A relatively short drive from New Jersey (only about 5-6 hours by car), Rochester is a beautiful part of Upstate New York that has a mix of city, suburban, farm and college life. It’s known for its cultural institutions and museums, hosts several festivals year-round, and is emerging as a hot spot for foodies.
Why It’s Awesome
There are 75 experiences within an hour’s drive, plus 18 colleges and universities in a 5-county radius. It’s a golf destination for the PGA and U.S. Open; and has one of the country’s hottest ZIP codes (14609). It’s also close to Buffalo, Syracuse and the Canadian border, making it perfect for an extended vacation. And there’s a relatively new Neighborhood of Play that used to be a sunken highway that the city filled in; now it’s an area filled with family-friendly activities like the Strong Museum and Nerdvana restaurant.
What to Do
The Strong National Museum of Play will be a major highlight of your visit. Plan to spend a full day, if not two, wandering through 350,000 square feet of space dedicated to every type of game you can imagine, from European and Asian games from the 1700s, to the dolls and board games of your childhood, to newer virtual reality and video games that your kids will school you on.
The first floor is geared toward 2-10-year-olds, with a Sesame Street playground, a Berenstein Bears area, a carousel and even zip lining. There is a gigantic Chutes and Ladders on the wall, a few different library areas, a room filled with pinball games, a hallway of old-school arcade games, and a playset for littles.
The big draw here is a mock of a Wegman’s supermarket – the chain is headquartered in Rochester – where kids can cook you sushi or make you a pizza, go shopping for grocery items (all plastic and cardboard, of course) and check out at a real register.
The second floor is packed with activities for teens and adults, ranging from historic exhibits of dolls and toys to a virtual reality space to the world’s largest playable Donkey Kong. One room has interactive stations where you can play dodgeball or create your own avatar. Another room has large screens above your head so you can play Sonic or Mario Bros. in real time. There are also not one but two Toy Halls of Fame, one of which lets you vote for your favorite toys every year. You can spin the Magic 8 Ball, work a crane, or sit for a personalized Etch-a-Sketch portrait.
The Hasbro Board Game Place puts you inside of life-sized Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly and Candy Land games. Most people stood in line by the Dungeons & Dragons tower because if you hit the right code, the dragons will breathe fire.
There’s a giant food court for lunch, or plan to wait for a table at Bill Gray’s Skyliner Diner, which is a real diner that was relocated to inside the museum. Burgers, hot dogs and fries make this feel like classic Americana.
The Rochester Museum and Science Center is another fun place for the kids to explore, with exhibits ranging from the Ice Age and dinosaurs to an entire floor of hands-on STEM activities.
There’s a replica of a cave you can walk through, plus mastodon and dinosaur skeletons. Stand on a hoverboard and feel what happens during an earthquake or get hands-on in a room dedicated to water conservation and the exploration of the Rochester area.
Upstairs is a gallery of hands-on exhibits where you can look, hear and touch objects that simulate sound and light waves. And you can also see real-time satellite data from NASA and NOAA.
There’s also an area that lets your kids pretend they are a veterinarian, “scanning” their stuffed animals to look for bones and organs. They can also see how speed, power and electricity work through buttons and pulleys they can operate.
A more poignant area that may require some discussion with the kids is Take it Down!, which focuses on the concept of racism, including doors that lead into former slaves’ homes and escape routes. Abolitionist Frederick Douglas lived in Rochester and this space shares his legacy as well as a lesson on the Underground Railroad.
For families who enjoy a sightseeing tour, the Eastman Museum is more than a display of George Eastman’s cameras; it is located inside the former home of the founder of Kodak. He deemed it “a country escape in an urban estate.”
As you tour his mansion, ask about why there is a giant elephant’s head in the conservatory. Listen for the Opus 947 organ, which Eastman loved to listen to and which is still played at times today.
You will tour the billiard room, the library, the living room (which is outfitted in green, Eastman’s favorite color), his story lab; and the Discovery Room for kids, which has lots of books, puzzles and coloring projects that teach about animation and natural patterns.
The grounds are impressive, with beautiful decor, furniture and nostalgic items. On a nice day, walk through the gardens; the 8.5-acre property has a pergola, greenhouses, a vegetable garden, a stable and barn, chicken coops and an orchard.
Then head to the opposite side of the building where you can peruse the hallway of exhibits dedicated to the enhancement of the camera over the years. There are models dating back to 1888, some of which are 6 feet tall. One wall has a display of over 3,000 dye bottles from the Motion Picture Association, while another has 62 movie posters from the 1960s.
You can watch an intro video in the main lobby of this National Historic Landmark, and learn that it is the second-most photographed house in the country, just after The White House.
More history can be found at the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, where you will learn about Anthony’s early life as a Quaker and her later life as a suffragist as you go room by room of her home. You’ll see the clothes she used to wear, the beds she and her sister slept in, her mother’s rocking chair, and other items dating back 150 years. Your tour guide will also point out including a special set of eyeglasses on her bureau.
You’ll also learn about Anthony’s connection to Frederick Douglass, as well as her close friendship with Elizabeth Cady Stanton. She fought for equal rights for wage, divorce, custody and education for women; and for the end of slavery.
Look around the house for sunflowers, too, which became a symbol of the women’s movement. Ask to see copies of The Revolution and The North Star, which were important news publications of the time. And listen closely when you hear of how she was arrested by a U.S. Marshal because she registered to vote, which was illegal for women back then.
Upstairs in her office, there is her original recliner, a black dress and an alligator purse. A guest room and her old bedroom also have her original dresses on display.
