Beaches and boating
Durand-Eastman Park
George Eastman and Dr. Henry Durand donated their summer-cottage lakefront properties to the city in 1909, and the park is now a popular summer getaway for everyone. Its beach is open for swimming during the summer, and it's less often closed due to water conditions than Ontario Beach. Also has a golf course and other standard park amenities.
Harbor Town Belle
This 80-foot paddlewheeler recalls the heyday of the Mississippi riverboats. It docks at the Port of Rochester and cruises both up the river and out onto the lake. Lunch and dinner cruises available, including specialty packages. Fall foliage cruise in October.
Ontario Beach Park
Located at the northernmost reaches of the city, Ontario Beach is the most popular beach area in Rochester. Unfortunately, there's a persistent algae problem that lends a unique scent to the area and closes the beach to swimming fairly frequently. When conditions allow, swimming is open 11AM-7PM daily during the summer. If you can't go in the water, though, there are other things to do; in particular, the 1905 Dentzel carousel should not be missed.
Mary Jemison River Boat
The Mary Jemison, run by Corn Hill Navigation, departs from and returns to Corn Hill Landing, just south of downtown. It takes a 90-minute cruise up the river to the canal and back, with historical information provided by an on-board narrator. Lunch and dinner cruises available.
Boats can be launched at the Port of Rochester where the river empties into the lake; on Irondequoit Bay; or along the canal in many surrounding suburbs like Pittsford and Fairport.
If you don't have your own boat, there are a couple of nice cruises available, including the Sam Patch (http://www.samandmary.org) replica packet boat in Pittsford. For boats departing from the city:
For a city with so many waterways, it's surprising that waterfront activities are so far down the list for most visitors. True, neither the river nor the canal is suitable for swimming and the lake only barely so, but boating can be a great way to spend an afternoon.
There are two beaches in the city proper:
Spectator sports
Buffalo Bills Training Camp
The closest the Rochester area gets to major-league team sports is the Bills' annual summer training camp, held since 2000 in northern Pittsford. There's lots to do besides just watch practices, too; you can participate in interactive games, peruse the merchandise, or try to get some autographs. You can get a lot closer to the players here than at the stadium in Buffalo!
Wegmans LPGA Championship
Since 1977, the best women golfers in the world have come to Locust Hill Country Club in the southern suburbs for the annual Wegmans LPGA tournament. Rochester golf fans always turned out in droves for this event, making it a favorite stop for the players; this support was rewarded in 2010 by substituting the LPGA Championship major tournament for the annual tour stop. That promotion will continue into 2011 and perhaps beyond.
Rochester Razorsharks
The Razorsharks, in the Premier Basketball League, are the latest in a long line of successful basketball teams in Rochester. With four championships in just six seasons, they're one of the top minor-league teams in the country.
Rochester Knighthawks
The K-Hawks are a top-tier indoor lacrosse team, featuring some of the best talent in the world. If you've never seen an indoor lacrosse match, a K-Hawks game is a great introduction. The team has several future Hall-of-Famers on the roster; you simply won't find better, more exciting lacrosse being played anywhere. And if the opponent is Buffalo or Toronto, you're in for a real treat!
Rochester Rattlers
The Rattlers are back after a two-year hiatus and playing top-level outdoor lacrosse at Sahlen's Stadium.
Western New York Flash
Women's Professional Soccer comes to Rochester, with the promotion of a Buffalo-area team to the top women's soccer league in the U.S. Brazilian superstar Marta is on the roster, along with several other international-caliber players.
Rochester Red Wings
A Rochester tradition since 1899, the Red Wings are the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. Frontier Field is a beautiful ballpark situated downtown with convenient $6 parking. On the 4th of July and certain other summer nights, there are free fireworks shows with admission. Your food options are a bit better than the average—there's the usual hot dogs and beer white hots and Genny, since this is Rochester, after all, but maybe you'd like to try the roast beef sandwiches, barbecue platters, spicy popcorn chicken, or sweet and savory crepes.
A true hometown team
The Red Wings used to be owned by the St. Louis Cardinals—that's how they got their name, in fact. But in 1956, the Cards decided not to continue that relationship. Rochester businessman Morrie Silver organized a drive in which 8,222 shareholders each purchased a share of the team, saving it from relocation or folding. Rochester Community Baseball owns the team to this day.
It may not be the first city people think of when it comes to sports, but few other cities have as wide a variety, or as long a winning tradition, as Rochester does. The city is consistently ranked among the best cities in the country for minor-league sports, which means you can see some very talented players in some great, intimate venues for a very reasonable price.
Rochester Americans
Known fondly as the "Amerks", Rochester's storied hockey team is the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial is an old building, but it was renovated in the 90s and is now a fine downtown hockey arena. One of the oldest and most successful teams in the league, the Amerks are working to overcome recent struggles, but hockey night in Rochester is still a fun time.
