Sun-Sational Summertime:
Excellent excursions and cool breaks
in the greater Rochester area
By Jackie Perrin and Debra Ross
Banish the backpacks and break out the bathing suits! School’s out, and we’ve got a luscious line-up of treats for you and your crew this summer. From wet and wild to cool and creative, the options for seasonal fun in the Rochester area are truly tantalizing. Following are our top 10 recommendations for summertime play. Savor the season!
1) Get to know "every inch of the way"
We hope the early Americans who first made their livelihoods on the Erie Canal would be pleased with its legacy of recreation and cultural enrichment for us in the 21st century. From eastern Wayne county all the way out to Lockport and beyond, the Canal is a great way to help our kids both appreciate the rich history of western New York and enjoy the great outdoors. Click here for a link to a neat map of the Canal in the Rochester area.
Take your bike! A great way to get to know the Erie Canal is by planning a family bike tour. Rich and Sue Freeman, authors of Take Your Bike among many other Rochester-area outdoors guides, provide a free list of trails and suggestions for Palmyra to Pittsford.
Want to get even more up close and personal? Take a ride on the Colonial Belle, which leaves from Packett's Landing in the middle of Fairport Tuesday-Saturday for 2-hour and 3-hour cruises, plus a "1½-hour Special" (a good introduction to the Canal at reduced cost) on Sunday. Reservations are recommended, and boarding is 15 minutes before departure. Call 585-223-9470 or visit the web site for more information.
Another way to get to know our famous waterways are the Sam Patch packet boat on the Erie Canal, and the Mary Jemison on the Genesee River. Eric O'Neal and his crew offer fun, relaxing, and educational tours of our waterways' history and ecology. The Sam Patch leaves from Pittsford at Schoen Place and the Mary Jemison leaves from the newly constructed Corn Hill Landing on Exchange Blvd in downtown Rochester; click here to see the schedule and the rates, which in our opinion are very reasonable. Reservations are strongly recommended for all daily cruises and are required for all meal cruises. You also can call 585-262-5661 for more information or to schedule a day or evening cruise.
 Does a regular boat not get you close enough to cool you off? How about a ride in a canoe or kayak! Genesee Waterways Center is located right on the Genesee River across from the University of Rochester's Genesee Valley Park, just north of where the Canal crosses the River. The Center offers rentals for all levels of experience, plus classes and camps to get you and your kids started. Debra's husband rented a canoe with their 4-year-old recently and had a blast. Call 585-328-3960 for reservations.
2) Hit the Beach
Tops on our list of things to do this summer is a day of sun and sand on the Great Lake Ontario. Meaning "beautiful lake" in Iroquois, Lake Ontario has 712 miles of shoreline and is the fourth largest lake in the world. Four area swimming beaches have facilities that are particularly family-friendly. From east to west: Fairhaven Beach, Sodus Point, Ontario Beach Park, and Hamlin Beach are among our favorite day trip destinations.
Fairhaven Beach State Park
Route 104A
Fair Haven, NY 13064
(315) 947-5205
Our pick for best undiscovered beach, Fairhaven State Park is located on the Seaway Trail, halfway between Rochester and Syracuse. Towering bluffs and sandy beaches make for a picturesque natural escape. Rent a canoe or paddleboat or spend the day swimming. On the way out of town, stop by the Fly by Night Cookie Company for a sweet snack.
Sodus Point Beach Park
7985 Wickham Blvd
Sodus Point, NY 14555
315-946-5836
With sweeping views of Sodus Bay, this supervised swimming beach is nicely contained – just the right size for a visit with young children. A playground, as well as a bathhouse, restrooms, and a snack bar add convenience and help make for a pleasant day. While in Sodus Point, be sure to stop by the Lighthouse Museum. Sodus Point hosts offers some great family activities during the summer: The Lighthouse Concert series is a series of outdoor performances held on the museum grounds on Sunday afternoons. The Great Sodus Bay Screen, Saturday evening outdoor movie screenings, is a novel treat for kids of all ages.