After you climb the narrow stairs to the third floor, you’ll come to an opening in the attic where the National American Woman Suffrage Association met, which has her original desk from her New York City office, as well as papers with Anthony’s handwriting.
Across the street is Susan B. Anthony Square Park, with a lovely sculpture of Anthony and Douglas.
If your teens appreciate art, spend a few hours at the Memorial Art Gallery, part of the University of Rochester. As you pull up to the building you’ll see Centennial Sculpture Park. Once inside, you’ll walk into a bright, crisp pavilion that leads to hallways of exhibits. Take in the paintings, sculptures and interactive videos that capture artwork from up to 500 years ago, in the genres of Native American art, American art up to 1950, post-war and contemporary art, and Western NY crafts.
The second floor has the more impressive of the exhibits, both in terms of size and the mix of technology and art. There is a gigantic organ, hundreds of paintings adorning the walls, an Egyptian tomb, Middle Eastern art, and religious sculptures.
Seabreeze Amusement Park has a series of thrill rides, family rides, kiddie rides, and a water park – there are 60 attractions like the Hydro Racer, carousel, teacups and Kiddie City. There’s nostalgia here, too, since the theme park is over 100 years old, and is home to the Jack Rabbit, the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the U.S.
Wander around the Seneca Park Zoo on your own, or book a guided 90-minute tour to learn about the inner workings of the zoo. Special animal encounters include the Rocky Coast sea lion encounter, elephant encounter, giraffe feedings, rhino encounter and savanna tour.
Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial is perfect for your sports or performance fans, since the arena puts on shows of everything from the Harlem Globetrotters to ventriloquist Jeff Dunham to hockey and basketball games. The athletes in your family can skate at Tim Hortons Iceplex, which not only has public skating but also hockey lessons, a golf center, a lounge, and Livebarn game streaming.
About a half-hour away is the historic Genesee Country Village & Museum that takes you back to the 19th century of New York State. There are 68 buildings that showcase metal work, knitting, dressmaking and beer brewing firsthand from reenactors.
The historians will talk with you as if you were living in the 1800s, and offer demos. A blacksmith will heat iron in the forge; a brewmaster will let kids mill the hops; a dressmaker will show how clothing was sewn; and a potter will mold clay into vases.
If it’s field trip day, you’ll see kids walking around in period garb. Or if you visit in August for the Hop Harvest Festival, you’ll see how beer is made using old-time machinery.
There is a lot of ground to cover here, literally, and it’s hilly, so if you need a break head to the indoor John L. Wehle Gallery, which has rotating exhibits. We saw children’s clothing organized by timeframe in drawers that you could open; a magic lantern display for kids that shows how candles and kerosene preceded modern-day lights; and a Pelham Coach that was used for transportation in the 1800s.
Nature lovers can travel up to Lake Ontario, or take the Genesee Riverway Trail to walk along the Erie Canal (which is especially beautiful at sunset). Buffalo, Syracuse and The Finger Lakes are about 60-90 minutes away as well, with the Canadian border nearby.
Another huge draw is the Rochester Fringe Festival, which takes place for 12 nights every September. There are more than 600 performances planned across 30 venues! May features the Rochester Lilac Festival, where you can see and smell hundreds of varieties of the gorgeous flowers during a 10-day event.
Where to Eat
Start the day at Jines Restaurant, which has delicious omelets or banana bread French toast for a relaxed morning, its famous grilled cheese for lunch, or grilled fillet for dinner.
All the gamers in your family will obsess over Nerdvana, located across from The Strong, where every table has a video game system so you can play while eating.
You can see the High Falls from the rooftop of Genesee Brew House, which has Bavarian pretzels and buffalo chicken pierogi to complement its selection of in-house craft beers. The pizza here is hot and cheesy.
The gift shop is worth a visit of its own. The first floor of the brewery has lots of merch.
Branca Midtown has an incredibly thick mushroom pan pizza that’s a must-try.
The wedge salad and meatballs are great for starters. There’s an extensive wine list, too.
Top picks at The Cub Room include paella, Amish chicken and a seasonal plumcot tarte. Located in an industrial space, it has an old-school vibe, with a beautiful seating area and speakeasy-like vibe.
Where to Stay
The Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Rochester Downtown is steps away from The Strong and Nerdvana, making it an ideal location for families with young kids. It’s in the Neighborhood of Play, with other shops and restaurants nearby (and breakfast is included).
The DoubleTree by Hilton Rochester is close to the Marketplace Mall, the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester. Only 10 minutes from the airport, the hotel has a free shuttle if you’re traveling 5 miles around the area.
The Courtyard Rochester Downtown, owned by Marriott, is in the historic East End of town, right in the heart of the arts and entertainment districts. The Bistro serves breakfast and dinner, and there are other restaurants and cultural attractions in the area.
The Woodcliff Hotel & Spa was voted the Best New Spa in America, so it’s a bit of an indulgence. Newly renovated, there is Horizons Modern Kitchen + Wine Bar, a 9-hole golf course and more than 70 acres of trails to hike.
The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel is located downtown, just about 10 minutes from the downtown shops and restaurants. It’s in the center of some popular attractions – only 2 miles by car from The Strong, a block away from Rochester Riverside Convention Center, and about a half-mile from the Geva Theatre and Blue Cross Arena.
Staybridge Suites Rochester University is an extended-stay hotel, in case you’re looking to extend your vacation. There are beautiful views of the Genesee River, with direct access to scenic walking trails.
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