I started Day Trips around Rochester because, like you, I was searching libraries, bookstores, travel information racks, the Internet, and friend’s experiences for Rochester day trip inspiration.
If you’re looking to grow your local knowledge, start where I did with the books and websites below.
Blogs & Websites
- Waterfalls of New York
- Parks & Trails New York
- Rochester Parks
- New York Outdoors
- CNY Hiking
- My Dog Likes
- NYS Geological Association Field Trip Guidebooks:
2010s, 2000s, 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, 1960s
Genesee Valley: 1994, 1973
Central NY: 1964, 1970
Western NY: 1966, 1974 - New York Upstate
- ROCwiki
- Explore Greater Rochester
- Explore New York
- Trips 101
- Vacation Idea
- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
- Odyssey
- Western NY
- Family Days Out
- Exploring Upstate
- Slow Road Travel
- The Rochesteriat
- Yelp
- Trip Advisor
- Mini Time
- Roadside America
- I Love the Finger Lakes
- Poorer Than You
- One Tank Trips
- The Getaway Guy
- Movoto
- Atlas Obscura
- Roadtrippers
- Meetup
- Rochester City Newspaper
Tourism Publications
- I Love NY
- NYS Parks
- New York State Canals
- Visit Rochester
- City of Rochester
- Monroe County Parks
- Genesee
- Livingston
- Monroe
- Ontario
- Orleans
- Seneca
- Wayne
- Wyoming
- Yates
- Visit Buffalo
- Visit Buffalo Niagara
- Buffalo Rising
- Niagara Falls Visitor Center
- Visit Finger Lakes
- Finger Lakes
- Finger Lakes Wine Country
- Finger Lakes Travel
- Go Finger Lakes
- Visit Ithaca
- Watkins Glen
- Cattaraugus County Enchanted Mountains
- Tour Chautauqua
- Visit Syracuse
Magazines & Newspapers
- ROC Parent
- New York State Conservationist
- Rochester City Newspaper
- (585) magazine
- Life in the Finger Lakes
- POST Rochester
- D&C Rochester Magazine
- South Wedge Quarterly
Books for Rochester Day Trip Inspiration
This is only a short list of some of my favorite Rochester-centric books! These links will take you to Amazon, thought there is a vast selection of these books and others available through your local library, in particular the Monroe County Library System.
- Roadside Geology of New York
- Any of Arch Merrill’s books
- Weird New York: Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets
- Take Your Bike: Family Rides in the Rochester (NY) Area
- Take Your Bike: Family Rides in New York’s Finger Lakes Region
- Take a Hike: Family Walks in the Rochester Area
- Take a Hike: Family Walks in the Finger Lakes & Genesee Valley Region
- Take a Paddle: Quiet Water for Canoes and Kayaks in New York’s Finger Lakes
- Hiking Waterfalls in New York: A Guide to the State’s Best Waterfall Hikes
- Best Easy Day Hikes Buffalo
- Best Easy Day Hikes Rochester
- Best Easy Day Hikes Syracuse
- Cobblestone Quest: Road Tours of New York’s Historic Buildings
- Hiking Waterfalls in New York: A Guide To The State’s Best Waterfall Hikes
- The Getaway Guy: Road Trip Getaways with Mike O’Brian (50 Fun-Filled Getaways in and around New York State!)
- The Getaway Guy Volume 2: 50 More Day Trip Getaways!
- The Finger Lakes Region: Its Origin and Nature
- Waterfalls and Gorges of the Finger Lakes
- 200 Waterfalls in Central and Western New York – A Finders’ Guide
- 50 Hikes in Western New York: Walks and Day Hikes from the Cattaraugus Hills to the Genessee Valley
- 365 Things to Do in Ithaca New York: Complete Insider’s Guide to All Things Ithaca
- Five-Star Trails: Finger Lakes and Central New York: Your Guide to the Area’s Most Beautiful Hikes
- Waterfalls of New York State
- New York Waterfalls: A Guide for Hikers & Photographers
- Upstate New York: Towns That We Love
- Upstate New York Off the Beaten Path®: A Guide To Unique Places
- Rochester Routes: Tours of Monroe County’s Historic Places
- 50 Hikes in Central New York: Hikes and Backpacking Trips from the Western Adirondacks to the Finger Lakes
- Upstate Uncovered: 100 Unique, Unusual, and Overlooked Destinations in Upstate New York
- Unknown Museums of Upstate New York: A Guide to 50 Treasures
- Explorer’s Guide Finger Lakes
- Explorer’s Guide Finger Lakes: A Great Destination
- Explorer’s Guide Western New York: From Niagara Falls and Southern Ontario to the Western Edge of the Finger Lakes
- Secret Places: A Guide to 25 Little Known Scenic Treasures of the New York’s Niagara-Allegheny Region, Including the Beautiful, the Bizarre, the Spec
Books! 30+ Book Sellers, Groups, and Events for Rochester Bibliophiles
When reading books, the destination is the journey. You can travel the world, through all of time and space. Here are a few places to start your adventure!
Rochester’s Fun Facts: Oldest, Original, Only, & More!
I’ve been gathering Rochester’s fun facts for several years and am so excited to gather them all together here! Just some of what makes Rochester special!
Signing up for a free library card gives you access to all 32 Monroe County libraries in towns, villages, the city, and Central Library.
These “quintessential Rochester” places fill tourist must-see lists and “wish you were here” postcards. Have you seen them all for yourself?
What’s your go-to Rochester day trip inspiration?
I hope it’s Day Trips Around Rochester! Share it in the comments! We’re always looking for new sources for ideas.