Staycation Ideas
No plans for this season? Try these staycation ideas
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Take your vacation right from your house. There’s plenty to do in the Rochester area.
Time with the Grandkids (Or for Kids at Heart)
The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester boasts the world’s largest collection of historic toys and games. Explore the 60,000 artifacts in the International Center for the History of Electronic Games. A hands-on museum, plan to spend about four hours.
Clubhouse Fun Center offers batting cages, mini golf and an arcade (Greece location) or go-kart track, mini golf and arcade (Henrietta location). School-aged children through younger teens should enjoy Clubhouse.
Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester offers both exhibits and special animal encounters. Purchase tickets in advance for Rocky Coast Tour to meet sea lions; Elephant Encounter to visit African elephants and learn about each individual; Giraffe Feedings to meet and feed giraffes; and Rhino Encounter at Animals of Savanna to get acquainted with a white rhino.
Rochester Museum & Science Center displays 200 interactive exhibits and activities, plus the Strasenburgh Planetarium and the Cumming Nature Center. Kids learn without realizing it because they’re having so much fun.
Long Acre Farms in Macedon is a must-do for fall for its massive corn maze and fall décor. However, all summer, the farm’s sizable, farm-style play area is open. Shop the farm store or get a bit to eat at the snack shop and ice cream window. For the grownups, step across the lawn wine tasting at Long Acre’s JD Wine Cellars on-site.
History and Culture Seekers
The Eastman Museum in Rochester celebrates the life and work of George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company and pioneer in film and motion picture technology. The site includes the museum and the historic Eastman home and grounds.
In a similar vein, Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua offers extensive gardens and examples of Queen Anne architecture and home furnishings in Victorian-appointed rooms. The 50-acre site includes nine formal international gardens. The site is also home to the Finger Lakes Wine Center, which offers tastings Friday through Sunday.
Memorial Art Gallery exhibits 5,000 years of artistic works, including displays on the works of Monet, Rembrandt and O’Keeffe and modern-day artists like Kehinde Wiley and Mickalene Thomas.
The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush displays the largest collection of historic trains and is the largest operating railroad museum in the state. Take a mile-and-a-half train ride across the museum’s grounds, view authentic, historic train cars and see freight cars, cabooses and diesel locomotives. Check the website for special children’s activities if you plan to bring the grandchildren along.
On the Water
In Pittsford, hop aboard Sam Patch canal boat ride on the Erie Canal from Pittsford or take one of the Genesee River Boat Tours in Rochester (https://cornhillnav.org). Colonial Belle (www.colonialbelle.com) also books Erie Canal rides, originating in Fairport. Canandaigua Lady (www.cdgalady.com) books steamboat tours along the north shore of Canandaigua Lake. Seager Marine (www.seagermarine.com) offers cruises on Canandaigua Lake as well. Although a bit outside the Rochester area, it’s worth the drive to get up-close to Niagara Falls through a tour with Maid of the Mist (www.maidofthemist.com) and their fleet of electric, catamaran-style vessels.
The various cruises can include music and dining and special events. These tend to sell out quickly, so book early.
Nature Exploration
“Gorges” Watkins Glen State Park draws thousands of visitors annually to hike the trails in the forest rimming the gorge and in the gorge and to view its 19 waterfalls. Bring along a picnic basket or patronize a restaurant across from the park’s lower entrance.
• https://parks.ny.gov/parks/142/
The “Grand Canyon of the East,” Letchworth State Park includes three major waterfalls of the Genesee River as it thunders among the rocks. Some drops are as high as 600 feet. Hikers can enjoy 66 miles of trails.
• https://parks.ny.gov/parks/79/details.aspx
While staycationing, break away from the chain businesses you could see anywhere and patronize small businesses along the way, such as unique shops, local restaurants and farm stands. These businesses often rely on tourism dollars to thrive and their unusual offerings will make your staycation feel more like a far-flung getaway.