The Greater Rochester Area is made up of nine counties that fall under the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
Some counties are also part of the 5-county Rochester Metropolitan Area, 7-county Genesee Valley Region, the 14-County Finger Lakes Region, and the 17-county Western New York region. Eight are part of DEC Region 8.
We are all part of Upstate New York.
But no matter how we group ourselves, each county has something very special to offer! This is only a highlight of each county to inspire you to explore the greater Rochester region. Visit each county’s tourism website to find more detailed information and to download their official guides.
Monroe County
& The City of Rochester
County Seat: City of Rochester
Major Municipalities: Greece, Irondequoit, Henrietta, Brighton, and Penfield are among the largest of the 19 towns and villages
Major bodies of water: Lake Ontario, Genesee River, Erie Canal
Major parks and natural areas: Braddock Bay, Irondequoit Bay, Highland, Mendon, Black Creek, and Durand Eastman. There are 23 City of Rochester Parks, and 20 Monroe County Parks
Sights & Attractions: Because we live in Monroe County, we’ve dedicated an entire page to it! Some places and events that draw crowds from across the country are the Strong Museum, International Jazz Festival, Eastman Museum, Eastman Theatre, and Rochester Museum & Science Center + Strasenburgh Planetarium
Monroe County is the heart of the Greater Rochester Nine County Region. The City of Rochester is surrounded by 19 towns and villages.
Scenic Drives: Lake Ontario Seaway Trail; NY-251 through Wheatland, Rush, & Mendon; NY-65 south to the Sunflower Field, Mendon Ponds Park, and Honeoye Falls; NY-31 and roads that hug the canal, like E. Canal Rd in Brockport, Canal Road through Adam’s Basin, and Schoen Place in Pittsford; Fishers Rd-Park Rd-Railroad Mills Road loop around Powder Mills Park; or any of the historic neighborhoods in the City
Genesee County
County Seat: City of Batavia
Major Municipalities : LeRoy, Bergen, East Bethany, Darien Center
Major bodies of water: Oatka Creek, Tonawanda Creek
Major parks and natural areas: Darien Lakes State Park, Genesee County Park & Forest, Bergen Swamp, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Dewitt Recreational Area, Indian Falls
Sights and attractions: Six Flags Darien Lake, Holland Land Office Museum, JELL-O Gallery Museum, Rolling Hills Asylum, Hartford Livery Museum, Tonawanda Reservation Historical Society
Scenic Drives: Take NY-33 into Batavia, and NY-77 north through Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, or take NY-98 south to US-20. and loop home on NY-19
Livingston County
County Seat: Village of Geneseo
Major Municipalities: Caledonia, Avon, Geneseo, Dansville
Major bodies of water: Genesee River, Conesus Lake, Hemlock Lake
Major parks and natural areas: Letchworth, MacKay Wildlife Preserve
Sights & attractions: Vintage Drive-In, National Warplane Museum, Wadsworth Homestead, Abbey of the Genesee, New Deal Gallery, Mount Morris Dam, Genesee Valley Hunt, Five Arch Bridge, Caledonia Fish Hatchery, Big Springs Museum
Scenic drives: Nations Rd, CR-408 south to Nunda, CR-15 south to Springwater, NY-20A between Geneseo and Lakeville
Ontario County
County Seat: City of Canandaigua
Major Municipalities: City of Geneva, Victor, Naples, Bristol, Phelps, Clifton Springs, Honeoye, Farmington
Major bodies of water: Canadice Lake, Honeoye Lake, Canandaigua Lake and a bit of Seneca Lake
Major parks and natural areas: Ontario County Park, Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, Ontario Pathways Trail, RMSC Cumming Nature Center
Sights and Attractions: Sonnenberg Gardens, Ganondagan State Historic Site, Bristol Mountain, Antique Wireless Museum, Canandaigua City Pier boat houses, New York Kitchen, CMAC, 1816 Farmington Quaker Meetinghouse Museum, Smith Opera House
Scenic Drives: Any combination of roads between Canandaigua and Naples: NY-21, NY-64, CR-16, CR-64, CR-33, CR-34, CR-36; NY-15A + US-20A; NY-444 + CR-41
Orleans County
County Seat: Village of Albion
Major Municipalities: Holley, Medina, Ridgeway, Shelby
Major bodies of water: Erie Canal, Lake Ontario, Oak Orchard Creek/River
Major parks and natural areas: Lakeside Beach State Park, Holley Canal Falls Park, Clarendon Falls, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Sights & attractions: NY-104 Cobblestones, Medina Historic District, Lyndonville Shoe Trees, Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame, Holley Depot Museum and Historic Society, Medina Railroad, Albion Courthouse Square District, Pullman Universalist Church, Oak Orchard Lighthouse
Scenic Drives: NY-63 through Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Medina, and Lyndonvile; CR-98 from Albion to Oak Orchard Lighthouse
Seneca County
County Seats: Village of Waterloo and Village of Ovid (It became a two-shire county in 1822.)
