Travel Guides Family Friendly
Kaitlyn Rosati
Traveling with kids certainly requires some extra planning, but the memories of bringing our young ones new experiences are always worth the extra effort. However, some places are naturally more kid-proof than others. There’s one historical city in Upstate New York that nearly tops the list of best places to travel with kids.
Rochester, New York, is located in Monroe County, approximately 76 miles east of Buffalo and 86 miles west of Syracuse. In 2022, the city was voted the most neighborly city in the USA based on factors such as charitable giving and volunteer work. Safe to say, visiting Rochester, especially with young ones, can almost guarantee you’ll be met with many accommodating and hospitable folks. Not only are the people of Rochester friendly, but the city can provide an educational journey for you and your young ones, with historical figures such as Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass hailing from this friendly New York town.
Enjoyable activities for both you and the kiddos
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One of the best kid-friendly activities in Rochester is the Strong National Museum of Play. Home to a wide variety of exhibits in its massive 150,000 square feet space, the museum has something to pique all types of interests. Video game aficionados will find joy in the massive joysticks for Giant Tetris, and parents might feel a sense of nostalgia playing Pac-Man. If the weather permits, head outdoors to the Hasbro Game Park, where games like Scrabble, Monopoly, and Jenga get supersized for kids (and adults) to interact with.
For a historical and educational experience, head to the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House to learn about the women’s suffrage movements. Susan B. Anthony was a pioneer for women’s voting rights in the USA, and the museum located in her old home will take you and your kiddos through her inspiring journey that paved the way for women.
Swinging by the Erie Canal or even jumping on a kayak, houseboat, or canoe with Erie Canal Adventures is another family-friendly offering of Rochester. The Erie Canal’s history dates back to 1825 and is credited with making Rochester the USA’s first “boom town.”
While not technically in Rochester, the Genesee Country Village & Museum in nearby Mumford offers great family-friendly activities year-round. Enjoy leaf peeping and apple picking in the fall or breakfast with Saint Nick in the winter.
‘Tis the season
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While it might seem desirable to only visit Rochester in the warmer months, there’s something for each season in this fun Upstate New York city. In the winter, head to Roc Holiday Village, an annual winter festival featuring ice skating, holiday shopping, and even the chance to sit inside igloos. Also, try breakfast with Santa at Kettle Ridge Farm.
Rochester is an excellent location in the fall for some proper leaf peeping and apple picking. You’ll definitely want to head to Wickham Farms for their pumpkin patch.
Summer is the most desirable time to visit Rochester, and what is the point of visiting anywhere in the summer without some proper ice cream? You simply must stop by Pittsford Farms Dairy & Bakery for some of the best scoops in town. A sweet scoop of ice cream is the perfect way to treat yourself after a fun-filled day at Seabreeze Amusement Park, a water park ample for those hot summer days.
In the springtime, head to the Seneca Park Zoo. Here, your kids can feed giraffes, embark on a Savanna Safari Tour, or get an up-close glimpse of some lions on the Rocky Coast Tour.
