What to SEE | Rochester, NY

the nest-cottage: Top 10 LIST-What to SEE: Rochester, NY

The city of Rochester is located in Monroe County in the state of New York.
Rochester lies on Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes of North America.
The Erie Canal traverses east-west through upstate New York.
The canal was built to create a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes Basin.
The Genesee River is a tributary of Lake Ontario it flows northward through the city.
The river provided the original power for Rochester’s 19th Century mills, and it contains 3 waterfalls that supply hydroelectric power.
The Finger Lakes region is 9,000 square miles, comprised of 11 Lakes.
The region is a four-season paradise of natural beauty and scenic views located just 30-50 miles South of Rochester.
There are 22 Monroe County Parks to explore.
Several are located parks near the nest-cottage.
Play a round of golf at one of the 50 golf courses in the Rochester Area.
Rochester has several museums to explore as well as an active arts scene.
You can explore the many diverse neighborhoods and enjoy the variety of shops, restaurants and bars they offer.
Rochester and the surrounding area have a large craft brew scene that you can experience.
Whatever interests you Rochester has it covered.


this blog is all about:
Webster| Rochester| The Erie Canal| The Finger Lakes| and all there is to:

Eat| See| Shop while visiting this beautiful part of Upstate New York.

be our guest:
We provide this information for our guests and anyone visiting or living in the area.


the nest-cottage:
a darling 2-bedroom short-term rental cottage in Upstate New York located in the charming neighborhood of Forest Lawn

on the shore of Lake Ontario in the town of Webster a suburb of Rochester in Monroe County in the state of New York, USA.

Top 10 List:
What to See
Rochester, NY

#1-SEE LAKE ONTARIO:

the nest-cottage has a stunning view of Lake Ontario. You can sit on the patio and watch the sunset.
The view will capture your attention from the sunroom, living room, dining room and kitchen.

WEBSTER COUNTY PARK:

Located on Lake Road between Whiting Road and Holt Road Webster, NY| a 550-acre park, with a fishing pier and stunning shoreline.
Amenities include Walking Trails| Tennis and Pickleball Courts| Playgrounds| Campgrounds

ONTARIO BEACH PARK:

Located at 4800 Lake Ave Rochester, NY| a 39-acre park with a natural sand beach.
Nearby Amenities include Port of Rochester| Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse| Turning Point Park and Trail| Genesee River Turning Basin

CHARLOTTE PIER:

Located at 1 Beach Ave Rochester, NY| a 721-meter-long pier access to: Genesee River, Lake Ontario
Amenities include Concerts by the Shore| 1905 Historic Gustav Dentzel Menagerie Carousel

DURAND EASTMAN PARK:

Located on Lakeshore Blvd Rochester, NY| a 977-acre park with 5,000′ Lake Ontario waterfront
Amenities include Lake Ontario Beach| Lake Walk Trail| Eastman, Durand, Trout and Pat Lake| Sherry and Johnson Pond| Tamarack Swamp| Durand Lake 1.2mi Trail| Trott Lake .5mi Trail| Eastman Lake 1.5mi Trail| 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed Golf Course|
Pine Valley, Zoo and Log Cabin Road

#2-EXPERIENCE THE ERIE CANAL TOWPATH:

The 363-mile Canalway Trail is a 200-year-old modern engineering marvel that extends from Albany to Buffalo.
It runs right through Rochester. You will find beautiful villages and hamlets alongside the canal to explore.
You can walk, run or bike the canal towpath. You can also rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard and be out on the canal.
It is also great fun to take a canal boat tour and experience traveling down the canal and through a lock.

