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Education / Graduate Medical Education / Prospective Residents / Emergency Medicine / Resident Life / Top 40 Things to do

 

Top 40 Things To Do In Rochester New York

  1. Park Avenue Festival…a Rochester must‐see!Gennesee River
  2. Take a trip to the wineries along the Finger Lakes.
  3. Kayak downstream from Ellison Park to Irondequoit Bay (name of the company is Oak Orchard on Empire Blvd).
  4. Walk along the gorgeous scenic trail to the lighthouse on Lake Ontario.
  5. Take a trip to Letchworth and Stony Brook Parks. Both are located approximately 1 hour south on 390. Letchworth looks like a mini grand canyon and Stony Brook is a great place to hike full of small waterfalls.
  6. Go out to eat at Good Luck Restaurant, small but one of Rochester’s hidden gems!
  7. Go camping in the Adirondacks if you have a free weekend. Favorites are Lake George, Saratoga Springs, and Lake Placid (if you go to Lake Placid you MUST stop by Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa to get a massage).
  8. Check out Eastman School of Music which "Newsweek Magazine" has declared to be the "hottest music school in America" and listen to hundreds of free concerts.
  9. During the holiday season, if you celebrate Christmas, cut your own tree down at one of the many local farms. Most are located in Victor, Macedon, or beyond but well worth the trip.
  10. Buy a cake at Goodness Cakes on University Ave. Cute bakery with an art gallery next door to peruse.
  11. Come to the world famous Rochester Jazz Festival!
  12. RochesterSkylineClothesline Art Festival
  13. Take a trip down to the Corning Museum of Glass, not as corny as it sounds! Fun if you are with a group because you get to make your own glass pieces. Apparently there is also a Baseball Hall of Fame nearby if you like sports.
  14. Take a tour of the Pittsford Canal Locks. Take the boat from Schoen Place, then after the cruise sit on the deck at Aladdin’s for dinner.
  15. During the summer enjoy one of the Eastman House backyard garden concerts. Usually classical but sometimes other worldly music.
  16. If you are itching to go to the beach, take a 30 minute drive to Hamlin Beach (it’s the closest resemblance that is close to a beach). You can also reserve pavilions if you want to have a BBQ.
  17. Drive out to Charlotte (15 minutes) and eat on the water at The Pelicans Nest or Ollie’s. Both are boat friendly allowing you to dock and eat right there!
  18. Take a stroll through the lilacs in Highland Park (best seen during the Lilac Festival) and stop at the conservatory.
  19. Buy groceries at one of the many Public Markets! Go early to avoid large crowds and parking issues. If you feel like taking a weekend trip – Ithaca has the best Public Market, located on the lake, very worldly, and great vendors but Saturdays only.
  20. Riverside CenterFor sports fans you have many options, Rochester Americans, Red Wings, Knighthawks, Rhinos, Buffalo Bills, and Buffalo Sabres just to name a few.
  21. Subscribe to a season of shows with one of the local theatre houses: Broadway Theatre League is at the Auditorium Theatre, others include Geva Theatre, Downstairs Cabaret, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at Eastman Theatre.
  22. Cornhill Art Festival
  23. Take a hike through Mendon Ponds Park and other surrounding areas. Dr. Pasternack takes group hikes as often as we can on Thursdays!
  24. Watch the sun set/rise at the reservoir on Cobbs Hill. Awesome views of the city!
  25. Walk your dog at Ellison Park and Corbitt Glenn Park. Both very dog friendly and the ultimate place for doggy socialization.
  26. Visit the Memorial Art Gallery on University Ave. Bring your URMC id badge to get in for free (pay extra for visiting exhibits).
  27. Fall in RochesterSee a movie at the Little Theatre off of East Ave. Small, mostly foreign films. Another Rochester gem!
  28. Get a massage at the Spa at the Del Monte in Pittsford! Well known across the US as a top spa.
  29. For a quick romantic getaway, book a room at the Bristol harbor Golf Resort in Canandaigua. Gorgeous views of the south end of the lake. Room booking usually includes complimentary dinner for two. Great deals for weeknight stays.
  30. Visit the Seneca Park Zoo, see the amazing seal and polar bears as well as our new lion and elephant enclosures.
  31. Have a drink at Marge’s bar on Irondequoit Bay. Hole in the wall, but worth the visit. Have a cocktail inside at the bar or outside while sitting in the sand on the beach!
  32. Visit the butterfly garden at The Strong National Museum of Play (a children’s museum). It also has the largest antique toy collection in the US.
  33. See why Alec Baldwin and his mother love Wegmans so much!
  34. Go to a laser show at the planetarium.
  35. The Flower CityFor a weekend trip, drive to Niagara on the Lake (don’t confuse with Niagara Falls) where you can shop small boutique shops and walk along the gorgeous streets. Also drive into Lewiston. Gorgeous, tons of fun and for the best night’s sleep stay at the Barton Hill Hotel & Spa.
  36. During the winter go sledding at Powder Mill Park in Bushnell’s Basin. Huge hills!
  37. Take a trip to Sonnenberg Gardens in the summer time. Very European‐like garden displays.
  38. Go outdoor ice skating at Highland Park…bring your own skates.
  39. Great BBQ…Dinosaur overlooking the river downtown or Sticky Lips.
  40. Head to Bristol Mountain to go skiing all winter! Don’t worry if you take a tumble, Dr. Kamali is the “Doc On The Mountain” every Tuesday Night!