Note: This page provides an overview of the regional venue for the 2008 national GNSI conference being held at Ithaca College, the Finger Lakes of Upstate, NY. The GNSI Finger Lakes is the hosting chapter for this exciting event! Return to the main conference page by closing out this page. Enjoy your visit to beautiful Upstate, NY, and be sure to check out the many field trips and guided visits to regions described here, available from the Field Trips link in the main conference menu!

In addition to wonderful food, the Finger Lakes are dotted with wineries and for many, a wine tasting tour is a must when visiting the area. In fact, we planned two such field trips for you on Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. The descriptions for these trips can be found on the Field Trips page. For more information in advance about Finger Lakes wine country, visit online: http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com.
 
Activities
 
We hope you will be spoilt for choice here! Ithaca is ideally situated for easy exploration of the region's natural and cultural highlights. Its position on the shores of Cayuga Lake means that boat tours are a possibility, so bring your sea-legs! Boat tours depart from the steamboat landing, which also plays host to the Ithaca Farmers Market (http://www.ithacamarket.com/home.php), which will be in full swing in time for the conference. The market is a fantastic opportunity to shop for local arts, crafts, foods and to soak up the atmosphere, which as the locals will tell you, is "very Ithaca."
 
You might also want to pack your hiking boots for the guided tours around Cornell University campus (http://www.cornell.edu/visiting/ithaca) and the Johnson Museum of Art (http://www.museum.cornell.edu) In addition to these tours, we are planning sketching trips to local gorges, waterfalls and nature preserves, including Sapsucker woods: (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/About/BuildingAndSanctuary/SapsuckerWoodsSanctuary.html), which is part of the Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University. Trips to Sapsucker woods and the Lab should be a wonderful experience, both for budding birders and anyone who is interested in getting a peek at the extensive collections and cutting edge work being done at this well-known hub for ornithological research.

Tours are also being planned around the lovely Cornell Plantations (http://www.plantations.cornell.edu) and the Arboretum (http://www.plantations.cornell.edu). More hiking and sketching opportunities are available at several local and accessible state parks.

State Parks Information

Ithaca College is just 3 miles from the State Park of Buttermilk Falls (named for the foaming waterfall that cascades down into the lower portion of the park.) Other state parks are a short bus or car ride away, and most parks have cabins as well as tent sites. Summer dates fill quickly, and reservations can be made now. Buttermilk Falls State Park, being the closest to Ithaca College, is probably the best option for anyone wishing to make it a camping/cabin trip. Delegates can visit http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks for more state park information. New York State Parks camping cabin reservations can be made by calling 1-800-456-2267. The direct line to Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H Treman State Park  is 607-273-3440. Taughannock Falls State Park can be contacted on 607-387-6739.
 
For those seeking alternative accommodation, http://www.visitithaca.com is a useful resource. Click on "visitor info" for local hotels, bed and breakfasts (and camping) information.
 
Other Attractions
 
As well as trips to state parks, delegates may wish to pay a visit to The Corning Glass museum (http://www.cmog.org), which is a short drive from Ithaca and contains amazing displays of glass work from all over the world. You can even make your own glass flower, beads or etched glass art–the ideal souvenir!
 
The Paleontological Research Institute (http://www.priweb.org) located just north of Ithaca is a natural history research institution concentrating on the geology and paleontology of the Northeastern United States. Unique exhibits can be found at the wonderful Museum of the Earth (part of PRI) and include skeletons of the Hyde Park Mastodon and Right Whale.