Major Municipalities: Seneca Falls, Lodi, Interlaken
Major bodies of water: East side Seneca Lake, West Side Cayuga Lake down to Trumansburg
Major parks and natural areas: Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Bishop Preserve, Seneca Lake State Park, Cayuga Lake State Park, Sampson State Park, former Seneca Army Depot
Sights & attractions: Women’s Rights National Historic Park, National Women’s Hall of Fame, It’s a Wonderful Life Museum, National Memorial Day Museum
Scenic Drives: Skip the thruway and make a slow-road loop of NY-96 and US-20
Wayne County
County Seat: Hamlet of Lyons
Majoy Municipalities: Wolcott, Sodus, Pultneyville, Newark, Palmyra, Macedon, Walworth, Ontario
Major bodies of water: Erie Canal, Lake Ontario
Major parks and natural areas: Chimney Bluffs State Park, B Forman Park, Montezuma Audubon Center
Sights & attractions: Brantling, Huckelberry Swamp, G & S Orchards, Alling Coverlet Museum, Hoffman Clock Museum, Hotchkiss Peppermint Museum, William Phelps General Store, Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum, Ohmann Theater, Museum of Wayne County History, Fox Sisters Property
Scenic Drives: Make a loop combining NY-104 and NY-31 through all of the canal towns, and, depending how far east you head, take NY-89 between Wolcott and Savannah, NY-414 between N. Rose and Clyde, NY-14 between Sodus Point and Lyons, or NY-88 between Sodus and Newark
Wyoming County
County Seat: Village of Warsaw
Major Municipalities: Wyoming, Perry, Castile Java, Silver Springs, Silver Lake, Varysburg, Arcade, Attica
Major bodies of water: Silver Lake, Genesee River
Major parks and natural areas: Letchworth from Perry south to Portageville, Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, Silver Lake State Park
Sights & attractions: Arcade & Attica Railroad, Hidden Valley Animal Adventure, Spotlight Theater, Charcoal Corral and Silver Lake Twin Drive-In, Wyoming County Historical Museum, Wyoming “Gaslight Village”
Scenic Drives: Make a loop of NY-19 and 19A; follow the wind turbines from US-20A and loop NY-78 or NY-39 and NY-77
Yates County
County Seat: Village of Penn Yan
Major Municipalities: Dresden, Italy, Milo, Dundee
Major bodies of water: West side of Seneca Lake, North side of Keuka Lake, south-east shore of Canandaigua Lake
Major parks and natural areas: Keuka Lake State Park, Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, High Tor WMA
Sights & attractions: Keuka Lake Wineries, The Windmill, Penn Yan Diner, Garrett Memorial Chapel, Yates County History Center
Scenic Drives: Loop NY-14 and 14A with NY-54, CR-1, CR-44 connecting Penn Yan, Dresden, Dundee, and Milo
2020 New York State & County Fairs
Our state and county fairs offer their own unique blend of agriculture, amusement, and entertainment, dating back to the early 1800s.
5 Roadside Attractions Worth Going Out of Your Way For
There are so many interesting roadside attractions near Rochester. As you’re driving around the area, you should at least see these five!
State Parks: Our Favorite 5 to Explore
Within a 2-hour drive of Rochester, there are 44 New York State Parks all worthy of exploration, but try our favorite five if you haven’t already!
Rochester Railfans: Trains, Depots, Rail-Trails, Models, & Clubs
Rochester railfans are incredibly lucky that passionate preservationists before us saw the value in retaining structures we can still appreciate today.
Spend a Day in the Finger Lakes Region
The Finger Lakes Region is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and right in our backyard! It is easy to get out there and explore.
Water Trails: 58 Places to Explore Rochester’s Waterways
Water trails are either formally marked routes along a navigable waterway, or simply any waterway suitable for kayaks and small motorized watercraft.
80 Hiking Trails Around Rochester
Here are a few less populated, rustic, or unusual trails around Rochester that will inspire you to take a hike. A diverse collection of rail-trails, waterside trails, and inland trails.
The Erie Canal spans 100-miles between Lockport and Lyons, with Rochester located right in the middle. Choose just 15 miles to explore for a great day trip!
20 Historic Inns & Hotels Around Rochester
These historic inns around Rochester offer unique dining experiences. Unlike bed & breakfasts, their dining rooms are open to the public.
12 Historic Small Movie Theaters
There is something about a 100-year-old small movie theater that enhances your experience and transcends you through space and time.
Diners were modular–manufactured in one place and moved by rail to the final location. They were designed to look like a train’s fine dining car.
40 Public Gardens Around Rochester
Enjoy a peaceful afternoon at one of these arboretums, labyrinths, estate gardens, or botanical gardens, all within a 2-hour drive of Rochester.
Where are your favorite places to explore around the Greater Rochester area?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!