Rochester Travel Guide

  Maplewood Rose Garden
by rdywenur
 
  • Maplewood Rose Garden
      Maplewood Rose Garden
    by rdywenur
  • Driving Park Bridge and Genesee River
      Driving Park Bridge and Genesee River
    by rdywenur
  • Lower Falls
      Lower Falls
    by rdywenur
  • Riverside Convention Center
      Riverside Convention Center
    by AlbuqRay
  • Tudor Homes on Dartmouth Street
      Tudor Homes on Dartmouth Street
    by AlbuqRay
 

Pro

KrissyCat7 profile photo

 Friendly people, sports, great food! 


Con

AlbuqRay profile photo

 People say that it is winter there for 10 of 12 months. 


In a nutshell

ROCJim profile photo

 Embrace the cold and the rest of the year is wonderful. 

 

Explore Rochester

Things to Do  

Hiking and relaxing.

Hiking and relaxing., Rochester

 nuker Says:  Quality place to relax and take pictures if you like. Big man made lake in the middle. Many people come to swim in the pond during the summer and X-Country Ski in the winter. Mendon Ponds park has some nice XC skiing trails that are well marked and also have races throughout... 

Turning Point Park

Turning Point Park, Rochester

 rdywenur Says:  The Genesee Riverway Trail (GRT) is an off-road trail for walking, running and bicycling along the Genesee River. At Turning Point Park you can take the new pedestrian bridge (some 3572 ft long) and view nature along the Genessee River. Recently built and opened in... 

Maplewood Rose Garden Festival

Maplewood Rose Garden Festival, Rochester

 rdywenur Says:  If you love roses come and enjoy the beauty and scent of the large variety of roses. Enjoy crafts, local bands (this year Dady Brothers playing Irish and Folk music) Bring a picnic basket or enjoy some of the festival foods (hots, sausage, soda, fresh lemonade or my favorite... 

Genny Screamers!

Genny Screamers!, Rochester

 nuker Says:  High Falls Brewing Company purchased Genesee Brewing Company about 15 years ago. They still operate the Genesee brand which is Genny Light, regular and Cream Ale.High Falls has their own line of beer called JW Dundees which is the producer of Honey Brown which has won many... 

Hotels  

Strathallan

 1 Review and 38 Opinions  This is one of Rochester's more elegant hotels, right in the middle of the East Avenue cultural... 

Woodcliff Hotel and Spa

 5 Reviews and 235 Opinions  Had been to the Woodcliff years ago for a weekend jaccuzi room get away. Looks as though nothing has... 

Restaurants  

Dinosaur BBQ: Good BBQ and Blues

Dinosaur BBQ: Good BBQ and Blues, Rochester

 nuker Says:  Dino is a great place in the middle of Rochester to get some food. They have a great selection of local beers such as Roc Brewing, Customer Brew, and Rhorbachs along with many others. Specialty of course is pork. The Big Ass Pork Plate with sides of baked beans, Mac and... 

Phillips European: Surf and Turf!

Phillips European: Surf and Turf!, Rochester

 nuker Says:  Just went here for dinner the other night and had a great meal. The menu is not overly extensive, but they did a great job with everyone's meal. 17 of us went out and everyone throroughly enjoyed their meal. Plenty of cocktails, wine, and beer to choose from as well. Right... 

Strathallan's The Grill: elegant dining

Strathallan's The Grill: elegant dining, Rochester

 davecallahan Says:  The Grill restaurant within the Strathallan Hotel is a very nice, quiet and elegant setting. The name does not do justice to the atmosphere of the place; white linens on dark wood table settings with avante garde tableware. Every meal is a culinary adventure that the chef... 

Papa John's Pizza: sometimes you don't want to go out...

Papa John's Pizza: sometimes you don't want to go out..., Rochester

 davecallahan Says:  You are sitting in your downtown Rochester hotel room and you really don't feel like getting spruced up to go out and eat.Well, no problem my friend; just give Papa John's a call and they'll deliver. You can even order over the internet.27 different pizza combos. And there... 

