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!
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Rochester Area Parks
There are over 200 Rochester area parks (New York State Parks, Monroe County Parks, Town Parks, and City Parks) within a 2-hour drive.
Town Parks: Our Favorite 5
These town parks have a unique offering of woods, wildlife, and water features to explore using pavement, hard-pack dirt, wood chips, gravel and boardwalk.
Eastman Theatre
Eastman Theatre is the primary performance space for Eastman School of Music students, home of the RPO, and host for world-renowned performances.
North Ponds Park in Webster
The 1-mile paved loop trail in North Ponds Park circumnavigates both ponds. It is perfect for a leisurely stroll, jog, or bike ride.
Fall Foliage: 6 Breathtaking Views Near Rochester
These five destinations offer colorful fall foliage and varied landscapes so you can appreciate them each in their own unique way.
Transcending Places: 37 Alternate Reality Destinations Around Rochester
Rather than an escape, I prefer to think of these as transcending places that encourage us to transcend space, time, and state of mind.
Arcade and Attica Railroad
Arcade and Attica Railroad offers a 2-1/2 hour train experience, including a 30-minute layover at Curriers Station where you can explore the train yard and grab a bite to eat.
Free Things to Do in Rochester
Our top 12 day trip ideas for unique, fun, and free things to do in Rochester will give you over 500 actual destinations to explore.
New York Museum of Transportation
Enjoy a scenic 2-mile round-trip ride on an 90-year-old electric trolley car at the New York Museum of Transportation, and themed-events during the year.
Grimes Glen in Naples
Grimes Glen is public, free, and you are encouraged to wade up the creek to the first and second waterfalls, both 60-foot cascades.
Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion
Sonnenberg Gardens, in the City of Canandaigua, is an exceptional example of the lavish wealth and philanthropy of the Gilded Age.
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
Once a month, between June and October, you can spend the day riding the train at the Rochester Genesee Valley Railroad Museum.
Chimney Bluffs State Park
The bluffs in Chimney Bluffs State Park are fragile drumlins, like all of the truncated drumlins along this section of shoreline.
30 More Day Trips within 30 Minutes of Rochester
Looking for things to do around Rochester that are close to home? Guests visiting from out-of-town? Here are 30 more day trips within 30 minutes.