Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake
Our warm, welcoming, home is situated on 5.6 acres, set back from the road, providing privacy and seclusion in a beautiful natural setting just a mile from shopping and restaurants, 1.5 miles from the airport, 10 minutes from Cornell & downtown Ithaca, and 15 minutes from Ithaca College.
Three bedrooms upstairs with high-quality queen mattresses, Smart TVs in two. Two full bathrooms upstairs (one en suite) plus half-bath on the main level. Main level has two large, light-filled family living spaces, one with a large Smart TV & gas fireplace, as well as an office that includes a twin daybed that can pull out to queen/king if needed. Three-zoned AC throughout.
Large deck, gas grill, and fenced backyard for corn hole, frisbee, watching the deer graze, or catching a shooting star before bed. Linens/towels/pillows, paper products, fully outfitted kitchen including condiments/spices for cooking. Plenty of parking for multiple vehicles. High-speed wireless internet. This is a great home base for visits to Cornell University or Ithaca College, local festivals, Cayuga Lake, and Finger Lakes wine/cider/craft beer trails.
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Please close any open windows. If you were using the heat, please turn the thermostats to 58 w/fan on "auto" before leaving. For AC, please turn up to 74 on "auto" as well.
Please text Margarite when you've left.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Ithaca
Ithaca is home to this holiday home. Cornell Botanic Gardens and Sciencenter are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit Shops at Ithaca Mall and Triphammer Marketplace. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Robert J. Kane Sports Complex, or consider a night out at Dutch Harvest Farm. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as ice skating.
Buttermilk Falls State Park - 12 min drive - 11.7 km
Getting around
Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 6 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 3 min drive
Sumo Japanese Sushi And Hibachi Grill - 4 min drive
Dunkin' - 5 min drive
Taco Bell - 4 min drive
Longshots Sports Bar & Grill - 5 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake?
As of 27 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake on 4 Jul, 2026 start from S$492, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Welcoming retreat close to Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake located?
Situated in Ithaca, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Shops at Ithaca Mall, Regal Ithaca Mall and Cayuga Lake. Triphammer Marketplace and Corners Gallery are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We enjoyed our stay. It was a short drive to Cornell, our primary destination. The house was spacious and so quiet, a great retreat. We would definitely here again.
Jennifer Y.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Apr, 2026
I’m so glad you enjoyed the proximity plus privacy of our home. Thanks for taking such wonderful care of it! We hope to host you again in the future.
This is by far the best vacation rental that my family and I have ever enjoyed. The location is close to everything, but completely peaceful and private. The house itself is immaculate. It is spacious enough for a large family gathering and the hosts have absolutely thought of everything. We will definitely look to stay again.
Peter L.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Oct, 2025
I'm thrilled that you had a great stay and enjoyed our home, Peter! When we bought the house several years ago, it was that combination of "close to everything, but completely peaceful and private" that hooked us. Excited to have you back again, and thank you for taking such good care of the place!
This rental was the full package. Beautiful home and furnishings, great location, great recommendations about places to go and restaurants to go to as well as a super responsive hostess who went above and beyond to ensure that our stay was perfect!
Kristin M.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Oct, 2025
I’m really glad you enjoyed the house and the location, Kristin! We also appreciate the proximity to shopping/dining as well as downtown and the two colleges. I so appreciate your going above and beyond with the cleaning, and really hope we will have the opportunity to host you again!
The stay at Laurie's was wonderful! Well stocked, with decent cook pans and utensils. Very clean house, comfortable beds, enjoyable outdoor areas. Thank you Laurie for the exceptional home and amenities!
Christine A.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Oct, 2025
Loved having you, Christine! Glad you were able to enjoy the outdoor and indoor areas to relax plus had time to do some cooking. Thank you for caring for our home so well. We look forward to a return visit!
We had a wonderful stay while in Ithaca for a wedding. The house is beautiful and comfortable; quiet and secluded, yet 12 minutes from Cornell. We did not want to leave! We enjoyed the Farmers Market Saturday morning, Ithaca Falls and Ithaca Bakery Sunday morning. We hope to come back for a longer stay.
Lori M.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Oct, 2025
Thanks so much for the wonderful recap of your stay, Lori! And for leaving lovely bouquets of flowers (I assume from your visit to the famed Ithaca Farmers Market) scattered around the house. :) We would love to host you and your family again when you can spend more time exploring all that the area has to offer!
We had a fantastic time. Everything was perfect. The house was spacious and well maintained. The grounds were very pretty. Thanks for opening your home to us !
Winnie L.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug, 2025
It was a pleasure hosting you and your family! I’m glad you were able to spread out and take advantage of the different living spaces within the house (and hopefully on the deck as well). I appreciate your care for our home and look forward to your return!
