<p>We are making one of our last (hopefully) college search trips this month and will be heading home from Cornell. Both AAA and Mapquest suggest heading down further west and taking the GW Bridge to the Throgs Neck. I REALLY want to avoid the traffic on the Cross Bronx. H. suggested taking 87/NY Thruway south to the Tappan Zee to 95 South to the Throgs Neck...
Is there anyone else out there who might take this route or have other suggestions?
Thanks</p>
<p>P.S. Heard there are some waterfalls near Ithaca. Are any of these fairly close to campus? 8 and 11-yr old daughters will be coming along for the trip and would probably love a break from driving and college tours.</p>
<p>Can't answer the driving question, but I do know of some waterfalls near campus. There's Buttermilk Falls on Rt. 13 just outside of Ithaca and you can also go to Treman State Park for some there. Also, you can see stuff on campus; there are small waterfalls between North and Central campuses and also in Cascadilla gorge.</p>
<p>Thanks, towerpumpkin--
Think Buttermilk Falls is the one we heard mentioned. Will look up the others on the internet. Am looking forward to some upstate scenery--</p>
<p>I think we would do your second route. From Cornell, take 17 to 84 to 87 (thruway) down as far as the TappanZee and then across 287 to 95.</p>
<p>We go to Cornell from northern Fairfield Co ... so we take 84 into CT and then take 7 for the final stretch. For some reason, Mapquest doesn't recognize 17 -- but eventually that stretch of highway will be signed as I-86 and it's a nice, new interstate level highway. The 84 to 81 route through Scranton is too long.</p>
<p>If you want to avoid the Cross Bronx (a wise idea!), I would follow cnp55's directions, going over the Tappan Zee bridge to 287 (becomes the Cross Westchester Expressway). Then, I would take either the Hutchinson River Parkway South or I-95, depending on what the traffic reports on the radio say (often the Hutch is the better call). The Hutch will take you straight to the Whitestone Bridge (though there is long term construction there), and I'm sure you can find your way home from there. I-95 will lead you to the Throgs Neck Bridge via 695. Let the traffic reports be your guide.</p>
<p>Good advice you sally and cnp. Will get out the regular big map and check out the directions. Am starting to take Mapquest with a grain of salt... Got strange directions from them once before. Going anywhere to or from Long Island is a pain in the neck since we're bottle-necked in here. Thanks.</p>
<p>Regarding waterfalls - my personal favorite is Taughannock Falls <a href="http://www.taughannock.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.taughannock.com/</a>, but it's a little further than the ones listed below. Here's a little blurb about it from their website:
[quote]
The falls are formed by a rock bed creek entering the lake and surrounded by a glen with walls climbing to 400 feet (120 meters). The cataract has a drop of 215 feet (66 meters), one of the highest east of the Rocky Mountains slightly higher even (25 ft., 8 m) than Niagara (American side), but they cannot be compared because it has much smaller volume. Taughannock is interesting year round - the falls and gorge create a natural amphitheater with dense spray rising from the bottom often shrouding the lower part of the cataract in mist. The name "Taughannock" originates either from that of the Delaware Indian chief Taughannock or as the Delaware word taghkanic ("great fall in the woods").
<p>Yeah Taughannock is the best by far. It's absoutely amazing. And, hey, the falls on campus aren't that bad either, especially if it's been raining a bit. As for the driving, I have driven both routes and the route going along 287 and 17 is better in my opinion. Traffic aside, the scenery is much better! Have fun on the trip.</p>
<p>I think that Robert Treman park, with its gorge and waterfalls, is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I've ever been. I would definitely put it on the "do not miss" list.</p>
<p>our gps says the quickest way is to go through pennsylvania.
we take the cross bronx to I-80W which goes towards scranton,
then you take I-380N to
I-81N, which passes by binghamton.
continue on I-81N to exit 8 (rt-26) to whitney point/lisle
turn right on rt 26
turn left on rt 11
bear right at rt-79, go about 23 miles
turn right on pine tree rd which goes right onto campus by the parking garage.</p>