.
 * The Paleontological Research Institution on Rte 96 between Ithaca and Trumansburg, was started in 1932 by a Cornell geologist who had a falling out with the university and has been an academically respectable independent organization ever since. The Museum of the Earth showcases the PRI's extensive fossil collection and has frequent special exhibitions.

Buy

 * Salmon Gallery, 79 E Main St. . Fine crafts including pottery, fiber art, glass art, and fine arts from mostly Finger Lakes artists. Also offers pottery classes.

Eat

 * New York Pizzeria on Main St next door to the Rongo (below), owned by a family from southern Italy, makes the best pizza in town. The TV is always tuned to RAI (half soccer, half the Pope), and there's Foxon Park Cream Soda in the cooler. No beer, though.
 * Little Venice pizzeria on E Main St has adequate pizza and a full liquor license, in the storefront where Bob Moog made his famous musical synthesizers in the 1970s.
 * Little Venice pizzeria on E Main St has adequate pizza and a full liquor license, in the storefront where Bob Moog made his famous musical synthesizers in the 1970s.

Sleep
Trumansburg no longer has any hotels or motels but instead has many B&Bs, all of which tend toward neo-Victorian (or in a few cases actual Victorian) flowery comfort.

In the village, walking distance from the restaurants and bars, are:

Nearby, within short driving distance are:

Go next

 * The Finger Lakes National Forest runs along the ridge between Cayuga and Seneca lakes. From Trumansburg, proceed out NY 227/Hector St, turn right on Searsburg Rd across from the village water tower and drive up to the top of the ridge. Hiking in summer and X-C skiing in winter with views across both lakes, also facilities for horseback riding and camping.