Rochester, New York. Not your first thought for a summer family travel destination? Look again.
Rochester has something for every age and every interest, from roller coasters to wine making, glass blowing to golf, staring at the stars to boating on a canal. This July, Rochester will be hosting the annual Macaroni Kid Silver Daisy Boondoggle when 50 Macaroni influencers descend on Rochester to discover first-hand all the region has to offer.
Known for its family-oriented activities and attractions, Rochester hosts nearly two million visitors each year. The third largest city in New York State, the greater Rochester region is a six-hour drive from New York City, 3 1/2 hours from Toronto and only 90 minutes from Niagara Falls.
The festival season kicks off in May with the world’s largest lilac collection at Highland Park’s Lilac Festival. In June, Downtown is alive with the sounds of jazz during the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, which is also the home of the renowned Eastman School of Music. For the golf fanatics in the family, Rochester has been named one of the 10 best golf cities in the country.
History buffs will love that Rochester sits at the center of the “100 Must-See Miles of the Erie Canal." Today, the historic canal thrives as an active recreational waterway with towpaths, shops and charming towns telling America’s story of “how the west began!” For those who like to take a step back in time, Rochester is home to two national historic landmarks that are open to the public, the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House and George Eastman Museum.
During their visit, Macaroni Kid Silver Daisies will enjoy these Rochester experiences:
- The Strong National Museum of Play is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame - the only museum in the world dedicated to the exploration of play and named the #1 family destination in the country by FamilyFun magazine in 2016.
- The Genesee Country Village & Museum takes visitors back in time to the 19th century and is the largest living history museum in New York and third largest in the country.
- Seabreeze Amusement Park is located between Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay, is the Finger Lakes region’s #1 summertime family fun destination offering roller coasters, rides, a midway and waterpark.
- A Finger Lakes Wine Tasting Experience is known around the world for their varietals.
- The Rochester Museum & Science Center is where visitors will find their inner scientist, featuring the Strasenburgh planetarium, one of the largest in the country.
- The Seneca Park Zoo gets visitors in touch with their wild side and is just as dedicated to conservation efforts as it is to family fun.
- The Erie Canal will be celebrating its bicentennial anniversary starting in 2017.
- Much, Much More!