Ontario Beach Park
4800 Lake Avenue
Rochester, NY 14613
Park staff assistance: 585-746-6196 or 585-865-2831
Information and reservations: 256-4950 x320
A grand playground as well as the historic Denzel carousel are highlights of this park, which also boasts a swimming beach. Expansive pavilions, available at a very reasonable price, make this a great group spot for group events as well. Water quality varies during the season, so be sure to call ahead to see if the beach is open. On Wednesday evenings from June –September, the park is the site of the family-friendly Concerts by the Shore series. A journey to Charlotte beach wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Abbott’s, located across the street, for a frozen custard treat. For their concerts by the shore information, call 585-865-3320.
Hamlin Beach State Park
1 Camp Road
Hamlin, NY 14464
585-964-2462
With clear water, sandy beaches, a playground, and plenty of picnic areas, Hamlin Beach State Park makes for a great daytrip. But it’s also a popular camping spot. The park has 264 campsites (tent and trailer), an environmental education center, and 10 miles of biking and hiking trails.
3) Wild Water
Western New York is of course reknowned as the home of Niagara Falls, and most of us residents visit The Falls at least once or twice to get "the experience." But there are many other waterfalls close to home that, while not quite as overwhelming, are nonetheless awe-inspiring. And much less, er, touristy.
The most prominent among these are the three sets of waterfalls at Letchworth State Park in Mount Morris, which is about 45 minutes south of Rochester; a nice photo of the Middle Falls from the LetchworthStatePark.com, is pictured to the left.
About 17 miles to the south of Mount Morris, in Dansville, is Stony Brook State Park. The Ross family had heard about this park but had not visited until this year; what a find! The spectacular waterfall system culminates in two wonderful spring-fed swimming pools, with a nice nearby bathhouse. Make sure you visit their web site for more photos and interesting information about the park. Great playground, too!
Racing fans who have traveled east to the Watkins Glen International are likely to be familiar with the spectacular gorge and waterfalls at Watkins Glen State Park, but it's worth the 85-mile trip just for the chance to walk behind (yes, behind) the waterfall. It's an experience right out of Last of the Mohicans. Make sure that for both the Stony Brook and Watkins Glen trips you leave the strollers in the car; you'll find yourself awkwardly carrying them up and down what seems like miles of slippery steps.
The fact is, our area has too many beautiful waterfalls to detail all of them here. Fortunately, our aforementioned friends at Footprint Press have done it all for us in their book 200 Waterfalls in Central and Western New York. For waterfall hunters who are determined to experience some little-known treasures of Western New York, it's a must-have resource. The Freemans even detail the exact time and effort it takes to reach each waterfall.
Remember, too, that we ingenious humans have found many ways to manufacture our own "wild water" experiences, which, though vastly different from the ones Nature supplies, are in many ways as invigorating. Roseland Water Park in Canandaigua on Routes 5 & 20 has attractions such as the "Mammoth Raft Ride" and the "Twister" (ever surf on a tornado?) that get the heart racing. Seabreeze, voted # 3 on our Top 20 list, has a water park with a wave pool, body slides, and inner tube slides. And, of course, Six Flags Darien Lake also has a wave pool, as well as such rides as the Raging Seas and Grizzly Run.
4) Wild Animals
 The Seneca Park Zoo, which is #2 on our Top 20 list, have something new each season. (To the left, that's Jackie's daughter Molly acting as one little baboon among many!) Has your little darling always wanted to see a snake fed? That's at 11am on Wednesdays; click here for the regular daily program, so you can plan your trip accordingly.
If you're willing to make it a full day trip for your budding zoologist, consider expanding your scope to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park in Syracuse, or the Zoological Society of Buffalo.