Rochester Rhinos
The Rhinos are in the USL Pro League, a second- or third-tier soccer league in the U.S. They have a relatively new soccer-specific facility currently known as Sahlen's Stadium less than a mile northwest of Frontier Field, and there's not a bad seat in the house. Food options are not quite as good as at the baseball stadium, but the selection is focused on local favorites like Bill Gray's cheeseburgers, Abbott's frozen custard, and Red Osier roast beef.
RIT Tigers
Who needs football? Rochester Institute of Technology has hockey! Rochester's only Division I college team plays a hard-hitting and very successful brand of hockey and has already made waves in just five years at the top level, including a Frozen Four appearance. The Frank Ritter Ice Arena is an intimate okay, small venue, but it lets the fans sit right on top of the action. The legendary Corner Crew cheering section harasses opposing goalies all night, every night. This classic college hockey atmosphere is worth experiencing.
Live theatre and music
Auditorium Theatre
The Auditorium Theatre is Rochester's Broadway roadhouse; the Rochester Broadway Theatre League brings to town several touring productions each year. The theater is aging and acoustically imperfect, but it's been kept up as well as can be expected, and it's the only area theater with the space to put on the big shows. Other concerts and performances dot the schedule throughout the year; see the web site for upcoming events.
Kilbourn Hall
Kilbourn is one of the finest small concert halls in the world, and it serves as the primary performance space for Eastman School of Music students. As such, audiences are in for a treat, in the form of free recitals and concerts throughout the year, as elite music students exhibit their talents on stage.
Garth Fagan Dance
The Tony-award winning choreographer Garth Fagan has his own dance troupe in Rochester, his adopted hometown. When they're not touring the country, they put on a variety of performances around the city. Truly world-class dancers provide a show you can't match in any other city this size.
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
One of George Eastman's greatest legacies, the Rochester Philharmonic is an outstanding orchestra, especially for a city the size of Rochester. The RPO's main performance space is the Eastman Theatre see above, but they get around town to other venues, especially in the summer. Pops conductor Jeff Tyzik, once Doc Severinsen's arranger for the Tonight Show Band, has taught the RPO to swing like few other professional orchestras can, but their classical chops are equally noteworthy.
Geva Theatre
Geva, the city's premiere local theater company, hosts a variety of productions on its two stages, housed in a converted armory! Most popular are its Christmas productions, which alternate between A Christmas Carol and A Christmas Story. Discounts are available for students and seniors.
Downstairs Cabaret Theatre
A tiny theatre with seating just a few feet from the stage; great for a small group outing or a date. It's best to call beforehand to buy tickets and get directions, as some productions are housed in one of their three other locations. Their newest space is a relatively enormous 250-seat venue in Brighton 3450 Winton Pl.
Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre is a mid-sized professional theatre that has entertained audiences for almost 60 years, providing a local showcase for actors and actresses, theater artists and technicians who have chosen to make Rochester their home. They've just moved to a new space on East Main near the Auditorium Center and the Main Street Armory.
Eastman Theatre
The newly renovated Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre is the best place to catch the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra see below, one of the best mid-sized city orchestras in the country. It's by far the best large performance space in Rochester, with the expected variety of events going on all year.
Water Street Music Hall
A wide variety of live music several nights out of the week. There is also a reasonably priced bar inside.
Hochstein Performance Hall
Hochstein Performance Hall is part of Hochstein School of Music & Dance, which has served as a community center for Greater Rochester since 1920. Located in the heart of the city, the 857-seat elegantly renovated Performance Hall offers free recitals and performances regularly, including the long-running "Live from Hochstein" Broadcast and Concert Series.
The prominence of the Eastman School of Music means that some of the world's best musicians have passed through Rochester during their school years, and many have stuck around to enrich the city's cultural life.
Several of the city's bars and clubs also present live music frequently. Of particular note in this respect are The Bug Jar and the Montage Grill. See Drink, below.
Hiking
Genesee Riverway Trail
This not-quite-completed trail runs along the river, north from the canal, through downtown, and all the way to the lake. You'll get a good look at the gorge along the northern section, and it can be a nice way to get downtown if your legs and shoes are up to the task. One highlight is the wide boardwalk over the Turning Point basin a couple of miles south of the lake.
Genesee Valley Greenway
Formerly a railroad bed, this mostly gravel trail is perfect for off-road cycling/walking/running. It follows along the Genesee River, cutting through the rolling farmland south of Rochester. 50+ miles depending upon how far south they've developed the path.
Cobb's Hill Reservoir Park
If you happen to be in the area, Cobb's Hill provides a great panoramic view of downtown. Located on the corner of Culver and Monroe, it is an easy walk from the cafes on Park Ave. Large duck pond, baseball diamond, tennis courts and a nice although steep trail to the top of the hill, where the reservoir is located.
