270+ Rochester Date Ideas

The Ultimate Guide for Spending Quality Time Together in Rochester, NY

We’ve broken these date ideas into themes to help you find a topic you already love or want to try. Whether it’s your first date or 50th, trying various activities with your partner is a great way to connect, learn more about each other, and shake up your routine.

Take a Walk In the Park

1. Monroe County Parks
2. Great Winter Walks
3. Take a guided walk, as a couple or with a group
4. Immerse Yourself in Green
5. Our Favorite Places to Take a Walk
6. New York State Parks
7. Beautiful Boardwalks
8. Paved Pathways for Easy Strolls
9. Hiking Trails
10. Gorge Trails
11. Geo-caching
12. Rock Cities
13. Genesee Riverway Trail in the City
14. Genesee Valley Greenway south of the city
15. Nature Centers & Wildlife Preserves
16. National Natural Landmarks
17. Seek Solitude
18. Get Away From It All

Wander Among the Flowers

1. Public Gardens & Arboretums
2. The Flower City
3. Lamberton Conservatory
4. Maplewood Rose Garden
5. Webster Arboretum

Nature reserves

1. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
2. Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
3. MacKay Wildlife Preserve
4. Helmer Nature Center
5. Nature Centers and Preserves

Explore a Hidden Place

1. Corbett’s Glen
2. Sunken Garden
3. Grimes Glen
4. Rochester’s Hidden Sidewalk
5. Channing H. Philbrick Park
6. Turning Point Park
7. Washington Grove
8. Holley Canal Falls
9. The Jump Off
10. Akron Falls
11. Havana Glen
12. Griffis Sculpture Park

Take a Scenic Drive

1. Lake Ontario Seaway Trail
2. Breathtaking Views of Fall Foliage
3. Quirky Roadside Attractions
4. Explore Rochester’s Street Art
5. Roadside Waterfalls
6. Lighthouses Along Lake Ontario
7. Historic Routes 5 & 20
8. Spend a Day in the Finger Lakes Region
9. Erie Canal
10. Self-Guided Tours
11. Greater Rochester Nine-County Area

Head for Water

1. Genesee River Through the City of Rochester
2. Other Great Lakes Around Rochester
3. Letchworth State Park
4. Lake Ontario
5. Our Favorite 5 Waterfalls
6. The Finger Lakes
7. Roadside Waterfalls
8. Kayak Rochester’s Water Trails
9. Whitewater Rafting with Adventure Calls Outfitters

Go for a swim

1. Natural swimming areas
2. Ontario Beach Park
3. Durand Eastman Park
4. Hamlin Beach State Park

Explore the Genesee River

1. Genesee Valley Park
2. Turning Point Park
3. High Falls
4. Maplewood Park
5. Seneca Park
6. Letchworth State Park
7. Hike or bike the Genesee Riverway Trail in the City, or the Genesee Valley Greenway south of GVP.

Rent a boat or jet ski

1. Bayside Boat & Tackle
2. South Bay Boat & Tackle
3. Keuka Watersports
4. Southpoint Marina Jet Ski Rentals
5. BayCreek Paddling Center

Whitewater rafting

1. Adventure Calls Outfitters
2. Zoar Valley Canoe & Rafting

Take a boat tour

1. Sam Patch Erie Canal Tours
2. Colonial Belle Erie Canal Cruises
3. Canandaigua Lady
4. Maid of the Mist
5. Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour
6. Skaneateles Mail Boat

Spend Time Among the Animals

1. Seneca Park Zoo
2. Rosamond Gifford Zoo
3. Buffalo Zoo
4. Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
5. Braddock Bay Raptor Research
6. Wildwings at Mendon Ponds

On the farm

1. Alpaca Trail
2. Stokoe Farms
3. Wickham Farm
4. Springdale Farm
5. Old McDonald’s in Sackets Harbor

Farm Animal Rescue

1. Farm Sanctuary
2. Crackerbox Palace Farm Animal Haven at Historic Alasa Farms
3. Asha Farmed Animal Sanctuary
4. Lollypop Farm

