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strong museum play butterfly garden cover

Escape Winter: 5 Warm & Cozy Places

With tropical temperatures or cozy environments, these Rochester-area destinations offer pleasant snowy-day getaways—at least for a few hours.

People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.

Anton Chekhov

1. Strong Museum’s Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden

Strong Butterfly Garden
Strong Museum of Play Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden
Strong Museum of Play Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden Rochester skyline
Escape winter: Strong Museum of Play Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden landed on wrist
Butterfly Garden

Dancing Wings inside the Strong National Museum of Play is the only butterfly garden in Upstate New York that is open year-round. With a rainforest environment, it’s the perfect retreat from winter.

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Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong National Museum of Play boasts the world’s most extensive collection of play-related historical materials.

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2. Lamberton Conservatory

Lamberton Conservatory tropical flower
Lamberton Conservatory dessert room
Lamberton Conservatory tangerine
Lamberton Conservatory
Lamberton Conservatory

Tropical plants need tropical temperatures, so visiting Lamberton Conservatory in winter is a welcome escape from the cold! Each December, the Holiday Show welcomes you with holiday lights, greens, and poinsettias. The Spring Show opens around the first spring weekend and runs through the Lilac Festival in May. It features hyacinth, daffodils, and tulips, and the color and aroma make it a welcome retreat from winter.

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Lamberton Conservatory

Highland Park’s Lamberton Conservatory is a serene, colorful glass greenhouse displaying diverse exotic, desert, and economic plants.

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3. Monroe County Libraries

Irondequoit Library
Irondequoit
Central
Rush library
Rush
Scottsville Free Library
Scottsville

Signing up for a free library card gives you access to all 31 Monroe County libraries! The Monroe Country Library System comprises town and village locations, Rochester Public Library branch locations, and the Central Library. Each library has unique amenities and environments, so spend some time this winter exploring a few. You can also check out a local bookstore.

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31 Monroe County Libraries

A free library card allows you to access 31 Monroe County libraries, including Central Library and Libby, the digital library.

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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.

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4. RMSC + Planetarium

rochester museum science center planetarium seating
Strasenburgh Planetarium
Rochester Museum Science Center mastadon wooly mammoth
rmsc tesla coils
rochester museum science center water cover
RMSC Wonder of Water Exhibit

In the Science Museum, you’ll interact with immersive installations like At The Western DoorRochester’s Underground RailroadScience on a SphereExpedition EarthAdventure Zone, and the Electricity Theater’s Singing Tesla Coils. New and innovative exhibits keep each visit unique. The state-of-the-art Strasenburgh Planetarium takes guests on a journey to explore space from all viewpoints, not just Earth’s perspective. It’s an extraordinary asset for the Rochester community, and I highly encourage you to explore the Universe, especially if you haven’t been there in years.

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Rochester Museum & Science Center

Between the star shows, laser shows, interactive exhibits, and Singing Tesla Coils, the Rochester Museum and Science Center will entertain you for hours!

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5. More Museums Around Rochester

ARTISANworks cars
ARTISANworks
New York Museum of Transportation Midtown Monorail
NY Museum of Transportation
Museum of the Earth
Museum of the Earth
corning museum of glass
CMOG
Medina Railroad Museum station
Medina RR
Jell-O Museum
JELL-O Gallery

Take some time to explore some of our lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path, and odd-collection museums.

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Museums Around Rochester

Rochester is home to world-renowned museums and thought-provoking galleries. You can spend weeks exploring our rich cultural heritage.

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Colorful Places: Day Trip Ideas to Brighten a Gray Rochester Day

In a city where weather often impacts our mental health, exposing yourself to vibrant hues can help dispel the gloom of a gray Rochester day.

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Theaters Around Rochester

Sit back, relax, and enjoy a show on stage or screen. Experience diverse artistic expression, from Broadway productions to classic movies.

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12 Ideas for Staying Warm & Active Throughout the Winter in Rochester

Don’t let winter in Rochester force you into hibernation. If snow doesn’t appeal to you, think of everything there is to do indoors.

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Shared Rochester Experiences that Make Great Gifts

Giving the gift of shared Rochester experiences offers rewards that go well beyond mere personal joy—where less is genuinely more.

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Fun, Family-Friendly Restaurants, Cafes, and Breweries

I asked our day-trip community: “Do you know of any Rochester-area restaurants that are great for date night and kid-friendly but not kid-centric?” Here’s what you said!

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How do you like to escape winter in Rochester?


I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Debi Bower, Day Trips Around Rochester NY

Debi Bower is the founder and creative director of daytrippingroc.com and author of the award-winning book Day Trips Around Rochester, New York.

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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

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Enjoy the Journey Together!

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