Winter can feel long in upstate New York. The days are shorter, the calendar fills more slowly, and the urge to go somewhere doesn’t always line up with the weather.
That’s where 104 Days of Day Trips comes in.
Inspired by Route 104, which connects so many corners of our region, this series shares one day-trip idea each day—some well-known, some hidden, all worth remembering. Think of it as a daily dose of inspiration: places to bookmark, save, and return to when spring arrives.
You don’t have to go anywhere today.
Just start imagining where you might go next.
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Start Planning Your Next Adventure!
- Abbey of the Genesee
- Akron Falls
- Allegany State Park
- ARTISANworks
- Auburn
- Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area
- Buffalo AKG Art Museum
- Buffalo Waterfront
- Buttermilk Falls State Park
- Canandaigua
- Carpenter Falls
- Cascadilla Gorge
- Channing H. Philbrick Park
- Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
- Chimney Bluffs State Park
- Cobb’s Hill & Washington Grove
- Cobblestone Museum
- Colonial Belle
- Corbett’s Glen Nature Park
- Corn Hill Navigation Boat Tours
- Corning
- Delaware Park
- Durand Eastman Park
- East Aurora
- Edgerton Model Railroad Room
- Eternal Flame Hiking Trail
- Fair Haven Beach State Park
- Fairport
- Farm Sanctuary
- Fillmore Glen State Park
- Fort Ontario State Historic Site
- G and S Orchards
- Ganondagan State Historic Site
- Garrett Memorial Chapel
- Genesee Country Village and Museum
- Genesee Valley Park
- Geneva
- George Eastman Museum
- Glen Park Falls
- Golden Hill State Park
- Green Lakes State Park
- Griffis Sculpture Park
- Grimes Glen
- Hamlin Beach State Park
- Hammondsport
- Havana Glen
- Helmer Nature Center
- Hemlock Lake Park
- Hidden Sidewalk
- High Falls
- Highland Park
- Holley Canal Falls
- Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
- Ithaca
- Keuka Outlet Trail
- Lamberton Conservatory
- Letchworth State Park
- Lewiston
- Lily Dale Assembly
- Linwood Gardens
- Maplewood Rose Garden
- Medina Railroad Museum
- Memorial Art Gallery
- Mendon Ponds Park
- Meridian Centre Park
- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
- Moss Lake Preserve
- Mount Hope Cemetery
- Naples
- New York Museum of Transportation
- Niagara Falls State Park
- Oatka Creek Park
- Olcott Beach
- Old Erie Canal Heritage Park
- Old Fort Niagara
- Ontario Beach Park
- Penn Yan
- Powder Mills Park & Fish Hatchery
- Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
- Rochester Museum & Science Center
- Rochester Public Market
- Rochester Red Wings Baseball
- Rock City Park
- Royalton Ravine
- Sara’s Garden Center
- Seabreeze Amusement Park
- Seneca Falls
- Seneca Park Zoo
- Skaneateles
- Sodus Bay Lighthouse
- Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
- Springdale Farm
- Sterling Nature Center
- Stony Brook State Park
- Strong National Museum of Play
- Sunken Garden
- Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
- Sycamore Hill Gardens
- Syracuse
- Taughannock Falls State Park
- Tinker Nature Park
- Turning Point Park
- Watkins Glen State Park
- 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.
Never run out of places to explore.
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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?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Help Support My Work
People often ask if I get free access to the places I visit. The answer is no—unless I’m invited to a special preview or offered behind-the-scenes access through my media role. Most of the time, I don’t even mention Day Trips Around Rochester, New York when I visit a place. I want to have the same experience you would.
I create and share this content because it brings me joy—and I hope it adds value to your adventures, too.
If my work has helped you explore and appreciate the Rochester area, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. You’ll receive an email whenever I publish new content and have the chance to connect with a growing community of local explorers.
Thank you for supporting my efforts to keep producing meaningful and helpful content.
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/