What To Do While Your Kids Are Competing in Rochester, NY

Recently, little J and I traveled to Rochester for a gymnastics meet, and I was reminded, again, of how much I really love visiting there. After the meet we had lunch with a friend from Rochester, and she said that tons of people visit every weekend for competitions: sports, dance, chess, all kinds of stuff. I’m a huge fan of turning that sort of obligatory travel into a mini-vacation (like when J and I visited Niagara Falls before another meet last year). So I thought, as a service to the community, I’d point out some of the many, many visits you can squeeze in between rounds of rousing competition.

First, if your kids are still little ones and so you are not (yet) a slave to their competitive schedules, might I suggest visiting Rochester anyway, just to visit The Strong National Museum of Play. It is wonderful. It is worthy of a roadtrip all on its own, and if you have little kids, The Strong + overnight at a a hotel with a pool=Perfect Mini Vacation. If you live in the Capital District and you have kids ages 10 and under, this is a must-do for your summer. I’m not kidding.

Speaking of museums, another great one is the Rochester Museum & Science Center. It’s got a bunch of fun interactive exhibits and a planetarium, and for just another week or so you can catch their exhibit Frogs: A Chorus of Colors.

Seabreeze

Seabreeze

More great choices that I’ve written about in the past include:

I understand. Sometimes trips can be overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with making sure you’re all ready and/or your taking care of little athlete bodies or drying I-came-in-last-place tears. I have so, so been there. But fitting in a little sightseeing adds so much educational and value to these road trips. And it really does, somehow, fool you into thinking you’ve gone on vacation. And who doesn’t need more vacation, right?

Sensory Garden at Seneca Park Zoo

Sensory Garden at Seneca Park Zoo

 

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