Rochester is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. Rochester was George Eastman's home town, and is still the location of Eastman Kodak . Also home of Xerox and Bausch & Lomb, making it a major center for optics. The local newspaper is the Democrat and Chronicle .

Activities

Hiking
 • Cobb's Hill Reservoir Park. If you happen to be in the area, Cobb's Hill provides a great panoramic view of downtown. Located on the corner of Culver and Monroe, it is an easy walk from the cafes on Park Ave.
 • Erie Canal Trail - Though the walking paths are open year round, the canal is drained, kept empty, and less scenic between November and May. During the winter time, however, the canal trail is virtually deserted, and provides an excellent place to snowshoe and cross-country ski. There is no admission fee, and free parking is available at Genesee park. The trail and facilities are open from 6AM to 9PM daily.
 • Genesee Valley Greenway - Formerly a railroad bed, this mostly gravel trail is perfect for off road cycling/walking/running. It follows along the Genesee river, cutting through the rolling farmland south of Rochester. 50+ miles depending upon how far south they've developed the path.
 • The Hi Tor - A short drive from Rochester in the village of Naples lies this spur off of the Finger Lakes Trail system. The Hi Tor provides heavy duty steep grade hiking/mountain biking. Leads to a beautiful hill top view of Canandaigua Lake.

Dining

Like many other American cities, Rochester is blighted with endless strip malls crawling with large chain restaurants. For more original fare, try the many cafes in the pedestrian-friendly Park Avenue area. There is one piece of local cuisine that travelers with a large stomach and no fear of cholesterol should try: the Garbage Plate of Nick Tahou's.
 • Aja Noodle Co., 2602 Elmwood Ave, 244-1052. Serves lunch and dinner. Though located away from other travel attractions, the noodles are some of the best in Rochester. $7-$12 ($5 for all noodle bowls with a college ID).
 • Jay's Diner, 2612 W. Henrietta Road (across the street from the Movies 10 budget cinema), 424-3710. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. A popular hangout with local college students, there's cheap food and it's always open. $5-$10 (10% discount with student ID).
 • Nick Tahou Hots, 2260 Lyell Ave, 429-6388. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Though located in a bad part of the city, Tahou's is the origin of Rochester's authentic cuisine, the garbage plate. For a few dollars, the plates come with macaroni salad, home fries, and special sauce, and multiple hamburger patties. $4-$10.
 • Rochester's Independent Restaurant Guide 2Taste 
 • Dinosaur BarBQue Amazing Ribs, Chicken, and Black Beans and Rice among many other things. Expect to wait though! Average wait for a table is easily an hour, they don't take reservations, and unless your whole group is there you can't get on the list. They're a tad vigilant about it, but the place pushes so much business through they can afford to do so.
 • 2 Vine, 24 Winthrop Street. French and Italian food in a casual yet elegant bistro-type setting. Delicious vegetarian dishes, as well as a wide selection of fish, veal, etc. Moderately priced and near The Little Theatre.

Drink

A small cluster of bars on Alexander Street represent one of the few places alive at night in Rochester. Even during the cold winter evenings, people can be seen on the street, hopping from one bar to the next.
 • The Distillery, 1142 Mount Hope Avenue, 271-4105. Open M-Su. A rather generic sports bar and grill, this establishment is mostly notable for its specials. Before 10PM, there is a different draft beer on sale every day of the week. After 10PM, the beer sale ends, but all appetizers are half off. Naturally, the best time to arrive is 9:45PM. $3 draft/bottle beers, $6 well drinks.
 • The Old Toad, 277 Alexander St (next to several other bars), 232-2626. Open M-F 11:30AM-2AM, Sa 12PM-2AM, Su 5PM-2AM. English beer, English Food, English staff. What more can one ask from an English pub? A unique atmosphere with reasonable prices, the Toad is an excellent place to get sloshed. $4 draft/bottle beers, $6 well drinks.
 • Spot Coffee, 200 East Ave (next to the Little Theatre). A trendy, popular hangout, people come here to relax and socialize while enjoying a cup or two of the brown brew. It's quite acceptable to spend hours here while only buying a single small cup of coffee; students do it all the time. The drinks cost about $2-$3, while light meals are available for around $5.