Rochester is a city that has an impressive list of things to do. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Whether you’re a foodie or an adventurer, there is something for everyone in Rochester! Here are some of the top attractions you must check out.
1. The Garbage Plate
Rochester is famous for many things, but perhaps the most unique is a plate of food that isn’t quite what you would think of as a healthy meal & Shopping in Rochester. The Garbage Plate is a dish that is often served in restaurants throughout the area.
The first layer of the Garbage Plate usually contains home fries and day-old macaroni salad, followed by a layer of meat (typically cheeseburgers or hot dogs), mustard, chopped onions and their own special hot sauce.
The dish has been a staple on the menu at Nick Tahou Hots for nearly 100 years. Although Nick Tahou Hots is no longer in business, his original dish is still found around town at a variety of different eateries.
2. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Founded in 1922 by George Eastman, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is a leader in education and community engagement. It presents over 120 concerts and broadcasts each year, serving nearly 170,000 people through performances, education, and community activities.
The orchestra’s mission is to present a broad range of quality music; to attract, entertain and educate audiences with superior musical performances; and to maintain and build the RPO’s national reputation. Its artistic leadership is comprised of a group of seasoned musicians.
The orchestra’s roster features live classical music. It also offers pops programming featuring jazz, movie soundtracks and Broadway classics. The organization has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming.
3. The Sweeps Festival
A true kaleidoscope of colour and sound, The Sweeps Festival is one of the world’s largest celebrations of Morris sides and May Day. It takes place over three days, transforming Rochester streets, parks and pubs with folk music and dance.
It harks back to a time when chimney sweeps were given one day off a year to celebrate the coming of spring. To mark this, the sweeps would go down to the streets and have a day of fun with their friends.
This modern day festival has been running for 32 years, and re-enacts this tradition in the most extravagant way possible. Think Mardi Gras, Chimney Sweep Style!
Founded by local businessman Gordon Newton in 1981, Medway Council supports this event as a celebration of the beginning of spring and the chimney sweeps’ annual holiday. The three day celebration combines traditional activities with a Jack-in-the-Green ceremony and Morris dancers who parade to Rochester Castle.
4. The Eastman Kodak Museum
The George Eastman House Museum is the world’s leading museum of photography and cinema. In addition to its massive collections of photographic and cinematic art, it is also renowned for its film preservation and photograph conservation programs and education.
This collection is comprised of more than 400,000 photographs, negatives, and motion picture films from the earliest days of the medium up to present day. The museum is also home to a vast research library and an internationally recognized research collection of books, periodicals, and other materials on photography and moving images.
I toured the museum and found it to be an interesting and informative experience. I was especially impressed by the amount of information that was presented about the history of photography and how it has evolved over time.
5. Ontario Beach Park
Whether you’re taking a romantic stroll along the pier, riding the Historic 1905 Dentzel Carousel, or swimming, Ontario Beach Park is the perfect place to enjoy your summer.
The park also features a playground, restrooms and beach volleyball courts. It is open daily from 7am to 11pm.
The 39 acre waterfront park is steeped in history and tens of thousands of visitors come to this beach each summer. Its picturesque pier, a light-structure that marks the entrance to Rochester Harbor at the mouth of the Genesee River, is also a popular attraction.