You know when you meet someone and you just like them? That’s what happened when I first landed in Rochester, New York. I felt home, I felt welcomed. Rochester is perfect for a scenic getaway packed with diverse activities. For me this is my home in America:)
Let me be honest when people say upstate new york Rochester is not the first place pop in you mind. But believe me it is worth a trip to experience any of the four seasons. This is a town that came to life thanks to three major companies — Xerox, Kodak and Bausch & Lomb. Today, those companies have lost their strongholds in the city, bringing in a new wave of small businesses and young professionals to the city.
By plane: You can fly to Greater Rochester International Airport.
By train: Take Amtrak to Rochester station (ROC) at 320 Central Ave.
By car: From NYC: 5.5 hours From Toronto: 3 hours From Boston: 6 hours From Buffalo: 1 hour 15 min.
Letchworth State Park
“Grand Canyon of the East,” this is the place to go if you want to spot a rainbow. You’ll be floored by the natural beauty of the cascading waterfalls. The park spans 17 miles through a gorge and features walking trails of various skills levels. I remember coming here for a picnic and afternoon hike after log winters, the perfect way to spend a spring day. During summer time you can camp. My go to activities were white water rafting on the saturday morning, late night sky gazing & small hike on the sunday & BBQ. During Autumn season you can see beautiful fall foliage.You can even take a hot air balloon ride and enjoy the scenery from above!
University of Rochester
Take a walk around UofR campus. Walk through collage town and enjoy Abbott’s Frozen Custard is one of Rochester’s most famous establishments. They’re open from March to November and have soft serve ice cream creations that will satisfy even the most extreme sweet tooth.
Explore Mount Hope cemetery. It's more than a cemetery, it's a peaceful park, a wildlife sanctuary, and an outdoor museum & this is where Rochester’s history is celebrated! The final resting place of an eminent human rights leader, a tireless advocate for women’s rights, a media mogul, an influential landscape architect, an innovative poet, and tens of thousands of people who shaped Rochester’s past as well as that of the country.
Wine and cheese Tasting
Less than an hour from Rochester by car is the Finger Lakes region, featuring gourmet wine and cheese trails. .
There are also more than 50 wineries in the area, with popular labels such as Fox Run and Knapp Wine. You can tour the vineyards, get a firsthand look at the production process and go wine tasting. If you’re a wino and you know it, make sure to take a tour so you don’t have to drive.
Annual Lilac Festival
Rochester had earned its title of"Flower City"as an entrepreneurial center of gardening excellence.The Annual Lilac Festival takes place in Highland Park in and is the largest of its kind in North America. It takes place in late May and boasts about 2000 bushes of over 500 different varieties of lilac.
Food truck vendors, live music and flowers entertaining a half a million visitors throughout the 10-day event.
There’s a lilac run, parade, craft beer expo and wine tasting. You don’t need a ticket to attend generally, just for special ticketed events. The celebration grows bigger every year and is a must-see!
If you are a skier you must visit Bristol Mountain during ski season which is almost 6 months of the year from Nov till April. For remaining part of the year you can enjoy bike rides along the Erie canal trail or you can check out beautiful waterfalls on the Genesee River. Right across the waterfall you can take a break and sip on Genesee Beer at there Brewery The Cobb's Hill Park was my go to spot to sunsets in the summer.
Don't forget to check out word famous garbage plate at Nick Tahoes if you are vegan or vegetarian like me check out check out red fern or sticky lips they have great option for vegan garbage plate. But no matter where you eat make sure to get a pint of Genesee at the Genesee Brew house with amazing waterfall in middle of the city with city skyline.
There is so much to see and do in and around Rochester With a diverse season it has become a popular destination for landscape photographers.
Great pictures and appropriate details of the places 🙂