Marine life

1. Niagara Falls Aquarium
2. Caledonia Fish Hatchery
3. Powder Mills Park Fish Hatchery

Rodeo, racing & shows

1. Genesee Valley Hunt Races
2. Attica Rodeo
3. Ellicottville Championship Rodeo
4. Knox Farm Polo Cup in East Aurora

Watch the sun set

These suggestions link to Google image search results to give you an idea for each area. Take a scientific approach to watching the optimal sun set using this calculation of the sun’s position at a given time, date and location. Try August 8 at 18:30 (sunset is 18:55) at Cobb’s Hill (43.1396542, -77.5723119).

Just pick a spot with a higher elevation than obstacles to the west. Add in some water or architectural elements and you’ve got a great view. Here are a few places to inspire you.

1. Anywhere along Lake Ontario, especially when there is open water to your west. (Ontario Beach Park pier, Webster Park pier, Hamlin Beach, Braddock Bay Area, including the ponds)
2. SUNY Geneseo Gazebo
3. Lodge at Woodcliff
4. High Falls
5. Cobb’s Hill
6. Anywhere you can see the beautiful Rochester skyline!
7. Or, find the darkest sky near Rochester under which to observe the stars

Plan a Day Trip

1. Skaneateles
2. East Aurora
3. Lewiston
4. Letchworth
5. Routes 5 & 20

Explore Below Earth’s Surface

1. Search for fossils at Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve
2. or Herkimer “Diamonds” at the Herkimer Diamond Mine or Ace of Diamonds Mine
3. or the glowing calcite heart in Howe Caverns

Ride the rails

1. Arcade & Attica Railroad
2. Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
3. New York Museum of Transportation
4. Medina Railroad Museum & Train Rides
5. or dine at a train-themed restaurant

Get your motor running

1. Motocross
2. Monster Trucks
3. Speedways
4. Go-Carts: Outside and Inside
5. Watch a race at Watkins Glen International Speedway
6. or Drive the Glen yourself!
7. Lake Alice Mud Bogs

Zip & climb

1. Central Rock Gym
2. Aerial Adventures at Bristol Mountain
3. Niagara Falls Adventure Park
4. Canyon Climb at Destiny USA
5. The Niagara Zipper in Lockport
6. RockVentures

Up, up & away

1. Balloons Over Corning
2. Balloons Over Letchworth
3. High Hopes Balloon Co.

Fly high

1. East Hill Flying Club
2. Finger Lakes Soaring Club
3. Harris Hill Soaring Club
4. Finger Lakes Seaplanes

Free fall

1. Rochester Skydivers
2. Western New York Skydivers
3. Frontier Skydivers
4. Finger Lakes Skydivers
5. Skydive Central New York

Helicopter

1. Rochester Helicopter Rides and Tours
2. Rochester Helicopter Charters
3. Buffalo Helicopter Charters
4. BAC Helicopters
5. Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours
6. WNY Helicopter Tours
7. FirstAir

Hang glide

1. Rochester Area Flyers

Stargaze

1. RMSC Strasenburg Planetarium Saturday night laser show and telescope viewing
2. Find the Darkest Sky Near Rochester

Discover the strange and unusual

1. Paranormal activities
2. Visit Lily Dale for a spirited reading
3. Explore one of our 100+ museums

Wander around a small bookstore

1. Small World Books
2. Liftbridge Bookstore
3. Or one of 18 booksstores or 31 libraries around Rochester

Or record store

1. House of Guitars
2. The Record Archive

Learn something new

1. Rochester Brainery
2. RMSC’s Science on the Edge
3. Or plan a longer trip to Chautauqua Institute

Enjoy a playful 21+ date night in Rochester

1. RMSC After Dark
2. Strong Happiest Hour
3. Zoo Brew
4. Genesee Country Village & Museum special events
5. Geeks Who Drink
6. DeTOURS at the Memorial Art Gallery

