Ithaca, New York

Engaging Ithaca, New York (population 31,000 plus students, with 100,000 in the surrounding area), once known as the "City of Evil" for its tolerance of gambling, drinking and swearing, is today a mellow metropolis that is home to the Ivy League's Cornell University and three other colleges.  It is situated in the rural center of New York state, along the southern tip of 40-mile long Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, and has a reputation as a very liberal, casual and enlightened city. Youthful and laid-back, it boasts an average cost-of-living, lush natural beauty, a low crime rate and plenty of activities to keep any retiree busy.