TOWNS IN THE GREATER ROCHESTER AREA THAT ACCESS THE CANAL:

Palmyra, Macedon, Fairport, Bushnell’s Basin, Pittsford,
Brighton, Greece, Spencerport & Brockport

THE VILLAGE OF FAIRPORT

Fairport is a charming village with parks, bars, restaurants and shops
to explore after you walk the towpath.
Take a Boat Tour| Colonial Bell Tour Boat Cruises: 400 Packett’s Landing (585)223-9470
Rent a Boat or Bike| Erie Canal Boat Company: 7 Liftbridge Ln W. (585)748-2628
Eat| See| Shop:
Perinton Park: 99 O’Connor Rd| The Cannery: 25 Parce Ave| Moonlight Creamery: 36 WestAve| Mulconry’s Irish Pub: 17 Liftbridge Ln E. | Smokin Hot Chicks Bbq: 25 Parce Ave|
TK’s Pizzeria: 27 Liftbridge Ln E.| Fairport Brewing: 99 S. Main St|
Faircraft Brauhaus: 25 Parce Ave| FairPour Coffee Roasters: 25 Parce Ave|
Iron Smoke Whiskey: 25 Parce Ave| Lombardi’s: 124 N. Main St

BUSHNELL’S BASIN:

The hamlet of Bushnell’s Basin is a pleasant historic destination
See a Canal Park| Great Embankment Park: 631 Marsh Rd
Walk a Trail| Erie Canal Nature Preserve: The Frog Trail
It connects the Erie Canal Towpath Trail to the Auburn Trail
Eat| See| Shop:
Seven Story Brewing: 604 Pittsford Victor Rd| Abbott’s Frozen Custard: 624 Pittsford Victor Rd|
Branca: 683 Pittsford Victor Rd| Agave Express Mexican Bar & Grill: 725 Pittsford Victor Rd|
The Basin Pub: 637 Pittsford Victor Rd

PITTSFORD:

PITTSFORD: is an idyllic setting along the Erie Canal
Take a Boat Tour| Sam Patch Canal Boat Tours: 12 Schoen Place (585)662-5748
Rent a Bike| Towpath Bike: 21 Schoen Place (585)381-2808
Eat| See| Shop:
Schoen Place| The Village Shops| Pittsford Farms Dairy: 44 N. Main St|
SJ’s Village Boutique: 25 S. Main St| breathe at home: 23 S. Main St|
Chandeliers Boutique: 1 S. Main St

FUN ERIE CANAL FACTS:

The Erie Canal is one of the most revolutionary canals ever built.
Construction began 1817 completed 1825.
Constructed by tens of thousands of laborers working with hand tools.
It cost over 7 million dollars to construct.
It contained 18 aqueducts and 83 locks.
It led New York to industrialization by making the port the busiest in the nation.
The population went from 1,500 to 36,400 and by 1850 population in N.Y. was three million.

#3-GENESEE RIVER

The High Falls/Brown’s Race Historic District
is home to an iconic spot for photos along the Pont De Rennes Bridge
overlooking the panoramic view of the Genesee River,
the 96′ High Falls waterfall and the spectacular gorge.
The Genesee Brew House is located just over the bridge.
WALKING TOUR OF HIGH FALLS BROWN’S-RACE HISTORIC DISTRICT

#4-THE FINGER LAKES:

When you visit Upstate New York, you must see at least one
of the eleven Finger Lakes as they are much too beautiful to miss.
The distance from the nest-cottage is highlighted in blue
1-Canandaigua Lake 42mi Our runner-up Pick!
2-Canadice Lake 50mi
3-Cayuga Lake 76mi Our runner-up Pick!
4-Conesus Lake 40mi
5-Hemlock Lake 44mi
6-Honeoye Lake 38mi
7-Otisco Lake 85mi
8-Owasco Lake 67mi
9-Keuka Lake 72mi
10-Seneca Lake 66mi Our wine tour and brew tour Pick!
11-Skaneateles Lake 72mi Our absolute favorite Finger Lake Pick!

