Exciting Things To Do in Rochester NY- Catherine

In this post, guest writer Catherine talks about the many exciting things you can do in Rochester, NY!

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Rochester, New York is a beautiful city with a vibrant culture, lots of great food, and a booming small business economy. As the third-largest city in New York State, coming in after NYC and Buffalo with a population of approximately 205,695 as of 2019, there are many things to do. So whether you’re visiting the seat of Monroe county or looking at moving companies to consider transplanting, there is no shortage of activities to choose from.

Depending on what food you like, what your interests are, and whether you prefer beer or wine, there are many different options in Rochester. Here are a few key things to check out if you’re thinking about hiring movers to help you start a new life here or even if you’re just visiting Rochester.

Get a Garbage Plate

When it comes to things to do in Rochester NY, you have to get a garbage plate. Garbage plates are a cornerstone of the Rochester experience. The first garbage plates were made for construction workers who came by Nick Tahou’s for lunch. The cook piled on burgers without buns, mac salad, and home fries, covered them all in a chili sauce and other condiments, and the garbage plate was born.

Ask any Rochesterian what their favorite place for a garbage plate is, and you’ll probably hear a few different answers. Rochester reviews of garbage plates often differ based on what a person’s personal taste preference is. You can check out Nick Tahou’s to get a plate from the home of the garbage plate, and Dog Town Hots offers some great options if you’re not a meat-eater.

Garbage plates aren’t the only haute cuisine the Flower City has to offer, either. Rochester has several top-class pizza places, like Captain Tony’s, Mark’s Pizzeria, Salvatores, and more. There are authentic Italian restaurants, like Branca or Fiorella, and to-die-for hibachi food from Furoshiki or Plum House. And naturally, each of these places will take any and all food allergies into consideration when preparing your food.

Visit the Memorial Art Gallery

The Memorial Art Gallery, or the MAG, is a beautiful gallery that has a wide range of art, with pieces spanning 5,000 years of history. The gallery was founded in 1913, and in more recent times they’ve been making an effort to include more works by women and minority artists to diversify their collections.

The first floor of the museum showcases art from the Americas, Oceania, and Africa. According to the MAG website, they have pieces that were used in everyday life as well as ceremonial pieces. They also have a room that is used for temporary galleries on the first floor, so make sure to check out their website to find out what is occupying the space while you’re looking for things to do in Rochester NY.

On the second floor of the gallery, there is the Helen H. Berkeley Gallery of Ancient Art, which features work from ancient Greece, Tuscany, Rome, and Egypt. Also, there is the At the Crossroads gallery with ancient Middle Eastern and Islamic art. Also, there is an Asian Art gallery with works from all different eras and mediums.

The second floor also features a medieval gallery, the renaissance gallery, and the most complete Baroque organ in North America. Students from the Eastman School of Music come to play the organ once a week, so make sure to check their schedule to catch a performance. Other galleries on this floor span from the 17th to the 19th century.

Take a Walk Around Highland Park

The city’s dedication to tree care is exemplified in Highland Park, which is the 150-acre park where the annual Lilac Festival is held in May. There is a large section of the park that is adorned with lilac bushes, and with this park, Rochester truly earns its moniker of the Flower City. The sprawling park has a multitude of paths that you can spend hours walking on to observe the beautiful trees and flowers during the warmer months. The lilacs only bloom for a few weeks of the year, but when they are in bloom they the fragrance permeates the air and makes the entire section of the park feel straight out of a fairytale.

One of the attractions housed within the park is the Lamberton Conservatory, which only costs three dollars to enter, and houses a variety of exotic plants, quails, and rescued tortoises and turtles.

If you are visiting with children, there are also a few playgrounds in the park to visit. (And if you come at the right time with the kids, you’ll all be able to play in the garden sprinkler systems that keep the gardens lush and beautiful.)

Visit the Rochester Museum and Science Center

If you’re looking for things to do in Rochester NY that are fun for children, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, or RMSC, is a great destination. There are tons of great, interactive exhibits to help your children learn about different scientific concepts and topics.

Even if you’re a little bit older, the RMSC has great things for you to do as well. The recently renovated Strasenburgh Planetarium boasts a range of different kinds of shows. From classic star shows that will take you on a journey around the universe without ever leaving your comfortable reclining chair to laser shows set to music from famous rock bands like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Led Zepplin. Their shows update and change often, so make sure to check out the RMSC website to find out what their shows will be when you visit.

Check Out Strong’s National Museum of Play

When it comes to things to do in Rochester NY, you can’t underestimate how much fun the Strong National Museum of Play is for people of all ages. Although the museum is aimed towards children, the nostalgia and fun of the museum are unmissable for people of all ages. They have a fully functional arcade, a scaled-down version of a Wegman’s grocery store, and a butterfly garden that are fun even if you aren’t getting the children’s priced ticket.

When you walk into the museum, there is a carousel and 50s style Bill Gray’s diner that you can access without buying an admission ticket. Once you enter the actual museum, you’re transported into a world of play and shown an interactive history of the toy industry. The museum began as an examination of how industrialization impacted the toy industry, and though they have shifted away from a typical museum-based approach to sharing their collection, they have still stayed true to their roots. On the walls of every exhibit, there are histories of everything from Barbie to the Marvel comics. The museum also holds the National Toy Hall of Fame and has created an interactive exhibit around its collection. They really toy the line between learning and fun, and children of any age will have many activities to entertain them.

