Finger Lakes Region
Rochester Museum/History Tour
Rochester is New York’s 4th largest city with a metro area of more than 1 million people. There are plenty of great history and entertainment options to keep you busy. Here are our recommendations for your Rochester Daycation
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Lodging
Breakfast - The Hyatt is the only one of the three recommended hotels that serves breakfast, but why just have the first meal of the day in a hotel anyways? We recommend trying bite Rochester. It is an upscale breakfast place in walking distance from any of the hotels and they have all of the standards from Breakfast Sandwiches to Waffles and Omelets. They aren’t open on Sunday, but it is a great choice the other 6 days. Another option is Morgan’s Cereal Bar, open every day except Monday. With over 30 “build your own” cereal options it is a treat for anyone who wants a childhood throwback to your cereal eating days. If you feel like a more adult breakfast, the Waffles, eggs, and pancakes are great, too.
Morning Itinerary
Get your Museuming on with a tour of the 35,000 square foot former home of the man who made modern photography possible as the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company. At one point Kodak employed 55,000 people in the Rochester area and the cameras, film, and chemicals to develop the photos and motion pictures were all made in the area. The exhibits in the house include the history of photography and George Eastman’s life as the most prominent Rochesterian. The house also has over 8 acres of well manicured gardens which you can stroll through during your visit. In the summer the museum has bands play in the back garden and you can bring your own food and beverages or buy them on the premises. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily but is closed on Mondays.
Lunch - If you are in the mood for Barbeque, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is a 2 minute drive from the Eastman House. Their food is the best BBQ in Rochester and has a great view of the Genesee River out the window. The Genesee Brew House is only a 5 minute drive and you can squeeze in a beer tasting of their craft beers and you can even tour the brewery if you want to. The view of Rochester and the High Falls if you eat on the outdoor patio is awesome. Housed in the former Sibley’s Department store on Main Street, The Mercantile on Main has 7 different lunch options featuring high end soups, meats, and pasta. It is only a 5 minute walk from the Eastman House.
Afternoon Itinerary
Memorial Art Gallery
The MAG is never the same place twice. The exhibits rotate every few months and there are always 7 or 8 different types of exhibits to see. You can also sign up for painting lessons at the gallery, and they have Happy Hours and concerts in the gallery each month.
The Strong Museum of Play
The Strong Museum is designed as a place to bring the youngin’s, but there are plenty of things for adults to do that will help you reminisce back to when you were younger. The Toy Hall of Fame and Video Games that were popular when we were kids are on display and they provide a great trip down Memory Lane for adults. The butterfly conservatory is fantastic as well.
Susan B. Anthony House
Susan B. Anthony played a critical role in women getting the right to vote. She spent most of her life in Rochester, working on the suffrage movement that was eventually successful in achieving her goal. The museum is the home that she spent most of her life and and has many of the original writings and furniture from the late 1800’s. It is definitely a great place to spend a couple of hours in downtown Rochester.
Dinner
Tournedos is the best upscale Steakhouse in all of upstate New York. They feature Waygu beef and on premises dry-aged steaks. If you are a carnivore, it is worth the price. Avvino has fantastic and creative culinary combinations at a reasonable price as does Lento. If you are an oyster lover, Lento has very fresh and tasty ones for you to try!
Evening Itinerary
Geva Theatre
In its 49th Season, Geva Theatre has been entertaining patrons with original plays throughout the year. With 2 separate stages, Geva has approximately 16 different plays each year that range from heart wrenching dramas to LOL Comedies. Both stages hold under 1000 people so the performances are easy to hear, follow, and see.
Comedy @ The Carlson
In the heart of downtown, the laughs are a plenty at Rochester’s newest comedy venue - Comedy @ The Carlson. Normally from Wednesday to Sunday there are shows with local and national headline talent performing at the 350 seat venue.
The Auditorium Theater
For the performances of Hamilton and big name music and comedy acts when the weather gets cold, the Auditorium Theater is the place. Holding just under 4000 patrons, The Aud is a great place to see quality comedians, off-Broadway Shows, and top quality musical acts.
Kodak Hall at The Eastman Theatre
The grandest of all Rochester performance venues is the Eastman Theatre, built in 1922 as a gift to the city from George Eastman. Most of the shows are orchestral in nature including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, but occasionally other types of musical acts perform there as well.