This industrial city on Lake Ontario's shore grew from an 18th-century settlement into New York state's third largest urban center, known for manufacturing and healthcare.
Rochester, on Lake Ontario's southern shore in Upstate New York, has shaped American innovation and arts. You can walk through George Eastman's mansion to see early daguerreotypes and modern photography installations, watch world-class musicians perform at Eastman School of Music's Kilbourn Hall, or spend hours playing vintage arcade games at The Strong National Museum of Play. The city's parks, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, include Highland Park with its 1,200 lilac bushes in 500 varieties.
Exploring Rochester's Museums
At The Strong National Museum of Play, you'll find the National Toy Hall of Fame and can try classic video games across two floors of interactive exhibits. The George Eastman Museum lets you explore the Kodak founder's Colonial Revival mansion and see photography exhibitions from the world's oldest collection of photographs, cameras, and equipment. Current exhibitions rotate every three to four months, focusing on different periods and styles of photography.
Music and Performance Scene
You can attend daily student and faculty concerts at Eastman School of Music's three concert halls. Each June, the Rochester International Jazz Festival brings over 1,500 artists to perform at 20+ venues across downtown. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performs weekly at Kodak Hall from September through May, while Rochester City Ballet and Garth Fagan Dance present seasonal programs at Nazareth College Arts Center.
Parks and Natural Landscapes
Walk or bike along the Genesee Riverway Trail, which runs 24 miles through Rochester with views of three waterfalls. Highland Park contains 150 acres of rolling hills and North America's most extensive lilac collection. At Seneca Park, you can see snow leopards, red pandas, and African lions at the zoo, while Genesee Valley Park connects you to 365 miles of the Erie Canal Heritage Trail.
Year-Round Festivals
Visit the Lilac Festival in May when Highland Park's 1,200 lilac bushes bloom alongside food vendors and live music stages. The Corn Hill Arts Festival in July brings 350+ artists to display their work in Rochester's oldest residential district. September's Rochester Fringe Festival places theater, dance, and comedy performances in unconventional spaces like empty storefronts and parking lots.
Getting Around Rochester
Eight airlines fly from Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport to major U.S. cities. The city sits at the intersection of I-90 and I-390, six hours from New York City and 3.5 hours from Toronto. In downtown Rochester, most attractions are within a 15-minute walk of each other, and Regional Transit Service buses run every 15-30 minutes on major routes.