Nightlife  

The Distillery. Not just a...

The Distillery. Not just a..., Rochester

 nuker Says:  The Distillery. This is a great place to grab dinner at or drink some beers at the bar. Sports heaven with T.V.'s everywhere.Fantastic Wings and chicken sandwiches. They have a great beer selection to choose from. I don't believe they ever brewed their own beer, but maybe... 

Frontier Field. Go to a Red...

Frontier Field. Go to a Red..., Rochester

 nuker Says:  Frontier Field. Go to a Red Wings (Minor league baseball AAA team) which is the farm team for the Minnesota Twins (used to be for the Baltimore Orioles and St Louis Cardinals when the team played at Silver Stadium). This is a state of the art field that was built for $35... 

Transportation  

The "LATE" "Fast Ferry"

The "LATE" "Fast Ferry", Rochester

 KennyB Says:  The Rochester Fast Ferry is no longer available. The grandiose idea was washed away by a pile of debt. The ship has been sold, but the Port of Rochester still remains. The port is not worth visiting. You have been warned.NOTE: This is a very expensive example of what happens... 

Train from New York City

Train from New York City, Rochester

 clouds111 Says:  We decided it would be nice to get a train to Rochester from New York rather than the hour flight. The journey takes you along the banks of the Hudson River, which is quite picturesque, as far as Albany. It takes you past West Point (a US Military Academy), a number of... 

Shopping  

Midtown Plaza: only one left

Midtown Plaza: only one left, Rochester

 davecallahan Says:  Back in the 1960s, this was the nations first completely enclosed mall. It was a tribute to the economic strength of Rochester.Now it is a struggling mall with about forty stores (they keep changing) that are trying to make a go of it in hard times in Rochester. There are no... 

Stever's Candies: Chocolate heaven

Stever's Candies: Chocolate heaven, Rochester

 clouds111 Says:  I came across this chocolate shop called Stevers Candies on Park Ave and it's possibly some of the nicest chocolate I've ever tasted, shame the don't deliver to the UK. They do everything in there, chocolate covered twinkies, mixed boxes, jelly beans and every kind of... 

Local Customs  

Park Avenue Festival

Park Avenue Festival, Rochester

 davecallahan Says:  Artisans from the Rochester/Monroe-County area will be showing their arts and crafts again this year. The first weekend in August celebrates Rochester's contribution to the world of art with a festival that goes from Alexander Street and Park Avenue all the way down to... 

Party in the Park

Party in the Park, Rochester

 davecallahan Says:  The annual "Party in the Park" festival returns to Rochester for the city's 175th anniversary. The venue has been moved to a larger, more accessible location at Exchange and Court, right across from the BCBS Arena. It is tauted as "the most exciting summer festival in... 

What to Pack  

Warm clothes

Warm clothes, Rochester

 clouds111 Says:   We visited Rochester just before Christmas and got there just in time for their first major snow storm of the winter. To save room in my back pack I had left my snow boots behind and wish I hadn't! My Uggs got ruined. Although you can never rely on the weather, but I... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Cobbs Hill Park

Cobbs Hill Park, Rochester

 nuker Says:  Cobbs Hill Park is a large Urban Park with softball, basketball, hiking, running, and everything in between. This is a high elevation point in the park where one gets great views from any point. To the North is the city and Lake Ontario on the horizon and to the South is the... 

Check out the Aquaducts

Check out the Aquaducts, Rochester

 nuker Says:  Rochester had a subway for about 10-20 years that ran under the city with its heyday in the sixites. Also the Erie Canal ran through parts of the city, but long ago was moved. This has left some interesting aquaducts around the city that date back about 120 years. You can... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Rochester Raiders

Rochester Raiders, Rochester

 davecallahan Says:  For years, Rochester has taken a backseat in football because of the prominence of the Buffalo Bills. Well, Rochester now has its own football team, The Rochester Raiders.The team doesn't play in the NFL but rather plays indoors for the IFL (similar to the Arena Football... 

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