Pinball & games

1. The Strong National Museum of Play
2. The Playhouse // Swillburger
3. Rochester Pinball Collective
4. Flower City Amusements
5. Board games over a bowl of cereal at POP ROC or in Clyde at Undercroft Games
6. Millennium Games
7. Just Games
8. Bowling plus giant Jenga®, cornhole, pool, shuffleboard, Skee-Ball®, ping pong, and seasonal outdoor games at Radio Social
9. Veracity VRcade
10. Lasertron

Professional sports

1. Red Wings baseball
2. Rochester Americans hockey
3. Rochester Knighthawks indoor lacrosse
4. Rochester Rhinos soccer
5. Rochester RazorSharks basketball
6. Buffalo Bills football
7. Buffalo Sabres hockey

Team Up

1. ROCsports
2. Kickball
3. Curling
4. Fencing

Amuse yourselves

1. Seabreeze and Other Amusement & Water Parks
2. New York State and County Fairs
3. Ride the carousel at Ontario Beach Park

Escape together

1. The Great Escape Room
2. Breakout Rochester
3. Lockout Escape Rooms

Break stuff

1. Smash Therapy
2. Bad Axe Throwing
3. Axes & Ales
4. Riot Room

Explore artistic outlets

1. Flower City Arts Center
2. Memorial Art Gallery Creative Workshops
3. Find inspiration at the annual Rochester Maker Faire

Create with glass or metal

1. Studio 34 Creative Arts Learning Center
2. Arc+Flame
3. Corning Museum of Glass

Paint together

1. Paint Nite
2. Painting with a Twist
3. Wine & Design
4. or grab your paint, brushes, canvas, and an easel, and plan a day to paint outside (en plein air)

Glaze your own pottery

1. Splatters
2. Color Me Mine
3. Jade Pottery & DIY Studio

Make music

1. Join a drum circle
2. Sing in a chorus
3. Learn to play an instrument

Swing your partner round

1. Big Band Dances at Ontario Beach Park
2. Line dancing at Nashville’s
3. Rochester Swing Dance Network
4. Groove Juice Swing
5. Rochester Cajun Zydeco Network
6. and so many more!

Write

1. Writers & Books
2. Gell Writers Retreat

Rochester date ideas for dining out

1. Historic inns
2. Authentic “dining car” diners
3. Or another highly recommended restaurant
4. Top ice cream shops
5. Rochester’s Public Market
6. Monroe County breweries
7. Wineries with scenic Keuka Lake views
8. Culinary trails and self-guided tours
9. Pack a zero-waste picnic
10. Enjoy a non-alcoholic experience with AltBar

Comedy

1. It’s Just Comedy Club
2. Comedy at the Carlson
3. Photo City Improv

Movies

1. See a classic or first-run movie at a small, historic movie theater
2. Pick a gorgeous summer evening and head to the Avon Drive-In Theater, the Charcoal Corral & Silver Lake Drive-In in Perry, or Auburn’s Finger Lakes Drive-In.
3. Free movies in the park at Highland Bowl and Ontario Beach Park, or Movies with a Downtown View

Concerts & events

1. Cheap & Free Outdoor Concerts
2. Annual Events & Festivals
3. Rochester Festivals – Six in the City

Performing arts

1. Kodak Center
2. Blackfriars Theatre
3. Rochester Broadway Theater League 
4. Geva Theatre Center
5. Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
6. Downstairs Cabaret 
7. Multi-use Community Cultural Center
8. or other Performing Arts Venues around Rochester

Mystery theater

1. The Mystery Company
2. Erie Canal Murder Mystery Tour on the Colonial Belle
3. Mansion Mysteries at Sonnenberg
4. Murder Mystery Train (Arcade-Attica RR)
5. ACME Mystery Company (Syracuse)

Rochester date ideas during the December holidays

1. Our Favorite Christmas Lights
2. Get Into the Holiday Spirit
3. Christmas Caroling
4. ROC Holiday Village

Try some snow sports

1. Rent Snowshoes
2. Go Sledding
3. Downhill and Cross-Country Skiing
4. Outdoor and Indoor Ice Skating Rinks

What are your favorite Rochester date ideas?

Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.