Rochester
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
From the rivers to the lakes; The Flower City
Why visit
Rochester rewards travelers interested in industrial history, photography, and Susan B. Anthony's legacy. Visit the George Eastman Museum (Kodak founder's mansion, now the world's oldest photography and film museum). Tour the Susan B. Anthony House where she lived and was arrested in 1872 for trying to vote. Walk the High Falls of the Genesee River right downtown. A 96-foot drop in the heart of the city. The Strong National Museum of Play (toys, video games, the National Toy Hall of Fame) is exceptional, especially with kids. Day-trip to the spectacular Letchworth State Park ('the Grand Canyon of the East'), the Finger Lakes wineries (Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka), or Niagara Falls 110 km west.
When to avoid
Rochester has serious post-industrial decline issues. Some neighborhoods have high crime and concentrated poverty. Stay aware downtown after dark. Winter is brutal. Lake-effect snowstorms can dump 30+ cm in a single night. The Inner Loop highway scars the downtown. Rochester International Airport (ROC) has limited service. Many travelers fly into Buffalo or Syracuse. Don't expect busy nightlife on weekday evenings. Skip the Kodak headquarters area at night. It's rough. The garbage plate (a local diner specialty) is an acquired taste.
