Things to Do in Downtown Rochester, NY

If you’re planning a post-pandemic trip to Rochester, NY, you’ll want to find things to do in downtown Rochester NY for sure. The bustling downtown area is alive with small businesses, museums, historic architecture, and great restaurants. Here are a few things to think of before your trip as well as some great spots to visit during your trip.

Downtown Accommodations

Before you leave on your trip, you should look into booking your hotel or Air BnB in a prime area of the city. If you’re planning on bringing your pet with you and not investing in pet boarding, you should probably search on Air BnB since there will likely be more options for accommodations that allow pets. There are many pet-friendly restaurants and stores in Rochester, but having your pet will limit the number of places you can go, especially if your pet isn’t okay being alone in a new place.

You should also make sure you pay attention to the heating and cooling of your accommodations. In the winter, temperatures can drop into the negatives, so you’ll need a good heating system to ensure that you stay toasty while you’re at your Air Bnb or hotel room. In the summer, Rochester is sweltering, and air conditioning is a necessity if you’re coming any time in July or August. Both seasons are still great times to visit the city, but you should make sure to think about your comfort level at the place that you’ll be staying during your trip.

Get a New Hairstyle

When you’re looking for things to do in down Rochester NY, getting your hair done may not come to mind. However, there are some great hair salons in the city and the surrounding suburbs that can do all kinds of hairstyles on all kinds of hair. Everyone knows that one of the best parts of traveling is getting beautiful pictures of the places you visit, and Rochester is no exception. There are some great local photographers that you can book sessions with to take pictures in any number of parks or other scenic locations, and getting a cool hairstyle or even haircut before your photo session could be a great way to commemorate the trip without bulky souvenirs.

Go Snowmobiling

If you’re visiting Rochester in the colder months, snowmobiling is a great activity to partake in. Although this can’t quite be classified as one of the things to do in downtown Rochester NY since you’ll have to travel to the suburbs, it is worth the drive. There are great trails in surrounding areas, and you can rent all of the necessary snowmobile equipment from different spots near the trails. It’s a great way to see some of the scenery of upstate New York while also having an exhilarating experience.

Walk Around NOTA

NOTA, or Neighborhood of the Arts, is a neighborhood in Rochester that is full of beautiful architecture and functional art installations. The neighborhood is full of things to do in downtown Rochester NY, like the Memorial Art Gallery, or the MAG, touched upon in a previous Rochester travel post. The ARTwalk was established in 2000, which started a rebirth of the artistic culture of the area. The ARTwalk is between the MAG and the George Eastman House on University Avenue. Keep an eye out on your walk for great sights like mosaic-tiled light posts and some very interesting seating choices.

If you walk through the side streets off of University, you will also find beautiful homes, many of which have unique historical and architectural features. Any architecture company in modern times will have heard of the famous 1900s architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Though Wright is from Chicago, he built one home in Rochester’s NOTA district in 1908. Though it is a private home and cannot be toured, from the street you can observe the home, called the Edward E. Boynton House, and see Frank Lloyd Wright’s classic architecture style on display. Other houses near the Boynton House also show gorgeous early 20th-century architecture and have beautiful features such as a wooden porch or a turret.

Visit The Eastman Museum

If you are a fan of photography, visiting the George Eastman House is a must when you’re in Rochester. The Eastman Museum is a combination of a gallery, historic home, and gorgeous gardens. The gallery also hosts frequent talks from scholars and artists as well as weekly musical recitals. If you’re looking to see a gorgeous vintage living room wallcovering, learn some historical information about photography, and even view some of the first films ever created, this is a must-see stop on your journey of finding things to do in downtown Rochester NY. Make sure to check out the Eastman Museum website to find out the current traveling exhibitions and events that will occur during your trip.

Walk High Falls

High Falls is one of the iconic spots for Rochester photos. The waterfalls are one of three waterfalls on the Genesee River, and there is a gorgeous view of the falls from the Pont De Rennes Bridge. There is also a small area directly on the right side of the falls if you are facing them where you can sit and watch the falls and see some of the remains of an old building alongside the falls. On one side of the Pont de Rennes Bridge, you’ll find the Genesee Brewery’s Brew House, a great restaurant and tasting room. Genesee Beer is a Rochester staple, but in all honesty, their limited edition craft beers are better than their originals. If you visit Rochester in the summer, make sure to try out their Ruby Red Kolsch, a beer with a hint of grapefruit that they produce limited quantities of in the summer. After walking the bridge and taking in the gorgeous views and getting a few samples in the tasting room, you can take a seat on the Brew House’s outdoor deck to continue to enjoy the view and eat some classic American cuisine. If you love views and brews, this is definitely one of the best things to do in downtown Rochester NY.

