Second Edition Now Available
Day Trips Around Rochester, New York
Your guide to exploring within two hours of Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.
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4 Ways to Spend Memorial Day Weekend 2025 Around Rochester
Over Memorial Day Weekend, May 23–26, 2025, we gather as a community to honor our fallen heroes and kick off the summer season in Rochester.
Summer Starts Here! 25 Ways to Make the Most of the Season
From outdoor concerts to farmers markets and gorge trails, this Rochester-area checklist will inspire memorable summer adventures close to home.
Outdoor Dining Around Rochester
From sidewalk patios and rooftop lounges to vineyard terraces, there’s no shortage of places to eat, drink, and enjoy the sunshine.
7 Significant City of Rochester Festivals in 2025
This guide aims to showcase Rochester’s most popular festivals, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to our beautiful city.
25 Hidden Places Around Rochester
From secret gardens to enchanting waterfalls, exploring hidden places around the Rochester area is the ultimate way to add some spice to your travel experiences.
Farms & Farmers’ Markets: Your Guide to Locally Grown Produce
Exploring local markets and roadside produce stands is a great way to immerse yourself in the community and support family farms.
8 Father’s Day Ideas for a Memorable Day 2025 with Dad
Treat Dad to a ballgame with fireworks, drive the Glen, attend a battle reenactment, and more for an unforgettable Father’s Day.
Rochester Vibes: Day Trips to Fit Your Mood
Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, nostalgia, or something playful, there’s a destination vibe to match your mood.
Rochester in Bloom: Where and When to Experience The Flower City’s Seasonal Beauty
Rochester in Bloom is a comprehensive guide to Rochester’s bold botanicals, offering information on what blooms, when, and where to find them.
Things to Do in Rochester This Weekend
Discover the best concerts, festivals, community events, special events, and other things to do in Rochester this weekend or anytime!
Savor Local Flavor: 29 Breweries & Cideries in Monroe County
Considering all the breweries that call the Greater Rochester area home can be overwhelming. Let’s focus on the ones here in Monroe County.
Gorge trails call out from their deep, dark, and cool caverns. If you haven’t already, start checking these spectacular trails off your list.
Grand Adventures: 10 Rochester Skip-Gen Day Trip Ideas
This guide offers ten skip-gen day trip ideas for grandparents and grandchildren to spend quality time exploring the Rochester area together.
New & Used Bookstores Around Rochester
Books take us on a journey through time and space. If you’re looking for a new adventure, check out these bookstores around Rochester.
Transformative Travel Destinations
Instead of being an escape, I see these places as opportunities that encourage us to transcend space, time, and our state of mind.
Paved, Boardwalk, and Gravel Pathways for Easy Strolls
These paved pathways and boardwalks are ideal for folks using strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, or managing other mobility challenges.
Upcoming Events
- May 29–Jun 1: Rochester Greek Festival
- Jun 6–8: Fairport Canal Days
- Jun 20–28: Rochester International Jazz Festival
- Jul 12–13: Corn Hill Arts Festival
- Jul 19: ROC Pride Festival & Parade
- Jul 30–Aug 2: Puerto Rican Festival
- Aug 7: Rochester Teen Film Festival
- Aug 8–10: Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival
- Aug 14–17: Ukrainian Arts & Craft Festival
- Aug 22–23: Fairport Music Festival
- Sep 6–7: M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival
- Sep 9–20: Rochester Fringe Festival
- Sep 26–28: Roc the Riverway Weekend
- Sep 27–28: Naples Grape Festival
- Dec 5–28: Roc Holiday Village
More Event Calendars
Beyond The Nest
City Magazine
Kids Out and About Rochester
Visit Rochester
FEATURED
The Erie Canal
Celebrating 200 Years
1825–2025
Discover how Rochester and canal towns across New York are honoring 200 years of the Erie Canal—and how you can experience it in 2025.
Experience the Erie Canal
With a wonderfully walkable Main Street and a picture-perfect setting along the Erie Canal, Fairport is the quintessential canal village.
With its scenic canal views, unique shops, cozy cafés, and rich history, Pittsford offers the perfect blend of relaxation and discovery.
FEATURED
Parklands
Discover a variety of green spaces in the city, town, county, and state parks, as well as the spaces in between.
Explore Our Parks
50 New York State Parks Within a Two-Hour Drive of Rochester
Venture into one of these New York State Parks within a two-hour drive of Rochester and discover what makes them unique.
Monroe County parks are free and offer 12,000 acres of natural, zoological, horticultural, historical, and geological experiences.
Many of our City of Rochester parks have beginnings embedded in Rochester’s youth. Some were even designed by notable landscape architects.
Our Favorite 5 Town Parks to Explore
Among my top five favorite town parks are those with distinctive wooded areas, diverse wildlife, and captivating water features.
Nature Centers and Preserves Around Rochester
The various nature centers, preserves, and management areas all work to protect and maintain natural spaces for the benefit of all.
30 Perfect Picnic Spots Around Rochester
When searching for the perfect picnic spots, I look for a picnic table, scenery and proximity to water, shade, and relative privacy.
Geologic History of the Rochester Area
These day trips into Rochester’s geologic history will remind you just how amazing our corner of the Earth is.
FEATURED
Things to Do Around Rochester
Make the most of your time in and around Rochester.
Explore Deeper
10 Must-See Places in Rochester, New York
These must-see Rochester destinations—from natural wonders in the heart of downtown to iconic cultural landmarks—perfectly capture the city’s spirit.
These day trips are filled with carefully chosen options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as memorable experiences and events.
The Clock of Nations Returns to Midtown
Experience the iconic Midtown Plaza Clock of Nations, now open to the public at Tower280 in Rochester, NY, daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
These day trips are filled with carefully chosen options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as memorable experiences and events.
Brewing Excellence: A Guide to Rochester’s Finest Coffee Roasters and Cafes
Rochester is well known for its robust coffee culture, with unique roasts and inviting cafes known for their sense of community.
Your Rochester Date Guide for Spending Quality Time Together, Day or Night
Whether it’s your first date or 50th anniversary, trying various activities with your partner is a great way to shake up your routine.
I have compiled a quick reference list of 104 natural attractions, parks, museums, and tours to inspire your day trips from Rochester.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy a show on stage or screen. Experience diverse artistic expression, from Broadway productions to classic movies.
Rochester is home to world-renowned museums and thought-provoking galleries. You can spend weeks exploring our rich cultural heritage.
Whether savoring a gourmet meal, enjoying local delicacies, or embarking on a culinary adventure, you’ll love Rochester’s dining scene.
Rochester-Area Shopping Guides
Rochester offers delightful shopping experiences, from charming neighborhood boutiques to bustling shopping destinations in nearby villages.
Unplugged and Offline: Take This Guidebook on the Road
The second edition of Day Trips Around Rochester, New York encourages offline serendipity and getting lost in the right direction.
My Favorite Books About the Rochester Area
I’ve provided links to borrow these Rochester-themed books from a Monroe County Library or to purchase them online via Amazon or Bookshop.
Additional Resources for Rochester Day-Trip Inspiration
In addition to my website, here are some links to Rochester travel and tourism sites, blogs, and magazines to inspire your day-trip plans.
Find hundreds of fun and unique things to do around Rochester, NY, within two hours of home—perfect for a spontaneous day trip. Use our themed guides and maps to plan memorable adventures all year long.