#5-SEE THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTY AND STATE PARKS:

Rochester New York has so many beautiful Parks to explore.
There are 22 Monroe County Parks and 1 State Park on our List.
The distance from the nest-cottage is highlighted in blue
MONROE COUNTY PARKS:
1-ABRAHAM LINCOLN: 5.6mi
182-acres located on Irondequoit Bay with walking trails
2-BEIKIRCH PARK: 17mi
3-BLACK CREEK: 26mi
4-CHURCHVILLE: 31mi
5-DEVIL’s COVE: accessible only from the water located near the east shore of Irondequoit Bay
6-DURAND EASTMAN PARK: 10mi
7-ELLISON PARK: 10mi
447-acre our first county park located in the Irondequoit Creek flood plain.
8-GENESEE VALLEY PARK: 16mi
800-acre Frederick Law Olmsted designed park.
HIGHLIGHTS: Intersection of the Erie Canal and Genesee River| Canalway Trail| Genesee Riverway Trail| Genesee Valley Greenway| 2 golf courses| kayak & canoe rentals| paved paths
9-GREECE CANAL PARK: 15mi
577-acres located along the Erie Canal
10-HIGHLAND PARK: 13mi
150-acre Frederick Law Olmsted designed park.
HIGHLIGHTS: Home to the largest display of lilacs in North America| the lilacs are celebrated annually in May by the Rochester Lilac Festival| Botanical Garden at Lamberton Conservatory
11-IRONDEQUOIT BAY WEST: 8.6mi
12-LEHIGH VALLEY TRAIL PARK: 21mi.
13-LUCIEN MORIN PARK: 6.7mi
348-acres includes a marsh area for canoe and kayak access to the bay
14-MENDON PONDS PARK: 20mi
15-NORTHAMPTON PARK: 27mi
16-OATKA PARK: 29mi
17-ONTARIO BEACH PARK: 14mi
18-POWDER MILLS PARK: 18mi
19-SENECA PARK: 11mi
20-SENECA PARK ZOO: 11mi
21-TRYON PARK: 8.5mi
22-WEBSTER COUNTY PARK: 3.4mi

LETCHWORTH STATE PARK:

VOTED: the Best U.S. State Park 2015 and 2020:

LETCHWORTH STATE PARK: 64mi
a 14,427-acre park located 35 miles southwest of Rochester.
66 miles of hiking trails, horse-riding trails, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hot air ballooning, two large swimming pools, cabins, campsites, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snow tubing as well as scenic viewpoints for the geologic features,
Inspiration Falls, Inspiration Point Overlook, Lower Falls, Middle Falls, Genesee River and Gorge, the Norfolk Southern Railway arch bridge, Humphrey Nature Center, and the Glen Iris Inn

#6-PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF:

Golf Magazine ranked Rochester as the #10 Best Golf City in the US.
There are 12 golf courses in Rochester, NY.
3 are municipal courses.
There are also another 50 golf courses within 20 miles of Rochester,
including 39 public, 3 municipal, and 7 private courses.
The oldest course in the Rochester is the Country Club of Rochester which opened in 1895.
The longest course is The Links at Greystone which is 7,203 yards.
Craige Brae Golf Club is rated best course near Rochester.
Oak Hill East Course in Rochester was ranked among the Top 100 Golf Courses in the U.S.
Golf Magazine’s 2020 List.

#7-TOUR A MUSEUM:

Rochester New York has great Museums for you to explore
no matter what age or interest there is one for you!

The Strong: The Strong National Museum of Play
1 Manhattan Sq (585)263-2700
RMSC: Rochester Museum and Science Center

657 East Ave (585)271-4320
Strasenburgh Planetarium
663 East Ave (585)697-1945
The George Eastman Museum House and Garden

900 East Ave (585)327-4800
National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
17 Madison St (585)235-6124

#8-CHECK OUT THE ARTS SCENE:

Rochester New York has an active art scene with art galleries, artists’ studios,
art walks and more!
MAG: Memorial Art Gallery
500 University Ave (585)276-8900
Artisan Works
565 Blossom Rd (585)288-7170
Village Gate Square
274 N Goodman St (585)442-9061
Eastman Theatre
26 Gibbs St (585)274-1000
Geva Theater
75 Woodbury Blvd (585)232-4382
Garth Fagan Dance
50 Chestnut St (585)454-3260
RPO: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Eastman Theatre
Public Art Scene

#9-VISIT A ROCHESTER NEIGHBORHOOD:

Rochester, New York has many vibrant and exciting neighborhoods to see.
They are filled with all kinds of shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants.

