ROAD TRIP! …To Rochester

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The Perfect City for an Any Time of Year Visit

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST JOHN

day trippin' with Just2FeetandaCamera.com

"Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion" – Leigh Hunt

With this weekend adventure just over 200 miles away from Saratoga, who needs a better reason to pack their bags, jump in the car, and enjoy some quality time with family in Rochester. No one I know. I've been to Rochester many times but never focused on family travel. So, when friends invited me to visit this past autumn, I jumped at the chance to see what the area had to offer. Someone suggested I visit Rochester's "Museum of Play," I had to pause and think about it. After all, I wasn't a child. Would I even be interested? A waitress at breakfast one morning convinced me to go. Her face lit up when I asked if she'd ever been – it turns out she spends a few hours there every chance she has. "You love it that much?" I ask while sipping the last of my coffee. "You wait," she told me. "I bet you'll feel the same." The museum is very interactive, filled with all sorts of collections for people to wander through and learn about when they visit. I love the Super Heroes section and the history of pinball games exhibit. Remember 'Etch-a-sketch'? They have a life-sized one. And did you ever play Battleship, Twister, or with dollhouses from yesteryear? They have those too. While this definitely appeals to children of all ages – I must say that parents and grandparents were enjoying the museum as much, if not more, than the youngsters were. Plan on a two or three-hour visit with the family and make sure you get tickets to the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden – a delightful escape into a fairyland of nature's beauty.

Less than two miles away, I spent about an hour wandering through a historical site every family should experience. There's something surreal, standing in the very room where police officers arrested an icon for women's rights after she voted in the 1872 Presidential election—the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House brings so much of her passion for the suffrage and abolitionist movement to life – you can't help but feel the woman still standing in the room, right beside you. I wasn't fully aware of how fiercely Susan B. Anthony defended equal pay, women's entrance to college, everyone's right to vote, nor her unwavering stand against slavery and refusal to deal with Slaveholders. Making my way through the rooms inside her modest home on 17 Madison Street was enlightening and invigorating. A few groups inside were families with children asking pretty pointed questions. Man, they seemed so much more interested in history than I was at their age. I left with a grateful heart – knowing that many of the freedoms I enjoy today are because of Susan's willingness to be at the forefront of such a movement. I've loved photography since I was a little kid. I remember running behind my dad with my first Brownie camera, taking pictures of anything that caught my eye. So, naturally, visiting the George Eastman Museum was a must for me – the man was such an innovator and philanthropist in and around Rochester. It wasn't my first time touring this attraction, and it was apparent they'd done a lot of work inside the mansion during the pandemic. All of the exhibits looked refreshed. They feature a gingerbread contest during December, and movies play year-round in the Dryden Theater. The mansion and gardens are a delight for visitors to see, no matter their age. The flowers bloom through late autumn, and each room showcases original furnishings and artifacts from a bygone era. I love museums and feel that youngsters introduced to places like this appreciate the arts more as they grow older. They even offer a few classes online, which I think is fascinating.

The Merchantile on Main

Who doesn't love great food when they're out and about exploring a new city? I thought it was interesting – how a building could house so many different types of food under one roof. Seven vendors with varying work schedules means this urban eatery smells divine any time of day. And if you're worried about social distancing, there's no need. Tables are spaced apart for plenty of room. Off to the side, there are games galore for the kids to play. Adults can enjoy a drink while sitting or standing by the massive bar in the center. I've visited the Rochester Museum and Science Center a few times over the last few years, and it always seems brand new to me. There's a dinosaur exhibit, ways to engage with and learn about planet Earth, science demonstrations, and live animal presentations, to name a few. Every time I'm there, families gather around things of interest – standing near a gigantic Mastodon, an exhibit on electricity- think lightning zaps, even exploring how ice covered New York State millions of years ago. I traveled to and enjoyed a few hours at the Seneca Park Zoo. I'd never been before. I was impressed that the staff continues to work hard to update the grounds and exhibits. I was also happy to see that the zoo is an inclusive sensory location – meaning everyone can enjoy the park.

I love learning about animals and wish I'd been more involved when I was a kid. Here at the zoo, there are numerous programs for youngsters – like ZooCamp, where they can sign up and learn about animals on a day off from school. There's also a Wildlife Action Crew program, allowing interested teens to learn about animals and conservation. One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to take part in a local ghost hunt. I was lucky to eat at The Union Tavern, just a few miles away from Rochester, in Sea Breeze. The food and staff were fabulous. On the evening I went, a gentleman was seated with us, telling us about ghostly occurrences throughout the rich history in and around the Tavern. Man, I called myself lucky when I drove into the parking lot of Genesee Country Village and Museum and learned it was the last weekend they'd be open for the season. (Don't worry - they reopen regular admittance on May 7th, 2022.) Not only is it the largest living history museum in New York State, but the grounds and buildings are also filled with immersive learning experiences everyone in the family will enjoy. There are live demonstrations, classes you can sign up for, and Nature Sundays - for the wintertime when the museum itself is closed. They had a marvelous exhibit and slide show that covered Victorian Mourning attire and customs on the day I went. They were also pressing apples for homemade cider. I had a fabulous time wandering in and out of buildings, and watching a gentleman in old-fashioned garb work on tin lanterns with other guests, was a definite highlight! I could go on and on about Rochester and why you should visit. I hope this piece entices you to go there for the first time or visit again with family and friends to experience more of this fabulous city. SF