Barges on the Genesee River, with the Rochester skyline in the background
Photo by: Unknown, Creative Commons
Rochester, New York manages to combine big city culture with small city charm. Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, Rochester offers scenic views that are hard to forget. The city is also considered the birthplace of amateur photography. Rochester was named after the Earl of Rochester and was officially declared a town in 1788. It is second only to New York City as having the largest economy in New York State. Regarded as one of the most liveable cities among 379 metropolitan areas in the USA, Rochester is the third most populous city in the state of New York.
In this beautiful walking city, tourists keep themselves busy with an abundance of activities like visiting the freezing Mendon Ponds Park or biking along the historical Erie Canal. Several tourist destinations that should not be missed include the Seneca Park Zoo, Frontier Field, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Campbell-Whittlesey Museum and Woodside Mansion. Seneca Park Zoo, built in 1893, is one of the oldest zoos in America and home to fascinating animals such as the Polar Bear Grotto. With about 500,000 visitors yearly, it is one of the most visited tourist spots in the city.
The ideal time to go to Rochester is during late Spring or early Fall, as the weather is not too chilly and not too hot in this time of the year. Come Spring, Rochester turns into a breathtaking city of lush greenery. Nonetheless, whether it is spring, summer and fall months, Rochester always boasts of beautiful weather that is perfect for outdoor fun. The city has a good number of well-known parks including Genesee Valley Park, Mount Hope Cemetery, Lamberton Conservatory and the Highland Park. The Highland Park is the venue of the annual Lilac Festival, wherein people from all over the country come to see 550 varieties of lilac flowers that can cover an astounding 22 acres.