Escape Winter: 5 Warm & Cozy Places Around Rochester

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

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.

2. 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 weekend of spring 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.

3. Monroe County Libraries

Signing up for a free library card gives you access to all 31 Monroe County libraries! The Monroe County 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.

4. RMSC + Planetarium

In the Rochester Museum & Science Museum, you’ll interact with immersive installations like At The Western Door, Rochester’s Underground Railroad, Science on a Sphere, Expedition Earth, Adventure 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.

5. More Museums Around Rochester

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

How do you like to escape winter in Rochester?

I’d love to hear from you—please reach out and share your thoughts and experiences.