Sometimes, you just need a quick list of ideas to inspire you. So, I’ve compiled a simple, alphabetical list of 104 places to visit in and around Rochester. It includes a variety of natural attractions, parks, museums, theaters, and historical sites, providing a diverse range of options for day trips.
Start Planning Your Day!
- Abraham Lincoln Park
- Akron Falls
- Antique Wireless Museum
- ARTISANworks
- Auburn
- Bay Creek Paddling Center
- Beechwood State Park
- Blackfriars Theatre
- Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area
- Buttermilk Falls State Park
- Canandaigua
- Cascadilla Gorge
- Carpenter Falls
- Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
- Channing H. Philbrick Park
- Chimney Bluffs State Park
- Cobb’s Hill & Washington Grove
- Colonial Belle
- Comedy at the Carlson
- Corbett’s Glen Nature Park
- Corning
- Cumming Nature Center
- Darien Lake
- Durand Eastman Park
- Edgerton Model Railroad Room
- Ellicottville
- Erie Canal
- Eternal Flame Hiking Trail
- Fair Haven Beach State Park
- Farm Sanctuary
- Fillmore Glen State Park
- Fort Ontario State Historic Site
- G and S Orchards
- Ganondagan State Historic Site
- Genesee Country Village and Museum
- Genesee Valley Park
- George Eastman Museum
- Geneva
- Geva Theatre
- Glen Park Falls
- Golden Hill State Park
- Grimes Glen
- Gully Preserve
- Hamlin Beach State Park
- Hammondsport
- Hidden Sidewalk
- Highland Park
- Hochstein School
- Holley Canal Falls
- Honeoye Falls
- Hurd Orchards
- Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
- Ithaca
- JELL-O Gallery Museum
- Kodak Center
- Lamberton Conservatory
- Letchworth State Park
- Lewiston
- Linwood Gardens
- Little Theatre
- Maplewood Rose Garden
- Medina Railroad Museum
- Memorial Art Gallery
- Mendon Ponds Park
- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
- Mount Hope Cemetery
- New York Museum of Transportation
- Niagara Falls State Park
- OFC Creations Theatre Center
- Olcott Beach
- Old Fort Niagara
- Ontario Beach Park
- Penn Yan
- Powder Mills Park Fish Hatchery
- Riverie Boat Tours
- Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
- Rochester Contemporary Art Center
- Rochester Museum & Science Center
- Rochester Public Market
- Rochester Red Wings Baseball
- Roseland Waterpark
- RPO at Eastman Theatre
- Sam Patch Packet Boat Tours
- Sara’s Garden Center
- Seabreeze Amusement Park
- Seneca Falls
- Seneca Park Zoo
- Skaneateles
- Sodus Point Lighthouse
- Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
- Springdale Farm
- Sterling Nature Center
- Stokoe Farms
- Stony Brook State Park
- Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
- Syracuse
- Taughannock Falls State Park
- The Strong National Museum of Play
- Tinker Nature Park
- Turning Point Park
- Webster Park
- Watkins Glen State Park
- West Herr Auditorium Theatre
- Wickham Farms
More Day-Trip Inspiration
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.
Discover the best restaurants, lesser-known attractions, secluded hiking trails, picturesque waterfalls, and more.
132 Things to Do Around Rochester
We’ve pulled together a list of fun and unique things to do around Rochester, NY, within two hours of home—perfect for quick getaways.
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
New York Off the Beaten Path®
by Randi Minetor
Unknown Museums of Upstate New York: A Guide to 50 Treasures
by Chuck D’Imperio
Secret Places: A Guide to 25 Little Known Scenic Treasures of New York’s Niagara-Allegheny Region, Including the Beautiful, the Bizarre, the Special, and the Sublime
by Bruce Kershner
Secret Buffalo: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
by Elizabeth Licata
Is there a place you would add or remove to make this your go-to day trips list?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
Help Support My Work
People often ask me if I get free access to places while exploring. The answer is no unless I’m invited to previews or granted behind-the-scenes access as part of my media role. Generally, I don’t mention my project, Day Trips Around Rochester, NY, because I want the same experience you would have. I create and share content simply because it brings me joy.
If you have found valuable information that has helped you explore the Rochester area, become a paid subscriber on Substack. You’ll receive an email whenever I publish new content and have the opportunity to interact with a growing community.
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Thank you!
Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
Do you have trips that are Senior Friendly Using a walker?
Hello Linda! I have a guide to paved, boardwalk, and gravel walking paths with little elevation change and no stairs/steps. I hope this helps you find a new place to explore! https://daytrippingroc.com/paved-pathways/