Rochester in the evening, courtesy VisitRochester
Rochester, NY, a city of more than 200,000, is home to several well known colleges including Rochester Institute of Technology and Rochester Univeristy, which includes the Eastman School of Music. Rochester is a few miles south of Lake Ontario and a 90 minute drive from Niagra Falls. It is also the western gateway to New York state’s Finger Lakes region. Between college tours, hockey tournaments at the The Sports Center at MCC, and vacation adventures, many families with teens and tweens find themselves in the area.
We will be visiting Rochester to play hockey and visit colleges later this year so thought we’d share what we’ve learned about ideas for family fun in the area. We found the Visit Rochester site to be very helpful and recommend checking it out if your travels take you this way.
Jack Rabbit Coaster, courtesy Seabreeze Amusement Park
During warmer months, the Seabreeze Amusement Park looks like great family fun. The waterpark section spotlights a 5 foot deep, 260,000 gallon wave pool, a lazy river and lots of slides, tunnels and splash areas. The amusement park area houses 70 rides, including the 1920s-era Jack Rabbit wooden roller coaster, which is the third oldest operating coaster in the country. The 2,150 feet of track features a 75-foot drop, awesome dips, a wild last curve and a fantastic finale through a dark tunnel. Numerous other rides with names like the Yo-Yo, Screamin’ Eagle, and Bobsled also promise to thrill teens and tweens.
In the fall, the Amazing Maize Maze is open mid August to mid September at Long Acre Farms, just outside of town. It is a 5 acre cron maze with 2 1/2 miles of paths, music piped throughout, 2 bridges, a tower, 12 hidden mailboxes, and 12 “Kernels of Knowledge”. See if you can find the treasure and stop by the ice cream shop for a snack on your way out. Other seasonal activities include weekly summertime classic car cruises at Park Point and the 10-day spring Lilac Festival held in mid-May.
Cruise the Erie Canal in Rochester, courtesy VisitRochester
At any time of the year, history buffs should be sure to check out the Erie Canal, which opened in 1825 and revolutionized the transport of goods and people across New York State. The Erie Canal turned Rochester into a boomtown that played an important part in shipping grain and goods across the growing country. Today, the Canal is used exclusively for recreational purposes. From May to October cruises are available on the canal and the Genesse River, which cuts through downtown. A recreational path provides walking and bike access along the canal as well.
Of course, we all know it does snow a lot in Rochester - like a 100 inches or more each winter. Luckily, the city has many indoor and outdoor entertainment options. Outdoor skating and sledding are common and a number of outdoor winter festivals are held each year. The Rochester Broadway Theater League welcomes numerous broadway touring companies, while the beautiful Eastman Theater sponsors hundreds of concerts a year – many with free admission. When you know your travel dates check to see what is playing in town. Music majors visiting the Eastman Music School should be particularly interested in seeing a concert.
We are looking forward to a long weekend in Rochester. If you’ve visited there let us know your thoughts and comments. This is one in a series of articles about fun family activities to add onto college visits or to check out if you are planning a fun family trip with teens and tweens. Check the full list here.
