Opening in May for the Summer Season
Rochester is open for the season! We’re excited to enjoy the warmer days of springtime at our favorite places and businesses opening in May.
summer
Summertime in Rochester
Fresh produce, fresh water, outdoor concerts, and 13,500 square miles to explore! Take advantage of everything summertime in Rochester has to offer.
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 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.
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 Rochester Day Trips: Our Top 12 Favorites
Don’t let tight budgets stop you from exploring! These 10 ideas for free Rochester day trips will give you over 350 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.
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.
26 Incredible Creeks Around Rochester
These beautiful creeks around Rochester impact us in such subtle ways they sometimes disappear into the background of our lives.
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.