Erie Canalway Trail
This trail, which will eventually stretch across the state, is being created from the former Erie Canal towpath, where the mules would walk to tow the barges along. Though the walking paths are open year-round, the canal is drained, kept empty, and less scenic between November and May. During the winter time, however, the canal trail is virtually deserted, and provides an excellent place to snowshoe and cross-country ski.
Three major albeit under-improvement multi-use trails pass through the Rochester area, and they all meet up inside Genesee Valley Park.
Aside from the trails, there's not much hiking to do without heading for the suburban parks, though Cobb's Hill Park might tide you over:
Golf
Genesee Valley Golf Club
For whatever reason, golf is very popular in Rochester. That's reflected not just in the world-class Oak Hill Country Club, host to numerous national and international tournaments over the years, and in the always-fantastic turnout at the yearly Wegmans LPGA tournament, but in the number of high-quality public and semi-public golf courses. Most of them are in the rural suburbs, of course, but there are a few close in to the city:
Film
The Little Theatre
Run by a not-for-profit corporation, the historic Little shows a wide variety of foreign, independent and classic films in five theatres. There is also a cafe bakery serves a full dinner menu along with wine and beer, sometimes with live music.
Cinema Theatre
Rochester's oldest neighborhood movie theater. Always a double feature both second-run, with a mix of foreign/indie and standard Hollywood fare, this theater also has a resident cat who sometimes will sit on your lap during the show.
Dryden Theatre
The Eastman House, a major not-for-profit film and photographic museum, houses the Dryden Theatre. The Dryden shows a wide variety of Hollywood classics, international and independent films -- literally something different every night of the week. The programming is thoughtful and cutting-edge, with frequent visits by directors and actors. Nearly all films begin at 8PM and are preceded by a brief film talk. Tickets $4-6, except during special events such as visiting filmmakers.
Cinemark Movies 10
Second-run theater showing mostly mainstream Hollywood films for a very low price.
UR Cinema Group
The University of Rochester's own student-run movie group. Movies are shown on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as most Thursdays while Fall and Spring semesters are in session. Movies of every conceivable genre are shown throughout the year, including pornography.
As befits the home of Eastman Kodak, Rochester is a major destination for film buffs. It's no New York or Los Angeles, but no other mid-sized city can compare. The centerpiece of the film festival schedule is the 360|365 George Eastman House Film Festival see Festivals, above, but there are also GLBT, Jewish, Polish, and short-film festivals.
Rochester is also home to several charming cinemas, where the atmosphere is almost as important as the films.
Other
Seabreeze Amusement Park
At the junction of Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario, Seabreeze combines the features of an old-fashioned amusement park with the technology and thrills of a modern water park. The fourth-oldest amusement park in America. Has an original 1920s carousel with hand-carved horses. Don't miss the historic Jack Rabbit roller coaster, the fourth-oldest operating coaster in the world.
Rock Ventures
This is the country's largest indoor rock-climbing establishment, quite popular with the area's college students. Great exercise and fun, too.
You might sometimes catch residents complaining that there's not much to do around Rochester, but a little research reveals a wealth of opportunities, even during the long winters. Nearly everything is family-friendly, too; Rochester is consistently ranked one of the best cities in the world for visiting with kids. In addition to the many parks and museums, kids will have a great time at Seabreeze Amusement Park in Irondequoit, near the mouth of the bay see listing, below.
winter sports
Winter sports are not as popular in Rochester as one might think given the climate, but there are plenty of opportunities. The nearest downhill ski resort is Bristol Mountain, north of Naples in Ontario County; it's a popular day trip for Rochesterians.
Several ice rinks around Rochester offer public skating sessions, in particular Ritter Arena on the RIT campus and the Webster Ice Arena in Webster.
festivals
Once May rolls around, snow becomes less likely, and Rochester's renowned festival season begins. Pretty much every weekend from May through October, there's at least one festival of some sort going on in Rochester or its suburbs. Rochester's festivals run the gamut, focusing on such diverse subjects as horticulture, music, crafts, and food—and admission is free for almost all of them!
The flagship festival is, of course, the Lilac Festival, which has been drawing visitors from out of town to Highland Park for over a century. Newer, but no less popular, is the Rochester International Jazz Festival, which has quickly grown into one of the world's top music festivals. Less well-known outside of Rochester is the Park Ave Fest, but it epitomizes the local festival scene and shouldn't be missed if you're in town that weekend.
Among the suburban festivals, be sure to check out Fairport Canal Days (http://www.fairportcanald...) in early June 6-7 Jun 2009. Of the many festivals centered on the Erie Canal, this may be the best, and it's held in the quintessential canal town.
The closest Renaissance Festival is in Sterling, Cayuga County. (http://sterlingfestival.com) It's about 45 minutes away, but it's worth the trip. It's open weekends from July through mid-August every year.
There are many cultural festivals around the city and the local areas, including Greek and Turkish Festivals.