If you’re looking for things to do in Rochester NY with kids, this is an unmissable destination. If you’re a little bit older but looking for a boost of nostalgia, this museum is also a great destination.

Get a Drink

Once you’ve spent your day touring museums, you have many options of where to stop for an adult beverage. Here are a few great places to stop and grab a drink and a bite to eat while you’re looking for things to do in Rochester NY. If you have specific tastes, make sure to check out Rochester NY Reviews of these bars before you go.

• Genesee Brewhouse. If you’re from anywhere in the state of New York, you have probably encountered Genesee Beer. The Brewhouse, housed in an old packing factory, overlooks high falls and offers a range of normal and specialty seasonal Genesee beers. They also have a full-service restaurant that has some very tasty dishes, so if you have a few too many samplers, you can stay to eat something.
• Sager Beer Works. If you’re looking for a smaller local brewery to try, Sager is a great choice. Located right next to the next recommendation on this list, Sager is a small brewery that has indoor and outdoor seating. They have a full-service kitchen that has a menu that changes to reflect what they have access to, meaning they source their ingredients seasonally and locally.
• Living Roots Wine and Co. The Living Roots tasting room has a wonderfully cozy, but still industrial feel to it. The tasting room offers flights, tastings, and glasses of wine to order as well as some delicious charcuterie boards. The winery has two vineyards: one in New York’s finger lakes wine region, and one in Australia. This means that the winery is putting out new wines year-round, and they have a stock of all of their bottles available for purchase in the tasting room as well if you fall in love with one of their wines.
• Apogee. If you’re looking for a cozy place to stop in for a glass of wine and a small plate, Apogee Wine Bar is a great choice. They have a selection of different wines, so you’ll be able to choose something perfect for your palate.

Go See a Game

If you love live sports, then you’ve got more options for things to do in Rochester NY. Rochester has several local teams, and depending on the season you can see different sports teams playing.

In the winter, the local AHL team, the Rochester Americans, plays their home games at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Arena in the heart of downtown Rochester. The team, nicknamed the “Amerks,” are the AHL affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres, the NHL team based in Buffalo NY.

In the spring and summer, you can catch a Rochester Red Wings game at the Frontier Field. In the summer, certain games even are switched from the Red Wings to the “Plates,” where the team switches to new jerseys and pays homage to the city’s favorite meal.

If you’re visiting between the late spring and the early fall, you can also catch a Knighthawks Lacrosse game. The team plays at the Blue Cross Arena like the Amerks.

Depending on when you’re visiting Rochester, there will probably be a great professional sports game that you can catch.

Seasonal Festivals

Rochester has many festivals every year, so if you’re visiting any time in the late spring or summer, make sure you check out the festival calendar to find out what festivals may be taking place. Here are the city’s most popular festivals:

• Clothesline Festival. The Clothesline Festival is a fine art and crafts festival that is hosted and put on by the Memorial Art Gallery every year. There is all-day live entertainment, food from different Rochester vendors, and free activities that everyone can enjoy.
• Fairport Canal Days. Canal Days is an arts festival that takes place in Fairport, a suburb of Rochester. The “canal” of Canal Days is the Eerie Canal, which runs directly through the center of the village of Fairport. They have live music, food and drink vendors, and activities to keep kids occupied.
• International Jazz Festival. The International Jazz Festival is a world-renowned and extremely popular festival that hosts an impressive lineup of artists every year. With concerts at venues like Eastman theatre and even free shows in the streets of Rochester, there are many different options for how to enjoy this festival. Make sure to check out the line up if you’re visiting Rochester while the festival is going on, and even if you don’t buy tickets to any of the shows, you can still enjoy the vendors set up outside of Eastman theatre during the festival.
• Park Ave Summer Art Festival. The Park Avenue neighborhood has a cool and young atmosphere, and this festival takes place in a stretch that is just over a mile. The festival has over 350 artisans each year, and it also includes musical acts, food trucks, and the usual shops and restaurants that are usually open on Park Avenue. Even if you’re visiting at a time when the festival is not happening, make sure to check out the food and shopping that is at Park Avenue year-round.
• Corn Hill Arts Festival. The Corn Hill Arts Festival has many local art vendors as well as entertainment, a beer and wine garden, and great food stands and trucks. Enjoy the scenic Corn Hill neighborhood and find new art that you love at this festival.

If you’re looking for things to do in Rochester NY, there is no shortage of options to choose from. If you come during a festival or your favorite sports’ season, you can catch some great and unique Rochester experiences. Even if you come to Rochester when no special events are taking place, you can find many year-round things to do in Rochester NY.

Why just visit, though? Many from around the state are considering moving to Rochester not only because of the awesome things to do but because there are good jobs that can be found here. Employers like U of R have lab tech jobs that need fulfilling. Wegmans and Kodak are also both based here. Entrepreneurs have also been starting their own small businesses throughout the city as well.

Are you planning on visiting Rochester? If you’ve visited before, what was your favorite thing you did? Let us know below!

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