12 Ideas for Staying Warm & Active Throughout the Winter in Rochester

Don’t let Rochester’s winter force you into hibernation. If snow sports and cold walks don’t appeal to you, consider everything you can do indoors. Here are some places to keep you warm and active during the colder months.

1. Try something new for date night

Whether it’s your first date or your 50th anniversary, exploring with your partner is a great way to connect and learn about each other. Although many of the ideas on this list are outdoor activities, you’ll find inspiration for indoor activities as well. Try a place that brings the outdoor experiences in like Central Rock Gym or RockVentures. Or places that let you create something together like Arc+Flame, Corning Museum of Glass, and Splatters, or destroy something at Smash Therapy. Or play with Geeks Who Drink, The Playhouse // Swillburger, and Radio Social.

2. ARTISANworks

You can spend hours and hours at ARTISANworks and never see the same thing twice—at least, not from the same perspective. Look up, look down, look all around—art is everywhere!

3. Enjoy tropical temperatures inside Lamberton Conservatory

Each December through early January, the Holiday Show welcomes you with holiday lights, greens, and poinsettias. The Spring Show opens around the 1st spring weekend through the Lilac Festival in May. They feature hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips; the color and aroma make for a welcome retreat from winter.

4. Rochester Museum & Science Center

The Rochester Museum & Science Center’s city campus features the three-story science museum and the Strasenburgh Planetarium. In the museum, don’t miss the two singing Tesla coils in the Electricity Theater, where audience members can volunteer to stand inside a Faraday cage while the coils sing a duet with lightning. The planetarium offers a state-of-the-art view of our solar system and the visible universe using near-real-time data. The lounge chairs in the planetarium are not fixed to the floor, making the space accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

5. Try a new restaurant this winter in Rochester

Rochestarians frequent these establishments because the food and atmosphere are consistently impressive. The locals visit these places several times a year and recommend them to friends and visitors.

6. Enjoy a variety of performing arts

Rochester has a robust performing arts scene featuring intimate theater and Broadway shows, bar-room bands, and significant orchestral arrangements.

7. Strong National Museum of Play

With “play” in the name, it’s a place that you can’t help but feel lighthearted in. Dancing Wings is the only year-round indoor butterfly garden in Upstate New York. With a rainforest environment, it’s the perfect retreat from winter.

8. George Eastman Museum

What could be cozier than the mansion of Rochester’s most prominent citizen? Explore George Eastman’s home, see a movie in the Dryden Theater, enjoy what’s new in the gallery, have lunch, and learn about the man who guided Rochester into a new phase of life as the Image City. Enjoy Holidays at the Museum in November and December, including the popular Gingerbread House displays. In February, the museum is filled with tulips and other fragrant flowers during Dutch Connection.

9. Head to an authentic dining-car diner for breakfast

Diners were modular–manufactured in one place and moved by rail to the final location. They were designed to look like a train’s fine dining car. Plus, they serve all makes and models of comfort food.

10. Cozy up in a library

The 31 libraries in Monroe County each offer distinct amenities and atmospheres. This winter, take some time to discover a few new ones. Experience a variety of urban, suburban, and rural libraries, some of which feature cozy fireplaces!

11. While away the hours in a bookstore

You never know what stories you’ll discover on the shelf, but when you find the right one, grab a warm cuppa and find a cozy spot to read.

12. Memorial Art Gallery

While away the hours among masterpieces and traveling exhibits. Take an art class, enjoy brunch at the bistro, or attend a special event.

Where are your favorite places to stay warm but active during winter in Rochester?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.