Steve Hartridge chats to Diana Rapp Keating, Vice President of Marketing for Visit Rochester, during a recent visit to New York State
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you today – and on location in Rochester! Could you start by telling me how, for international visitors, Rochester fits into a touring itinerary of New York?
Rochester, which is located at the top end of the Finger Lakes region of New York State, is a city full of unique attractions and opportunities and well positioned to experience the destination’s great outdoors.
Visit Rochester is a member of a destination management company called Wine, Water and Wonders, which is also a Visit USA Member. It represents a collection of cities, regions and attractions that together capture the very essence of New York and is a resource and contact for international visitors planning a trip here.
Most UK visitors are likely to fly into New York City. After spending time there they could travel to the Hudson Valley, up to the Adirondacks, across the Finger Lakes and on to the American side of Niagara Falls, which is just 90 minutes from Rochester.
There are direct daily flights between Rochester and JFK Airport in New York, so it is easy to start or end a touring itinerary here.
We are chatting at The Strong National Museum of Play, one of many unique attractions in the area. Dedicated to the history of games and toys it is a great family attraction.
It really is. This is one of the largest museums in the U.S. and one of the best for families. Whether you are nine or 90 there is something for everyone here.
Not only is it home to one of the largest collections of historical documents relating to games but there is also a huge collection of toys, dolls, puzzles and more.
There’s everything from the first talking doll – created by Thomas Edison, who invented the telephone – early Barbie dolls and Action Men to the first-ever version of Monopoly. There’s also a whole section dedicated to pinball machines and another to video games such as Pac Man, Asteroids, Super Mario and many others. New is an exhibit all about the 50-year history and influence of the iconic role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons and the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
“The Strong”, as it is known, is also home to the National Toy Hall of Fame.
It is a place full of nostalgia and one that stirs the emotions and memories, as you will find games from your childhood and those you enjoyed with the family.
What are other area attractions that visitors must do?
Rochester is the home of the George Eastman Museum, which is on the estate of George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography and motion picture film.
It opened in 1949 and is the world’s oldest film and photography museum.
The historic mansion and gardens at the George Eastman Museum provide a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest American innovators and entertainers in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Visitors can explore the historic mansion on their own or on a guided tour, usually offered daily.
The house is full of period pieces, original furnishings, artifacts and careful reproductions. Live music performances are offered in the mansion on many Sunday afternoons throughout the year.
Elsewhere in the building you can see collections of old cameras, various artworks, photographs and even catch a screening of a classic movie.
What else does Rochester offer?
I would also recommend The Genesee Country Village and Museum, which is a restored 19th-century living history museum covering more than 600 acres in the town of Wheatland, about 20 miles from Rochester.
It tells the story of those settlers who moved into Western New York from 1790 to 1830.
After the American Revolution, land here opened up for settlement and many families left their rocky farms in New England and moved west, while Pennsylvanians and Marylanders migrated from the south.
Their homes were modest, with simple gardens and crops to grow basic food. Today visitors can see several restored homes that date back to the 1880s.
There are also walking and hiking trails here. If you visit in late winter, you can hike through an area called Sugar Bush to see sugar maple trees being tapped for their sap.
Another attraction I would recommend is The Memorial Art Gallery, a civic art museum that is part of the University of Rochester, featuring 500 years’ worth of drawings and watercolours.
They also run a Creative Workshop that offers art classes for everyone, from absolute beginners to advanced artists.
This region of New York is blessed with fabulous natural scenery with plenty of outdoor attractions.
It really is. Rochester is located off the southern shore of Lake Ontario as well as having the northern flowing Genesee River meandering right through downtown Rochester. The river is known for its large number of waterfalls.
There is also the historic Erie Canal, which traverses across New York State to the south of Rochester. You can run, jog, cycle for miles or just enjoy a leisurely walk alongside the canal on the towpath before stopping for lunch in characterful canal-side towns like Pittsford or Fairport.
With over 12,000 acres of parkland in the Rochester area, there is a multitude of opportunities to bike, paddle, fish and golf.
And Genesee is also the name of the well-known brewery which is in Rochester and famous for its cream ale.
Yes! The brewery is the oldest continually operating brewery in New York and has been brewing beer since 1878. It sits right next to the river of the same name and its roof terrace is a popular spot in summer. One of those waterfalls I mentioned, Wilkes High Falls, is a 96-foot waterfall right in the middle of downtown Rochester opposite the brewery.
Are there any keynote annual festivals visitors should plan a visit around?
Oh my gosh, we are Festival Town USA! We have over 140 annual festivals and events. I would highlight the Lilac Festival in May, the largest free festival of its kind in the U.S. It takes place in Highland Park, which was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who is best known for designing Central Park in New York.
Around 1800 lilacs, and 500 varieties, grow in the park and the festival features arts, crafts, live entertainment, food and kids’ activities.
In the summer, we host an international Jazz festival, with over 100 free shows as well as ticketed events with headline acts.
In September we have a Fringe Festival, which is among the top three best-attended Fringe festivals in the U.S.
Is Rochester a destination for those interested in seeing the autumn colours?
Yes, it most definitely is and we are fortunate with our geography as the colours hang around here a little longer than, say, in New England.
The peak time varies, but usually the colours are at their most vibrant and spectacular best for around two weeks starting from mid-October.
The colours are everywhere but are especially vivid alongside the Erie Canal, which spans the length of Monroe County. Head to one of those canal towns I mentioned earlier and enjoy a leisurely walk or bike ride, or rent a canoe or kayak, to soak in the colours of the season.
The Genesee River also provides a picture-perfect backdrop for fall foliage in Genesee Valley Park.
Rochester is a four-seasons destination – we have winter product too, like snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating – but personally I love it when winter turns into spring and there is the scent of grass, flowers and dew in the air.
How important are UK visitors to you?
Very! After Canada the UK is our number one international market. I was over (in London) for Brand USA Week in October and through Wine, Water and Wonders we are planning some activities with the media, tour operators and agents – so watch this space!
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