Chances are, you’ve heard of Rochester before - the land overflowing with flour and flowers. From its humble beginnings grinding raw grains and powering its city with nothing but the sheer force of its famed Genesee River, Rochester has blossomed, just like its picturesque lilacs, into a bustling metropolis today. Historically known as America’s first boomtown, this city continues to develop, but instead of growing crops, it sows knowledge, serving as an urban hub for science, technology, education, and research. It's no wonder that people come from all over the country to visit this dynamic city, which has become a shopping haven, cultural paradise, and an angler’s honey hole. Its position on the southern shore of Lake Ontario and its prized Genesee offers some of the best salmon and trout fishing in the world, inviting anglers from all over to wade and drift on its waters.
Whether you’re trolling with a chartered captain on the calm waters of Lake Ontario or casting in the Genesee River, you’ll have your fill of salmon and trout in Rochester.
This city’s waters have some of the world’s most sought after game fish, such as:
These three species are biting from April to November, all the way from Rochester Harbor to the Lower Falls.
Go after these tough fighters all year-round in Lake Ontario, but you’ll find them swimming along with the salmon upstream.
If you’re in town for summer, don’t forget to watch out for this game fish.
Only found in Lake Ontario, hook them any season except for October and November.
Watch lilacs bloom in Highland Park and discover what gave Rochester the nickname “Flower City”. Every year in May, these flowers blossom for ten days, attracting visitors from all over to photograph its natural beauty and enjoy the festivities of live music, art, and local cuisine.
This museum is one of a kind, and can only be found in Rochester. Exploring the history and social impacts of play, it has interactive exhibits and activities.
When it comes to food, there are two things you need to eat in Rochester: white hots and a Garbage Plate. The “Garbage Plate” is a messy, calorie-rich, high cholesterol dish best experienced at its founding restaurant Nick Tahou Hots. White hots, on the other hand, is the city’s version of the classic hot dog, made from three types of uncured meat. Head over to Dogtown on Monroe Avenue for a taste or go to a supermarket and grab a pack of Zweigle’s to take home with you.