We had a wonderful stay at this welcoming retreat! The house was perfect for our family—spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully equipped with a well-stocked kitchen and multiple family rooms for relaxing together. The location was ideal for visiting Cornell, Ithaca College, and Cayuga Lake, and we especially enjoyed spending time on the back deck. Laurie was fantastic to work with—easy to communicate with and incredibly attentive. We would absolutely stay here again!
Heather D.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Aug, 2025
I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed your time at our home, Heather, and that you appreciated the convenience of the location. Thanks so much for taking wonderful care of the place - we look forward to hosting you all again when you're back in the Finger Lakes!
Perfect spot for our family attending graduation weekend. Close to airport and Cornell campus. Clean, cozy, comfortable spot to relax together in between events. Hosts were great with communication and instructions - even had coffee creamers for us! First class all the way, thank you!
Kelley B.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 May, 2025
So glad we could be a comfortable base that felt like home during a busy Commencement weekend! Thanks for taking such great care of our home - we hope you'll return for some fun in the Finger Lakes (without graduation craziness)!
I would rate the house and contents above a 5 star. We felt at home as soon as we walked in the door. Our family was in Ithaca for a wedding. We also explored the area. The house was a short distance from everything we wanted to do. Laurie was also an amazing host.
I highly recommend this property if you’re traveling to Ithaca. Communication with host was great, very clean, location was great for many activities. It was the perfect fit for our family weekend getaway.
diana g.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Oct, 2024
Thanks so much! I'm glad you were able to use our home for you and your adult children as your home base for visiting family in the area. I appreciate your taking good care of the place and hope you'll stay again on your next visit!
This house was even better than we expected. Good location where the house was private but still close to a lot of places. It was really clean, the beds were comfortable and they had k cups ready for us. I will absolutely stay in this house next time we’re in Ithaca!
Sarah L.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Jul, 2023
So glad you enjoyed the house, Sarah! You are welcome back anytime - thanks for being a wonderful guest!
Had a fantastic time at this property with my family while moving my daughter into Cornell. Very clean and plenty of space for all of us to spread out. Laurie was fantastic with communication throughout the entire process. Will absolutely stay here again!
Rachelle P.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug, 2023
Thanks so much for caring for our house as if it were your own! We loved having you and always enjoy hosting Cornell and IC families. Looking forward to having you back!
We loved our stay in this lovely, tastefully, handsomely appointed house. Laurie was an attentive hostess who responded quickly and professionally in all our dealings. Instructions were thorough and there were very nice, thoughtful touches on our arrival. This rental ranks in the very top tier of our VRBO rentals.
Graham C.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jul, 2024
Wow, thank you so much for your kind review, Graham! It was a genuine pleasure having you and your family stay in our home; thank you for caring for it so thoughtfully. I'm glad you had some days of usual, beautiful Finger Lakes summer. We'd welcome you all back anytime!
Beautiful home with a wonderful backyard, ideal location for all things Ithaca, Cornell and the Finger Lakes. The property is spacious, so comfortable and we were a short drive to everything we wanted to take in. The hosts were incredibly helpful with recommendations and we were able to take in so much, even during a short stay. We will be back!
Tanya V.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Mar, 2023
So glad you enjoyed your stay! Thanks for your openness to being our first guest; I’d welcome any thoughts and suggestions you have for future guests. Look forward to having you back!
We felt at home instantly at Laurie’s clean, spacious house. Well appointed with bright open floor plan. Bedding, linens and bathrooms were perfect. Easy access to parks, lake and colleges. Will definitely stay again!
Katherine R.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar, 2023
Thank you, Katherine! So glad you felt at home. Would love to welcome you back when you visit again!
We loved everything about the Cherry Rd house!! It was so cozy and cute. It was so thoughtfully decorated and had everything we needed. We loved the privacy and the location. We were able to get everywhere we needed to be quickly. We hope to stay there again one day! We love Ithaca ❤️
Allison P.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Aug, 2023
Thanks so much, Allison! So glad you found the location convenient - we definitely appreciate being so close to both Ithaca College and Cornell. Look forward to having you back for future visits!
Laurie’s place was the perfect spot for our long weekend trip out of the city. It was very close to Ithaca and an easy drive to hikes and wineries near by. The house was spacious, clean, and accommodated our group perfectly. The hosts were very responsive to our needs both before and during the stay. Thank you, Laurie!
Meghana M.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Sept, 2023
It was wonderful having you all stay at our place - thank you for taking such good care of it and treating it as you would your own home. Hope you were able to enjoy some gorges, waterfalls, and good Finger Lakes wines. We'd love to have you back anytime!
