Why Visit Rochester? History, Playtime and Waterfalls!

I love discovering unexpected cities. Cities that you think are one thing but turn out to be another. Places where families can reconnect with American history, explore incredible, natural beauty and have some good, old-fashioned fun.

Rochester, New York is one of those cities.

Rochester sits on the Southern shore of Lake Ontario, just under six hours from New York City and less than two hours from Niagara Falls. New York’s third largest city, Rochester, is experiencing a renaissance that we see happening in many of the country’s smaller cities. Downtown boasts BBQ joints (a special shout out to Dinosaur BBQ, just trust us on that), microbreweries, museums and more. But the magic here is in the diverse offerings of the Rochester region, mostly accessible in under 30 minutes from the city.

History Comes to Life in Rochester

To understand the story of Rochester, you have to first understand the story of the Erie Canal, a 363-mile waterway dug largely by hand that connected the Hudson River with the Great Lakes. The Canal was the lifeblood of the region and there is no better way to understand the majesty and importance of the Canal than by boat.

On a recent visit, we boarded the Colonial Belle in the evening from the quaint riverside Village of Fairport. On board, we enjoyed dinner, drinks and fascinating bits of history as we cruised gently down the canal. It was the ideal way to kick off a weekend in Rochester and begin to understand how American history comes to life around practically every corner.

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In fact, just 20 miles away, history literally comes to life at the Genesee Country Village and Museum. This expansive, living museum is a 19th-century historic village where costumed interpreters share the intricacies of life in the 20th century as families wander through the Village’s working farm, pioneer house, pottery, sweet shop, brewery and so much more. Time your visit right and you could catch baseball played the old-fashioned way, or see baby animals being nursed at the farm.

The spirit of history and independence runs deep in Rochester. And no place do you feel the weight, vision and optimism of that spirit more than in the home where Susan B. Anthony met with Frederick Douglass, rallied her sisters, wrote her speeches and was ultimately arrested for having the audacity to vote.

Playtime at the Epicenter of Play

Rochester delivers a whole lot of playtime with its robust history. In fact, Rochester is home to the world’s only museum dedicated entirely to fun and games.

When you walk through the doors of The Strong National Museum of Play, you will be greeted by a working carousel circa 1918 and an old-fashioned diner. Head past the entrance to explore more than a full city block that houses tens of thousands of artifacts, dozens of interactive exhibits, a butterfly garden, Wegman’s Super Kids Market -- which brings playing grocery store to a whole ‘nother level -- a human-sized chess board, a tribute to Sesame Street, an exhibit that brings iconic children’s books to life, the Toy Hall of Fame and so very, very much more. With most of the exhibits providing hands-on fun, the Strong delivers a day of play, exploration and fun and the chance to view history through the lens of play.

Even Rochester’s local amusement park offers a slice of Americana. During its 138 summer seasons, Seabreeze Amusement Park has given thousands of kids their first summer job and tens of thousands of kids their first rollercoaster ride on the iconic Jack Rabbit wooden roller coaster, the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in America. Despite its long history, Seabreeze never stops innovating, adding new features, attractions and fun yearly including a water park and their newest addition, the Time Machine. Seabreeze is the kind of amusement park that is big and varied enough to entertain the entire family, but small enough that you will feel comfortable letting your kids do some exploring on their own.

Rochester is also home to lions and tigers and goats, oh my. The mission of Rochester’s Seneca Park Zoo is Connect, Care and Conserve and they work to accomplish all three by connecting guests with their magnificent animals, caring for them with a deep commitment and working every day to conserve and protect many endangered species. The zoo itself is in transition, with new, spacious habitats under construction to provide an even better home for the Zoo’s animals.

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Waterfalls, Lakes and the Grand Canyon of the East

Less than an hour from Rochester is Letchworth State Park, a 14,000-acre park that is often called “The Grand Canyon of the East.” If that sounds like an overstatement, it did to me, too. Until I arrived at the Glen Iris Inn for lunch.

The Glen Iris Inn sits beside the park’s Middle Falls where the Genesee River has worn deep gorges and created high, magnificent cliffs. The Inn was once the home of William Pryor Letchworth, a philanthropist determined to preserve this region who donated the park’s first 1,000 acres. Fuel up with lunch at the Inn before heading out for miles of hiking or a visit to the newly-completed Humphrey Nature Center to learn more about the region. The immense park, regularly touted as one of the best in the nation, offers camping, hiking, kayaking, rafting and even the chance to explore the gorges by hot air balloon.

As if there’s not enough to do in Rochester, it is also the “gateway to the Finger Lakes” a region of New York named for the regions 11 finger-shaped lakes. Known for its many vineyards, wine tasting abounds in the Finger Lakes. But for a more family-friendly tour, hit the Finger Lakes Sweet Trail. Voted one of the nation’s top food tours, between June 2 and November 25, you can grab a map and check out sources for sweets from summer strawberries to locally-made candy, ice cream, apples and more.

Rochester is a rich, accessible and fun family destination. There’s a boatload of things to do and see. For help planning, check out Visit Rochester.
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The writer was a guest of Visit Rochester and its partners for three nights. Accommodations, meals and most activities were complimentary. No other compensation was received and all opinions are her own.