Though it's perhaps best known as the home of Eastman Kodak, the giant of the photographic film business, Rochester—65 mi/105 km east of Buffalo—is also the home of Xerox and Gerber Baby Foods.
Kodak's influence is clearly seen at the International Museum of Photography (at the George Eastman House). It exhibits a spectacular collection of photographs ranging from early daguerreotypes to modern masterworks and also hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions of such notables as famed National Geographic photographer Steve McMurry. (If you're taking vacation pictures during your travels, you'll find the exhibit either inspiring or intimidating.) The museum also takes pride in its film selection, with viewings held throughout the year. The mansion and gardens constructed by Kodak's founder have been restored to their 1930s appearance, making the museum a great photo opportunity in itself.
High Falls is a 96-ft/29-m high cascade in the Brown's Race Historic District in downtown Rochester. The Center at High Falls is a complex of attractions centered on the falls, including the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge over the Genesee River, Granite Mills Common (a park between the bridge and the 19th-century waterworks building) and a replica of the raceways that once diverted water from the river to the first flour mills in Rochester.
Another attraction downtown is the Corn Hill Marina, where the canal boats Sam Patch and Mary Jemison offer dinner cruises and tours of the Erie Canal and the Genesee River (May-November). The nearby Riverwalk Market is a nice place to stroll and shop for farm-fresh produce and homemade delicacies.
Other attractions include the home of suffragette Susan B. Anthony, the world-class Eastman School of Music and the very unusual Strong Museum, whose collection focuses on the decorative arts, toys and history of the Industrial Revolution. History buffs may want to visit Mount Hope Cemetery, where the slave-turned-abolitionist Frederick Douglass is buried.
The John I. Wehle Gallery of Wildlife & Sporting Art showcases more than 400 pieces of wildlife, sporting art and sculpture from 1600s to 1900. The Genesee Country Nature Center is laced with 5 mi/8 km of hiking trails. In winter, trails are groomed for cross-country skiing. You can rent skiing equipment and snowshoes at the center.
From Rochester, head southwest to Mumford, home of Genesee Country Village. This living-history village is made up of 68 restored historic buildings from the early days of life on the riverfront. Early fall is ideal for a scenic ride to see the splendor of changing leaves.
Childs, 30 mi/45 km west of Rochester, is known for its historic buildings made of cobblestone masonry. Built from small stones taken from area fields, the cobblestoned buildings date from the early to mid-1800s. There's a Cobblestone Museum in town and several buildings constructed of the stones, including a church, a parsonage and a one-room schoolhouse.
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The Lilac Festival—a celebration of art, crafts and entertainment amid 400 blooming varieties of lilacs—is held in Rochester every May and draws a large local crowd. Be sure to pass through Rochester this time of year if you want to pick up affordable trinkets and homemade artifacts from the region.
The Rochester International Jazz Festival in June is one of the nation's largest and fastest-growing music festivals. More than 500 artists perform more than 100 concerts at various indoor and outdoor sites. http://www.rochesterjazz.com.
