What to Do in Rochester, NY

Rochester
Things to Do/Places to Visit


Imagine a whole exhibit area just for toys, video games, and everything kids would love. Well, this is exactly that. The Strong Museum is one of the best children museums in the world, with so much for kids and the families to do. The 150,000 square feet space is filled with board games, books, video games, exhibits on the Berenstain Bears, Sesame Street, and other childhood shows. The Strong also features New York’s only indoor butterfly garden. The museum’s mission is to find out more about how play influences and plays a role upon child development and learning. The museum is open daily. On Monday to Thursday, they are open 10 am to 5 pm. On Friday and Saturday, they are open from 10 am to 8 pm. On Sunday, they open at noon and close at 5 pm. Pricing for everyone about 2 years old is $15. Those under 2 are free.


Just because it’s educational doesn’t mean it has to be boring. The Rochester Museum & Science Center proves that. Here, you can scale a wall, build your own robot, throw a catapult, and experience the feeling of flying through space. Enjoy the 200+ exhibits, shows, and collections. Have you ever wondered how our planet looks like from space? The exhibit Science on a Sphere shows our planet in 3D floating. You can also ride simulators, talk to creature experts, and watch electricity and lightning bolts only a foot away from you. The goal of this museum is to educate and entertain all who visit. The museum is open daily; on Monday to Saturday, they are open from 9 am to 5 pm. On Sunday, they open at 11 am and close at 5 pm.


Made up of 150-acres, Highland Park is a popular tourist attraction in Rochester. The park is an arboretum that was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, known to be the father of American landscape architecture. The garden contains 1200 lilac plants, Japanese Maples, many kinds of magnolias, a rock garden, and a variety of other plants and shrubs. The park is also home to Rochester’s famous Lilac Festival. Highland Park also features a castle and an amphitheater. Highland Park is open daily for 24 hours. Entrance into the arboretum is free, but some things within may cost you.


The George Eastman Museum is located in the mansion of George Eastman, known as the pioneer of modern photography. The mansion was completed in 1905 and given over to the University of Rochester when Eastman died. After that, the university donated the estate to the museum that is dedicated to George Eastman. The museum is the oldest photography museum in the world, and it is also one of the oldest film archives. Some of the museum’s original collections included Civil War photos and the Gabriel Cromer collection. The museum is open every day except Monday from 10 am to 5 pm. On Sundays, they only open at 11 am. Entrance for adults cost $15, seniors get in for $13, and students and children enter for only $5. Those under 5 enter for free.


If you love animals, visit the Seneca Park Zoo. Here, you can see elephants, rhinos, orangutans, polar bears, sea lions, and more species. The 15.5-acre zoo is located within Seneca Park, a park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. The zoo first opened near the end of the 1800’s, with only a few birds and deer. It expanded into what it is today, with over 90 species of animals. A popular exhibit, the Rocky Coasts, offers these animal species more space and homes like they would have in the wild. The zoo’s hours and pricing change on the time of the year. From April to October, the zoo is open from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission for adults cost $12. It’s a dollar cheaper for seniors $9 for those under 12.From November to March, the zoo is open from 10 am to 4 pm. For adults, it costs $10. For seniors, the price is $9. For those under 12, it is $7.

One of the oldest amusement parks in the United States, Seabreeze is one of the most popular attractions in Rochester. The park features everything you would want from an amusement park: rides, shows, games, and even a waterpark. If you like thrill rides, head over to Jack Rabbit, “the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in America.” Going with your family or kids? Seabreeze has you covered with both family and kiddie rides. When you want to cool off, you can visit the waterpark. Pricing for this park is not decided by age, but of height. The price of one day passes for those above 48” is $34.99; for those below 48”, the price is $27.99. Remember, tickets are slightly cheaper if you purchase them online. For hours of the park, check their website, as hours change depending on the month.

Best Way to TourRochester, NY

  • The best way to tour the city of Rochester (as well as many other cities) is by chartered buses and vans. Explore at your own pace within the safety of your private vehicle. Don’t worry about ordering an Uber or Lyft when you have your own exploration vehicle. Through Promptbuscharters.com, you can order the buses you need. Prompt Bus Charters is an amazing, affordable chartered vehicle company that caters to your every needs. Whether you need a bus for school trips, marriages, parties, campaigns, or whatever else, Prompt Bus Charters can help you. Prompt Bus Charters offers buses, mini buses, school buses, party buses, and more. Most activities and destinations listed above and below are accessible by chartered buses. Visit the website (promptbuscharters.com) to book your rental bus today!

Best Places to Eat/Shop

  • Eastview Mall – Eastview Mall is the place to go if you’re looking for upscale shops. If you get hungry, there are also snacks shops and restaurants located at the mall.
  • Greece Ridge Center –If you’re looking for a convenient shopping destination, the huge Greece Ridge Center is the place to go. Here, you can find upscale shops as well as more traditional finds.
  • Pittsford Plaza –Another convenient shopping destination, this is the place to go if you’re looking for easy shopping and eating. After you shop and eat, you can enjoy a movie here.
  • Marketplace Mall –Looking to do a lot of shopping? The Marketplace may be perfect for you, with over 100 stores such as Macy’s and JCPenney’s.
  • Rochester Public Market –This is the best place to go in Rochester for fresh, local produce. Most, if not all, goods here come fresh off the farms.
  • Rooney’s Restaurant –On any trip, you have to eat at a sit-down restaurant at least once. That meal should be enjoyed at Rooney’s, an American restaurant that is rated the #1 fine-dining restaurant in Rochester by tripadvisor.
  • Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – Want to enjoy great local cuisine? Hit up Dinosaur BBQ, an American barbeque joint that is rated the #1 local cuisine restaurant in Rochester by tripadvisor.

 

Enjoy your charter bus Vacation!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.