5) Farm Follows Function
Many visitors from out of state are surprised to learn that much of our upstate landscape is dotted with small family farms. Among the U.S. states, New York State ranks second in milk, apple, and maple syrup production, and third in grape production. In addition, it is the fourth largest meat producer. While some have left the farm behind in order to provide a more stable source of income for their families, a few creative minds have managed to keep the farm going with "agri-tainment" initiatives. From "U-Pick" operations to petting zoos to corn mazes, upstate New York boasts a bountiful crop of fabulous farms. Pay them a visit, have some fun, and support our local farmers!
Springdale Farm
696 Colby Street
Spencerport, NY 14559
585-352-5320
In 2004, Springdale Farm opened two new facilities: a 13,000 square-foot Dairy Barn and a 9,500 square-foot Visitor Education Center. Cows enter the barn and a sophisticated sensor system determines whether they are ready to give milk. If so, the machine does the job automatically! Animals on the farm include sheep, pigs, horses, cows, goats, chickens, ducks and geese, many of whom can be pet! Facilities at the farm include a playground and a covered picnic pavilion.
 The Humane Society at Lollypop Farm
99 Victor Road
Fairport, NY 14450
585-223-1330
Any day is a great day to visit Lollypop farm, a local treasure that provides shelter and advocacy for animals large and small. (And it ranked #5 on our Top 20 Places to Take Your Kids in Rochester survey.) Their annual Lollypop Farm Day celebrates horses and farm life. Event highlights include kids activities and a horse shoeing demonstration.
 Long Acre Farms
1342 Eddy Rd.
Macedon, NY 14502
315-986-4202
Each year, Longacre Farms presents a different theme for their "amazing maize maze" in Macedon, Wayne County. Past themes include "Take Me Out To The Corn Field," "100 'Ears of Flight," and "2001: A Space Cob-yssey." The maze opens the last weekend in July, but you needn’t wait until then to visit the farm. The Sweet Cone Shop and Farm Market are open now, fresh produce is available, and there’s a great playground for the kids. August brings some great weekend events to Long Acre Farms; see their great web site for more details.
Brown’s Berry Patch
14264 Roosevelt Highway
Waterport, NY 14571
(585) 682-5569
This family-owned fruit farm (#6 on our Top 20 List) has plenty to keep the kids busy for a morning or an afternoon. Located outside of Lockport, Brown's Berry Patch offers u-pick berries in season, as well as a wild "barnyard adventure" playground with pedal cars, tractors, water tables, a giant slide that parents and kids can go on together, and a petting zoo. Watch the goats cleverly hoist a full can of goat food up to their perch on top of the barn. Little folks love to sail small boats on the barnyard water table with several levels.
According to Farmer Bob, here is the picking schedule for the summer:
Strawberries - Mid-June through mid-July
Cherries - Start about July 4
Raspberries - Three harvests: A few days after July 4, late summer, & fall
Blueberries - Start 2nd week of July
Peaches - Start about August 1
 Murphy Orchards
2402 McClew Road
Burt, NY 14209
716-778-7926
A good friend of KidsoutandAbout.com told us about Murphy Orchards, a working fruit farm in Niagara County, and at one time a stop on the underground railroad. The orchard, located 12 miles north of Lockport (about a 1½-hour drive from Rochester) offers u-pick berries, peaches, and apples as well as agricultural, environmental, and underground Railroad Heritage tours. Call ahead to make a reservation for afternoon tea in the tearoom, featuring an assortment of finger sandwiches, plus a selection of their homemade baked goods served with real whipped cream and homemade jams.
Based on the recent hits to certain pages of this web site, we’ve noticed that a lot of you are wild about strawberries. If you haven’t yet, check out Jackie’s article on u-pick strawberry patches in Wayne County.
6) Cool Off at the Museum
Does your family have a favorite museum in Rochester? Sometimes it takes a good reason to take a break from the norm, and hot steamy weather can be that reason. Adventurers seeking cooler spots will be rewarded this summer by a fantastic lineup of museum exhibits and events. Don’t miss the chance to take advantage of our local cultural resources!
George Eastman House
900 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
The Eastman House makes special strides to welcome families. The second floor Discovery Center, where kids can create their own sun prints and visit interactive stations, opens each day at 1 pm. Restrooms are equipped with baby changing stations, and the Museum Store has some great books and toys we haven’t seen elsewhere.
