Fodor’s gives nod to Mount Vernon

Cornellians love Mount Vernon, and Fodor’s does too, naming it one of “5 Midwestern Small Towns to Visit Now.” Fodor’s notes some of Mount Vernon’s attractions, including the Lincoln Café—with its James Beard-Award semi-finalist chef, Matt Steigerwald—nearby Palisades-Kepler State Park, and shops like Alice’s Wonderland, Polly Ann’s Antiques, the Purple Elephant Boutique, and Fuel, our dual antique shop/espresso café.

The article also gives mention to Cornell College, which continues to maintain strong bonds with Mount Vernon. Cornell draws faculty, staff, and 1,100 students to live in Mount Vernon and offers community members a Purple Pass for free admission to athletic events and Music Mondays concerts. Likewise Mount Vernon supports Cornell, as the First Street Community Center shares its stage with theatre students.

Though not mentioned in the Fodor’s article, Mount Vernon also boasts unique opportunities for the local community to gather and enjoy the annual festivals in town, including Chalk the Walk, Chocolate Stroll, Magical Night, Heritage Days, and the Lincoln Highway Arts Festival.

This is the second major nod to Mount Vernon, following the 2009 Frommer’s Budget Travel article naming the town one of the 10 Coolest Small Towns in America. The rest of the world is figuring out what Cornellians already know: Mount Vernon is a special place.