Planning Your Next Rochester Day Trip

These top ice cream and frozen dessert shops in charming villages and city neighborhoods turn a simple scoop into an artisanal delight.

Enjoy our four favorite extreme Christmas lights, plus more extraordinary Rochester-area homes and holiday-themed events.

Instead of being an escape, I see these places as opportunities that encourage us to transcend space, time, and our state of mind.

Day Trips Around Rochester, New York, the book, encourages offline spontaneity, serendipity, and the joy of getting lost in the right direction.

This guide offers ten skip-gen day trip ideas for grandparents and grandchildren to spend quality time exploring the Rochester area together.

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

Come September, we begin to crave all things apple: cider, donuts, fritters, hard cider, pie, and warm cinnamon fry cakes.

I find green to be a soothing color, especially when surrounded by it. Here are some of my favorite places to go green!

My favorite fall hikes offer a variety of landscapes and scenic views, including rivers, forests, and peaceful surroundings.

Local experts who highlight the rich history, geology, ecology, and community of the greater Rochester region lead these guided walks.

Some food destinations are well-established, while others are quickly becoming favorites as Rochester’s culinary scene explodes.

Exploring local markets and roadside produce stands is a great way to immerse yourself in the community and support family farms.

Rochesterians are fortunate to be surrounded by abundant freshwater resources that present us with unique stewardship opportunities.

Considering all the breweries that call the Greater Rochester area home can be overwhelming. Let’s focus on the ones here in Monroe County.

Step back in time when you visit these old-fashioned country stores filled with nostalgic candies, vintage toys, and charming knickknacks.

These paved pathways and boardwalks are ideal for folks using strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, or managing other mobility challenges.

Whether it’s your first date or 50th anniversary, trying various activities with your partner is a great way to shake up your routine.

Venture into one of these New York State Parks within a two-hour drive of Rochester and discover what makes them unique.

Have fun finding these fun roadside attractions—shoe trees, a skeleton army, a metal dragon, a shark girl—within two hours of Rochester.

During Maple Weekends, March 16-17 and 23-24, 2024, producers open their sugar shacks to honor the art and science of turning sap into syrup.

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

Rochester has a vibrant street art culture, with dozens of murals, graffiti, and other forms of public art on display throughout the region.

These day trips into Rochester’s geologic history will remind you just how amazing our corner of the Earth is.

If you’re looking to spend time outdoors, give snowshoeing a try. There are places around Rochester to rent and learn how to use them.

These lighthouses along Lake Ontario in New York are within a two-hour drive of Rochester. And where there’s a light there’s a sweeping view!

Rochester’s railfans can appreciate the remarkable structures preserved by dedicated preservationists who recognize their value.

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