CORN HILL:

Corn Hill is a historic district on the banks of the Genesee River.
Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood.
A revitalized landmark community full of restored 19th Century Homes
blended with 20th Century townhomes and condos.
The home of the annual Corn Hill Festival and the Landmark Society of Western New York.

DOWNTOWN:

Downtown hosts the Temple Building, The Linc, 111 on East, 88 on Elm,
Spectra at Sibley Square, and The Metropolitan
are a few of the popular high-rise apartment buildings that are rich with amenities
located in downtown Rochester.
The Button Lofts and Townhomes, Station 55, and The Academy Building Lofts
are options of historic properties that feature loft-style properties with high ceilings,
exposed brick and huge windows
Charlotte Square, 600 East, 300 Alexander are luxury apartment complexes
that are within walking distance to restaurants, bars and shopping at the East End.

EAST AVE:

East Ave is a national historic district that boasts a large series of
Greek Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne 19th and early 20th century
homes, houses of worship, meeting houses and museums.

Rochester’s only work by Frank Lloyd Wright the Edward E. Boynton House.
The home of the Rochester Greek Festival.

MONROE AVE:

Monroe Ave is a vibrant commercial street that runs from downtown at Chestnut Street
and continues through the suburbs of Brighton and Pittsford.

MOUNT HOPE:

Mount Hope hosts both Highland Park and Mount Hope Cemetery.
A visit to the 196-acres of beautiful grounds and historic graves of Mount Hope Cemetery is a popular activity.
An online map by Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery.

UNIVERSITY AVE
NOTA-Neighborhood of the Arts:

NOTA is a neighborhood full of functional art installations.
The ARTwalk was established in 2000.
It runs University Ave between MAG and The George Eastman Museum House and Garden.
The Village Gate Square is a popular shopping complex with
restaurants, boutiques, shops and artist studios.

PARK AVE:

Park Ave is a historic neighborhood that is a hub of activity
with popular restaurants, bars and shops
as well as homes that are converted into apartments.
It is home to the Park Ave Festival a Summer Art Fest
1st full weekend in August.
The festival has been cancelled the last few years due to covid.

SEABREEZE:

Seabreeze is a neighborhood that lies near the outlet
where the Irondequoit Bay meets Lake Ontario.
It is home to Seabreeze Amusement Park,
a historic family amusement park that opened in 1879.
The 4th oldest in the USA.
This summer resort helped to attract passengers to ride the railway that ran north and south.
For more on the history of the area read here.

SOUTH WEDGE:

South Wedge is a diverse and vibrant neighborhood.
The South Wedge boarders the Genesee River on the West.
The South Wedge has an active network for residents via the SouthWedgeMission.org.
BASWA-The Business Association of the South Wedge Area
works to energize the community through social events.
SWPC-South Wedge Planning Committee
has been in the forefront of revitalization for over two decades.

#10-CHECK OUT THE LOCAL BREWERY SCENE

There are so many brewery options today in and around Rochester.
The original is the GENESEE BREWING COMPANY.
It is a must see on this list.
You can’t come to Rochester without experiencing the Brew House.
The Brew House is a 9,200sqft beer destination.
located at: 25 Cataract St. in the Upper Falls & High Falls area of Rochester.