This summer, why not start a new tradition of summer dinner al fresco? The Garden Vibes Concert Series takes place on the expansive grounds of the beautiful Eastman House, at 6:30pm on Thursday evenings throughout the summer. Gates open at 5 pm and concerts begin at 6:30. Pack a picnic or buy your dinner there. Bring blankets or chairs.
Admission is about $15 for adults, $5 ages 6-12; 5 and younger free. Members pay a reduced cost. For more information, call 271-3361, ext. 218.
 Rochester Museum and Science Center
657 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
585-271-4320
(Will update shortly with information more specific than just the address.)
Strong Museum
One Manhattan Square
Rochester, NY 14607
585-263-2700
Also known as the National Museum of Play®, Strong is the only museum in the world to focus exclusively on the importance of “play” as it reflects and illuminates the American experience. At Strong Museum, kids of all ages are invited to touch, explore, and imagine in whimsical, interactive learning environments. Here kids and adults can play to learn—and learn to play—as they step onto Sesame Street, pilot a helicopter, shop in a kid-sized supermarket, put on a radio show, and travel through time, all on the same day! Home of The National Toy Hall of Fame® and a breathtaking array of collections, the museum has embarked on an expansion that will nearly double the museum’s size from 168,000 to 280,000 square feet, and will make it the second-largest children's museum in the country. The expansion is expected to open in July 2006.
Genesee Country Village Museum & Nature Center
1410 Flint Hill Road
Mumford, NY 14511
(585) 538-6822
Experiencing the living history of the Genesee Country Village Museum & Nature Center is well worth the short trip from Rochester southwest to Mumford. The Village, which features 69 restored buildings from the 19th Century, takes you back in time to an era of struggle, triumph, and fascinating traditions. Most summer weekends feature special events, including the Civil War Reenactment, and the Old-Time Fiddler's Fair.
The Village also has Silver Base Ball Park, where local guys (and gals) play Base Ball with 19th-Century rules and outfits. It can be a bit startling to realize that "Nice hurl, sir!" is a compliment, but spectators quickly get swept up in the spirit of the game as they munch on roasted peanuts-in-the-shell and swill birch beer.
 The Genesee Country Nature Center, located on the adjacent grounds, has activities for kids and families winter and summer. Each Sunday at 2pm features a nature walk, during which the Center's chief naturalist Linda Bender or one of her colleagues will guide you on one of the Center's many trails through 175 acres of varied terrain. We are big fans of the Nature Center at GCV, partly because those who run it are clearly scientists rather than activists.
7) Fair Play
Monroe County Fair: July
2695 E. Henrietta Road
Henrietta, NY 14467
585-334-4000
Featured "days" at the Monroe County Fair usually include a special Youth Day, with a kidtastic lineup of agricultural and entertaining activities. Entertainment highlights often include a hula-hoop contest, a scavenger hunt, paint-a-pot and pot-a-plant, Mad Science, and Wild Wings Birds of Prey. For the agriculturally inclined, there will be 4-H shows galore. More kid-friendly offerings are planned for Family Fun Day on Sunday.
New York State Fair: End of August, Begining of September
Empire Expo Center
581 State Fair Blvd
Syracuse, NY 13209
(800) 475-FAIR
Simply put, this is THE fairest of agricultural festivals.
Wayne County Fair: August
Wayne County Fairgrounds
Jackson Street
Palmyra, NY 14522
315-597-5372
The Wayne County Fair is rural agriculture at its finest. Highlights of this weeklong festival include a goat milking contest, 4-H displays, and appearances by the Wayne County Fair queen and her royal court. Our favorite children’s activity is the veggie car race. Kids build their own vehicle using vegetable parts and race them against each other. Everyone’s a winner: participants receive a ribbon as well as a coupon good for an ice cream cone at the dairy booth.
