1. Take the kids to The Strong - National Museum of Play
Imagine 150,000 square feet of exhibit space completely dedicated to toys: board games, dolls, video games, books, a century-old carousel, New York’s only indoor butterfly garden, exhibits on Berenstain Bears, Sesame Street, Monopoly, the Wizard of Oz, and numerous others.
The Strong, or as it was previously known The Strong Museum of Play, is arguably one of the most exciting children museums in the world.
Its mission is to research and record the history of play and its role in human development and learning. The museum also provides home to research facilities and libraries dedicated to play, but mostly, it is just a lot of fun for the whole family. More info
1 Manhattan Square Dr, Rochester, NY 14607, 585-263-2700
You can also enjoy unique day trips.
2. Have fun with interactive exhibits at Rochester Museum & Science Center
Science can be all kinds of fun, and your visit to Rochester Museum & Science Center will make you believe that. Climb a wall, zap lasers, build robots, throw a catapult, and fly through space.
Get your imagination going as you wander through more than 200 interactive exhibits, exciting shows, and original collections. Uncover the natural wonders of the region, the world, and even beyond.
There are 1.2 million items in various museum collections that will engage all your senses. Science on a Sphere will show you our planet in 3D floating in front of your eyes. Take a virtual trip on a simulator, talk to a frog expert, and watch bolts of lightning just a foot away from you, among other exciting activities. The museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium, and Cumming Nature Center will inspire all kids to thing about becoming scientists. >
657 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, 585-271-4320
3. Explore the Finger Lakes Wine Country
Rochester is the perfect base for exploring the Finger Lakes wine country which produces some of the tastiest wines in the U.S. The Finger Lakes are eleven long, narrow, finger-like lakes in central New York with breathtakingly beautiful nature and a particular climate. The great depth of some of the lakes creates a lake effect, protecting the grapes from the worst of the area winters. As a result, more than 100 wineries cropped up in the region, producing some spectacular Chardonnays, Rieslings, pinot noirs, and many others, attracting wine lovers from all over the world.
Three well organized wine trails help visitors to see and taste as much as possible, and they allow them to see up to 35 wineries. The trails often include wine and food pairing, barbecues, and festivals. Wine country also offers great restaurants, markets, breweries and distilleries, along with several excellent museums such as Corning Museum of Glass, and magnificent parks such as Watkins Glen State Park.
1 W Market St #203, Corning, NY 14830, 607-936-0706
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
4. Visit the George Eastman Museum, the oldest museum of photography
The George Eastman Museum is located in a magnificent Colonial Revival mansion that George Eastman, the pioneer of modern photography, completed in 1905 and bequeathed to the University of Rochester upon his death. The university donated the mansion and surrounding property to the museum dedicated to the memory of George Eastman and his work.
It is is the oldest museum of photography in the world and one of the oldest film archives. The museum's original collections included the historical collection of Eastman Kodak Company, the Medicus collection of Alexander Gardner’s Civil War photographs, and the huge Gabriel Cromer collection. Thanks to many donations since then, the number of film and photography collection has greatly increased. The museum also holds frequent well-received temporary exhibits and is home to the 500-seat Dryden Theatre.
900 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, 585-271-3361
5. Admire flowers and plants at Highland Park
Spread over 150 acres of valleys and hills, Highland Park is a world-class arboretum and landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It includes 1200 lilac shrubs that comprise the site of the famous annual festival, a collection of Japanese Maples, 35 kinds of magnolias, a collection of barberries, a rock garden dotted with dwarf evergreens, more than 700 varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons, Andromeda, mountain laurel, horse chestnuts, a profusion of spring bulbs and native wildflowers, and many exotic trees.
Every year, the park's pansy bed with 10,000 plants features a different pattern. The park has a number of facilities and attractions such as the Lamberton Conservatory, the Greater Rochester Vietnam Memorial, Warner Castle, and the John Dunbar Memorial Pavilion.
180 Reservoir Ave, Rochester, NY 14620, 585-753-7270
6. See a Rochester City Ballet performance
Since its inception in 1987, the Rochester City Ballet has been performing award-winning contemporary ballets. One of the company aims is to enrich the quality of life in the Rochester City community by providing performances for a broad range of people. The Sensory-Friendly performance for children, which was originally performed in May 2015 and was the first of its kind, allows children on the Autism spectrum to enjoy artistic performances. In addition to this, the ballet offers workshops, donates to underserved youth, and engages in outreach programs.
The Rochester City Ballet puts on several performances throughout the year, and all ticket information as well as the schedule of events can be found on their main website. In affiliation with the Rochester City Ballet, the Draper Center for Dance Education provides the highest level of dance training for classical ballet, providing the community with plenty of dancing opportunities.
1326 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
7. Spend an afternoon at The RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium
The RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium provides the community of Rochester with unique experiences through their various shows. The planetarium puts on star shows that use a star projector to accurately depict the sun, planets, and over 8,000 stars in the same way they would appear to the naked eye on a perfect viewing night.
The planetarium also has Saturday night laser shows that project choreographed beams of light onto the indoor sky in tune with music. Plus, the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium has hands-on space mission simulations, world exploration through their giant-screen films, and free public telescope viewing. The planetarium is open to the public, welcomes grade-appropriate class visits, and puts on featured shows that are open to the public and are ticketed events.
657 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607, 585-697-1945
8. See a show at the Theatre Young Kids Enjoy (TYKEs)
Taking place in the lovely Hart Theater at the JCC in Brighton, TYKEs, or Theatre Young Kids Enjoy, is a non-profit organization that brings to life on stage meaningful stories that captivate children’s attention. The stories are presented by adult professional actors and are meant to inspire children’s appreciation of the arts and literature, to promote communication, and to give some important life lessons. The scripts are carefully chosen, the costumes are spectacular, and the great actors bring their audience to faraway lands and fantasy worlds. The theatre has a cozy, intimate theater space, state-of-the-art light and sound equipment, and a huge, comfortable lobby area. TYKEs performances are accessible to all children regardless of their ability to pay.
1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14618, 585-461-2000
9. Watch animals at the Seneca Park Zoo
Come and see African elephants, white rhinos, and Bornean Orangutans at Seneca Park Zoo. Watch Polar Bears and sea lions under water and 90 other species of animals that make their home in this 15.5-acre zoo in Rochester, New York. It is located in Seneca Park, which is one of several parks designed for Rochester by Frederick Law Olmsted.
When the zoo opened in 1893, all it had was an aviary with a few birds and several species of deer. One of the latest exhibits, the Rocky Coasts, opened in 1997, and it is considered to be the future of zoos; it is a state-of-the-art habitat that offers the zoo’s animals more spacious and natural homes.
2222 St. Paul Street, Rochester, NY 14621, 585-336-7200
10. Step back in time at the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House pays tribute to this legendary, charismatic American civil rights leader who fought for equal rights for women and for their right to vote. The museum is located in the house where Susan spent her most active years and where she was arrested in 1872. The house boasts a collection of research materials, artifacts, and memorabilia from Susan’s life that are related to her struggles and legacy.
Susan also died in this house after giving her famous speech in Baltimore entitled “Failure is Impossible.” In addition, the museum is a learning center, challenging and inspiring younger generations to make a difference in their community through a range of different programs, from Girl Scouts to Healthy Ageing and Grade School.
17 Madison St, Rochester, NY 14608, 585-235-6124
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