We had another amazing stay while visiting our son for Ithaca family weekend. The house was so cozy and immaculate! We had enough space to spread out but we were able to all come together for dinner and a movie. It’s the prefect location! We will be back again! Laurie is the best host!
Allison P.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Nov, 2023
You and your family are amazing guests - hard to even tell you stayed there! So glad you have landed in our place as your Ithaca home. :) Looking forward to hosting you all again for another stay!
Loved this home. It was perfect for our family as we needed a home base for my Cornell masters graduation. Quick drive to anywhere in Ithaca. And it was a nice place to relax in between events. It was larger than I expected which is always a good thing. Will stay here again the next time we’re in Ithaca
Vikram A.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 28 May, 2024
So glad our place was a spacious and comfortable home base for your time on the Cornell campus (and congratulations on your graduation!). Thank you for taking such good care of it! We look forward to having you back, perhaps for some fall leaf peeping and waterfall viewing amidst hiking at the many nearby parks, or some winery/cidery/brewery visits. Thanks again for choosing our home!
This was home base for a Thanksgiving with family. The house is absolutely spotless, with comfortable modern rooms and lots of space to spread out. The house is set back from the road with a secluded backyard with a deck and a fenced in area, you’d never know the grocery store and mall are 5 minutes away, and downtown Ithaca is a short drive. The kitchen was well stocked, and communication with Laurie the owner was excellent.
Pete B.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Dec, 2024
Thanks, Pete! We love when wonderful guests like you and your family are able to create new memories together in our home! So glad you found it to your liking and appreciated the proximity to all things PLUS the privacy it provides. I appreciate how you cared for our home, and hope this won’t be the last family event you celebrate in our Ithaca home!
Colleague and I attended a conference at Cornell. This home was a perfect stay. Laurie communicated before, during and right before our leave. The home was completely stocked with everything and more to make our stay an easy and comfortable one. Just 10-12 minutes away from Cornell. Would give higher than 5 stars if possible!
Michael W.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct, 2024
Thanks so much, Michael! I'm glad our property was a nice place to come home to after long days of "conferencing." You were ideal guests - thank you for leaving the place immaculate! I hope you'll return either for future conferences and meetings or just for fun, when you'll have more time to explore all that Ithaca and the FInger Lakes have to offer!
My sisters and I had a wonderful stay at this very nice home. The house was so tastefully decorated, and we had everything we needed. The host was so quick in responding and answering any questions we had. We found plenty of things to do nearby, although we could have done more fun things if it had not have been a rainy day.
Mary K.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Oct, 2023
We were so happy to host you and your sisters, Mary! Thanks for being such thoughtful, fun guests. Glad the house was a comfortable place to be on a rainy fall day. Hope you will venture back and explore some more of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes (ideally on a day without rain - or maybe with some winter snow instead, as it’s so beautiful in winter, it’s much nicer than rain, and they clear things so quickly that you get the benefits of snow without a lot of problems - we’d love to have you back!
About the host
Hosted by Laurie Koehler
Though originally from the D.C. area, I'm a super fan of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes, having chosen to live here on two separate occasions as an adult who works in higher education. We love the combination of a beautiful natural environment which still takes my breath away every day, with a small, manageable city centered on education with an incredible arts scene, great food, and a lack of pretension. While known for being a wine-lovers paradise, I'm more knowledgeable about the outstanding craft beer scene in the area and am happy to provide recommendations if you are interested. Of course, I also have plenty of other recommendations on ways to spend your time here, what not to miss, the importance of trying all of the local ice cream, where to go for a short run, and more!
Why they chose this property
I'm so grateful to have found this house and the 5.6 acres on which it is situated! I feel like we live in the middle of a bird sanctuary/nature preserve and that when I'm at the house, the spaces inside and outside allow me to breathe in a way that the stress of the world sometimes can impede. As only the second owners of the home, I have such an appreciation for the original owners' thought processes in building the place - maximizing light, passive solar, and the views. It's private without being isolated - you can watch the deer in the front field one minute and then hop in the car and be at Ithaca Coffee Company or Salt Point Brewing in five minutes or Downtown or at the Farmer's Market in ten. Plus it's just really well built with quality materials and craftsmanship. It's a privilege to live here and serve as the stewards and caretakers of this remarkable place.
What makes this property unique
Every night, before heading upstairs to bed, if it's a relatively clear night, I make it a point to step outside - usually onto the back deck, but sometimes onto the front porch - look at the stars, and take some deep breaths. First off, I've never lived anywhere before with so little light pollution, so getting to see the number of stars I do is special (during one of the recent meteor showers, I literally counted 16 unique "shooting star" sightings!). But for me, it's also a chance to be reminded to keep perspective on the challenges of the day. I hope, if you choose to stay here, you'll also be able to find some peace and perspective amidst the busyness of your days.
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests