The Finger Lakes region of New York is a great place to spend a weekend. We’re lucky that it’s close enough that we can drive up for the day. My in-laws were in town from Georgia so we thought a little road trip was in order – plus we LOVE Ithaca. Their tagline is “Ithaca is Gorges” and that it is! The weather was nice and warm – perfect for enjoying a Mint Watermelon Agua Fresca while dining outdoors!
We did a few short hikes to visit some of the waterfalls and gorges that Ithaca is famous for. There’s even a beautiful one on Cornell’s campus. Above is Taughannock Falls State Park and below is Treman State Park. Both lovely short hikes that can be done in under an hour.
And of course we ate and ate and filled ourselves up with the goodness that Ithaca restaurants have to offer.
A stop at Gorgers Subs is a must! Their sandwiches are so delicious and huge – so share one!
Ithaca Beer Co. is one of the many breweries in town. I love that their menu is based on what’s growing right outside in their gardens.
I loved the mint watermelon agua fresca that accompanied my breakfast at Ithaca Bakery so I decided to replicate it at home. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 
a refreshingly sweet, ice cold summer watermelon slushie
- 3 cups cold watermelon cubed
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 4 fresh mint leaves
- 1-2 cups of ice
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Put first 4 ingredients in a blender and pulse until combined.
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Add ice.
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Pulse until well blended and frothy.
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Enjoy!
Keep frozen cubes of lemon juice in the freezer for all your summertime drinks! Easy access means you can make all different flavors of agua fresca slushies all summer long!
Liz
February 23, 2016 at 6:24 pmI grew up in Rochester, NY so we made lots of trips to Ithaca in my childhood. I have such great memories hiking, hanging by the lake, and, of course, eating! Love your recipe for Watermelon Agua Fresca— looks so delicious!
Emily
February 23, 2016 at 10:08 pmWe’ve been up here in northeast PA for about 4 years now. It’s been really fun exploring all the lakes, etc. I can’t wait until the weather warms up again so I can make some agua fresca! 🙂
Synthia
February 19, 2018 at 1:06 pmOne of the best places to explore