A LIST OF LOCAL BREWERIES:


Brindle Haus Brewing Co 377 S. Union St (Spencerport)
Copper Leaf Brewing 50 State St (Pittsford)
DisBatch Brewery 3250 Canandaigua Rd (Macedon)
Faircraft Brauhaus 25 Parce Ave (Fairport)
Fairport Brewing Company 99 S. Main St (Fairport)
Fairport Brewing Company and Meadery 1044 University Ave
Fifth Frame Brewing 158 St. Paul St
Frequentern Brewing Co 254 S. Main St (Canandaigua)
Genesee Brewing Co. and Genesee Brew House 25 Cataract St
Giffs Brewery 5324 W. Ridge Rd (Spencerport)
Heros Brewing Co 543 Atlantic Ave
Iron Tug Brewing 371 Park Ave
Irondequoit Beer Company 765 Titus Ave (Irondequoit)
K2 Brothers Brewing 1221 Empire Blvd (Penfield)
Knucklehead Craft Brewing 426 Ridge Rd (Webster)
Lock 32 Brewing Co 18 Schoen Pl (Pittsford)
Mortails Brewing Company 5660 Tec Dr (Avon)
Nine Maidens Brewing Co. 1344 University Ave Suite 140
Nine Spot Brewing 190 Monroe Ave
Okay Beer Co. at West Main Lanes 126 W. Main St (Honeoye Falls)
Other Half Brewing Co 6621 State St (Bloomfield)
Peacemaker Brewing Co 39 Coach St (Canandaigua)
RG Brewery + Five Sons Winery 1360 W. Sweden Rd (Brockport)
Reinvention Brewing Co 9 N. Main St (Manchester)
Rising Storm Brewing Co 5750 S. Lima Rd (Avon)
Roc Brewing Co 56 S. Union St
Rohrbach Brewing Co 97 Railroad St
Sager Beer Works 46 Sager Dr Suite E.
Seven Story Brewing 604 Pittsford Victor Rd (Pittsford)
Stoneyard Brewing Company (Brockport) Temporarily Closed
Strangebird Beer 62 Marshall St
Stumblin Monkey Brewing Co. (Victor)
Swiftwater Brewing Co. 378 Mt. Hope Ave
The Farmhouse Brewery 237 High St Ext (Victor)
Three Heads Brewing 186 Atlantic Ave
Triphammer Bierwerks 111 Parce Ave (Fairport)
Twin Elder Brewery 75 Coville St (Victor)
WhichCraft Brews 1900 Empire Rd (Webster) Temporarily Closed
Wood Kettle Brewing 1192 Manitou Rd (Hilton)
Young Lion Brewing Co 24 Lakeshore Dr (Canandaigua)

Other Brew-Related Options:


SHOP: AJ’s Beer Warehouse 175 Clay Rd
EXPERIENCE: Axes & Ales 349 East Ave
CIDERY: Blue Barn Cidery 928 Manitou Rd (Hilton)
CIDERY: Blue Toad Hard Cider 900 Jefferson Rd Bldg 9/Suite 6
SHOP: Beers of the World of Henrietta 2599 E. Henrietta Rd
DISTILLARY: Black Button Distilling 85 Railroad St
BAR: California Brew Haus 402 W. Ridge Rd
PUB: Half Pint Pub 363 Park Ave
KOMBUCHA: Katboocha Booch Bar 106 Railroad St
WINERY: Living Roots Urban Winery & Tasting Room 1255 University Ave
CIDERY: Mullers Cider House 1344 University Ave
PUB: New York Beer Project 300 High St (Victor)
PUB: O’Callaghan’s Pub 470 Monroe Ave
SHOP: One Stop Brew Shop 2512 Ridgeway Ave
BAR: Red White and Brew of Rochester 147 State St
BAR: Rochester Beer and Park 375 Averill Ave
CIDERY: Seed and Stone Cidery + Meadery 1115 E. Main St (The Hungerford Building)
PUB: The Angry Goat Pub 938 S. Clinton Ave
BAR: The Beer Market 1401 Mt. Hope Ave
PUB: The Old Toad 277 Alexander St
EVENTS: The Rochester Real Beer Events
TOURS: Tourroc Brewery Tours 145 Culver Rd (585)210-3697

www.thenestcottage.com
533 Forest Lawn Road Webster, NY 14580
585-645-2958

Trisha Margarone
thenestcottage2022@gmail.com
instagram: thenestcottage2022

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