Our advice about the fairs: Even though it seems to be an inexpensive option for family fun, the rides and food are almost always very expensive. If you decide to bring your kids, try focusing on the agricultural and livestock events rather than the rides: You'll be surprised how much fun they have.
8) Amuse Thyself
Talulah’s Tea Room
Girls of all sizes will take delight in an afternoon excursion to Talulah’s Tea Room. Located in a historic Victorian home in Palmyra, New York, this terrific tearoom is the perfect stage for pretend play. Party frocks and fancy foods are included. By appointment only.
Cool Kids in the Park
Our friends at Generation Cool continue their popular series of crazy hands-on culturally diverse entertainment in Brockport all summer. Cool Kids in the Park is a program of B.I.S.C.O. (Brockport Integrated Service Clubs Organization). To search for all events sponsored by Generation Cool that appear on the KidsOutAndAbout.com calendar, click here.
And what's the easiest path to fun for the younger set? Pack a snack and head out to your local playground, or to one across town! We've made it easy with the KidsOutAndAbout.com Virtual Playground Tour. We give you photos, tell you a little bit about the park and the surface beneath the playground, and, most important, point you toward the bathrooms.
Is it too hot for outdoor exercise but you still want active family fun? Try bowling! Bowl-A-Roll Lanes in Henrietta, for example, offers Family Fun Days on Sunday afternoons for just 99 cents per game, plus they have a really interesting "Say No to Drugs,
Say Yes to Bowling" program that gives students who sign up a card entitling them to ONE FREE GAME of bowling every day, all Summer. (Call (585) 427-7250 for more information.) Their web site also has a printable coupon for a free game.
9) Spraygrounds
In the past year, since we first posted our photos of the Sprayground at Seneca Lake State Park in Geneva, we've received many comments from grateful parents who didn't know this gem existed until they visited the site. Seneca Lake State Park made it to the #7 position on our Top 20 family-friendly attractions in the greater Rochester area.
 We are certain that a Mom dreamed up the idea of a sprayground--a concept so brilliant that it defies the basic laws of aquatic play (small child + water + long day = bedraggled parental unit). The beauty of a sprayground is that your darlings can dance in the water while you observe adoringly from a relaxing waterside perch. Spraygrounds are zero-depth, visually appealing, and physically challenging for kids.
We know of several spraygrounds in the area: One is at the Southeast YMCA's Camp Arrowhead in Pittsford. Members of the YMCA can bring guests, and we know of at least one family that made the decision to join the Y solely on the basis of that sprayground. In addition, Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport has a new spray pool, open daily in the summer from 10am-8pm. Camp Eastman, the park across the street from Durand Eastman park in West Irondequoit, has one as well, and it's free. For parents with the fortitude to take a short day trip, the Sprayground at Seneca Lake State Park is at the north end of Seneca Lake in Geneva; the fee is $7/car. The city of Rochester has two water spray play areas: One at the Carter Street Community Center (428-7890) and one at the Humboldt Recreation Center on Atlantic Ave (428-7294). Please email us by clicking here if you know of any other spraygrounds we should add to this list.
And click here for a list of all of the Rochester city pools.
10) Bookmark Your Local Library
Summertime is a great time for your kids to spend lots of time reading for pleasure. Many local libraries have summer reading programs that reward kids for reading! (Consult your local library branch for specific program offerings.) We have a great list of terrific new children's books recommended by local children's librarians, compiled by children's author Karin Gaffney.
Here are some links to libraries that have had reading programs in the past:
Brighton Memorial Library
Central Library, 115 South Ave., Rochester
Fairport Public Library
Greece Public Library
Penfield Public Library
Webster Public Library
Library lists:
So sign us up for summer reading! Why not check out the Monroe County Kids Catalog on the web to design your very own reading program.
Still can't get enough of the Rochester area in the summertime? We don't blame you. Make sure you check out where the best places are to hike, on our page of the Best Summer Hikes in Central and Western New York, from Footprint Press.
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© Jackie Perrin and Debra Ross
June, 2005
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