Visit Mount Hope Cemetery

Even if you aren’t a fan of hanging out at cemeteries unless you’re there for a burial service, the beautiful grounds and historic graves of Mount Hope Cemetery might change your mind. The cemetery is set on 196 acres of land, and it includes the graves of famous activists Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas. They have an online map of the most historic gravesites, though Anthony and Douglas’ graves are not included on the list.

Susan B. Anthony was a strong voice for the women’s right to vote, even going so far as to be arrested for illegally voting when she was alive. She died before women got the right to vote in the United States, and if you visit during a major election (which occur the first Tuesday in November every other year), you’ll be able to see her grave covered in the “I Voted!” stickers that poll workers hand out as a tribute to her fight for women’s suffrage.

Frederick Douglass was a man who escaped from enslavement and dedicated the rest of his life to being an abolitionist. He was best known for his speeches, autobiographies, and social reform efforts. He was a firm believer in equality and his grave has a memorial alongside it to honor him as the founder of the American civil rights movement.

If you’re interested in touring this historic and scenic cemetery, the site hosts tours through Friends of the Mount Hope Cemetery, so make sure to check out their schedule when you’re searching for things to do in downtown Rochester NY.

Durand Eastman Park

If you’re looking to get out of downtown Rochester and explore some nature, Durand Eastman Park is a great place to go if you want to tour a gorgeous arboretum, and an arborist or other nature enthusiast will give you tours of the arboretum through the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension. They only have certain dates that they give their tours, so make sure to look at their website before your trip to Rochester. The park has other features aside from an arboretum, such as tons of gorgeous hiking trails and a few swimming spots along Lake Ontario in the summer.

Check Out Some Small Businesses

Rochester has a thriving small business community with many small shops throughout the city. If you’re trying to come up with things to do in downtown Rochester NY, visiting the unique local shops can be a great option. Monroe Avenue has some great shops, such as Archimage and Aaron’s Alley, as does Park Avenue, with clothing boutiques such as Salty and Statement, and gift shops like Parkleigh.

Another spot to visit is the Culver Road Armory, which has a handful of small businesses and a cafe you can visit. There are often markets curated by Peppermint Boutique where small businesses set up booths in the parking lot of the Armory to sell their products, so make sure to look and find out if any small business markets are happening while you’re visiting Rochester.

Find the Water Towers

While you’re at the Armory, you can pop across the street to Cobbs Hill Park. If you park by the reservoirs and venture into the forest, you can take a trail that will lead you to two large abandoned water towers, which of the 205,695 people estimated to live in Rochester, not many actually know about. This may not seem like an exciting attraction, but the graffiti artists in Rochester have overtaken the towers, making them ever-changing works of art. In recent years, someone opened the doors to the towers, which opened up even more space for the artists to work with. Make sure that you wear waterproof shoes if you want to go into the towers, though, because they are usually flooded.

If you don’t want to spend time searching for the water towers, you can also take a walk around the reservoir. There are absolutely beautiful views from the path because it is elevated, and there are some of the best scenic views of downtown Rochester that you will find.

Make Some Music

If you are a musician, there are a few spots that you have to make sure to add to your list of things to do in downtown Rochester NY: the Record Archive and House of Guitars. Record Archive is just what it sounds like — a record store placed in an old warehouse, housing not only hundreds of new and used records but also tapes, CDs, and other miscellaneous fun items. There is also a bar located in the back of the store where small artists will play shows. The bar isn’t always open, so make sure to check the hours before you show up to the store.

The house of guitars is a place out of any guitar lover’s dream, as long as that guitar player doesn’t place too much weight in organization. The shop was founded in 1964 in the owner’s, the Schaubroeck brothers, basement, and it moved to its present location in 1972. At HoG, you can find specialty guitars and other interesting instruments, amps, and guitar-related paraphernalia. If you love guitars, it is hard to walk out of this store without something in your hands.

Check Out the Local Restaurants

When you’re in Rochester, you can eat at a different locally owned and operated restaurant every night that you’re in town. Eating at local restaurants is one of the best things to do in downtown Rochester NY because there are so many to choose from. If you’re in the Neighborhood of the Arts, you can check out Village Gate, which houses quite a few restaurants with a variety of different types of cuisines, from farm-to-table style to delicious Mexican food.

If you’re a huge fan of the 44th president, Barack Obama, you can visit Magnolia Cafe where he once had lunch. The cafe still has a menu item named after what he ate at the restaurant, so you can really feel closer to the former president.

When you’re looking for things to do in downtown Rochester NY you’ll find no shortage of choices.

Which of these spots do you want to visit? Let me know in the comments!