Boasting museums, parks, theaters, and sporting arenas, you can always find something fun to do in Rochester, New York. For example, here are four of the coolest spots that both locals and visitors should check out.
1. The Strong National Museum of Play
At the time of this article, if you were to Google search, “why should I visit Rochester, NY?” Google’s #1 answer would be: The Strong National Museum of Play.
Boasting overwhelmingly positive reviews, The Strong Museum is a fantastically interactive experience devoted to the exploration and history of play. The museum has more than 400,000 objects related to play, including massive collections of toys, dolls, games, and video games.
Exhibit highlights include “American Comic Book Heroes: The Battle of Good vs. Evil” and “Reading Adventureland.” In American Comic Book Heroes, explore the history of American comic books, then become a hero yourself at the Super Powers School. Reading Adventureland brings a new physicality to reading with life-sized pop-up books.
2. The Eastman Theatre
Visiting music lovers must check out the Eastman Theatre, the performance space for the Eastman School of Music.
Opened in 1922, this magnificent theater can seat over 3,000 people and has played host to some of the world’s most renowned musical talent. Eastman students have shared the stage with conductors Leonard Slatkin, Christoph von Dohnányi, and Sir Georg Solti. Be sure to check the Eastman concert calendar for upcoming performance dates.
3. Frontier Field
Frontier Field is the perfect place for minor league baseball fans, or families, to spend the day. Opened in 1996, Frontier Field quickly became the home of the Rochester Redwings. Field visitors enjoy a beautiful field, a great game, plenty of street parking, and a variety of food options including hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, roast beef, and local beer.
If you’re worried about things getting a little too rowdy for your children, ask about the Family Section (section 217) which is a designated alcohol-free zone. Also, the entire seating area is a smoke-free zone. There is a designated smoking zone on the third base side of the ballpark near the firehouse building. See who the Redwings are playing on the Frontier Field calendar.
4. Casa Lagra Vineyard
Located just outside Rochester, in the Finger Lakes Wine Region, Casa Lagra has consistently produced award-winning wine since its founding in 1974.
Casa Lagra holds public wine tastings every day during their shop hours. For $2 per person you’ll try five wines and learn how to best appreciate the “4 S’s” of wine tasting (Seeing, Swirling, Smelling, and Sipping). You can also pair wine with chocolate or cheese during your tasting for $7 per person, or have an ice wine tasting for $5 per person (a fantastic option on a hot summer day).
Casa Lagra is also a wonderful place to hold special events, like weddings and family reunions. Surrounded by the beautiful vineyard, the Rochester skyline in sight, and 5-star culinary experts on staff, you’ll have everything you need to make your event memorable.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore the coolest spots in Rochester! Just make sure you don’t need an ESTA visa to visit the states, and if you do, make sure to organize it all before entering the country.
Author Bio:
Zachary Katz-Stein graduated from Kenyon College in 2012. He now writes fantasy novels and works as a freelance writer when he’s not teaching yoga classes.