Springtime in Rochester
As the Earth breaks loose from winter’s icy grip, snowmelt and heavy spring rains swell our waterways. Tree buds begin to open, and so do seasonal businesses.
There’s no better way to usher in springtime in Rochester than by tapping maple trees for syrup! Snowmelt and heavy spring rains swell our waterways as the Earth breaks loose from winter’s icy grip. Tree buds begin to open, and so do seasonal businesses.
It is a time of awakening. Enjoy delightful early springtime day trips around Rochester, which are filled with March migrations, April showers, and May flowers.
Spring Migration
During late February, Canada and snow geese migrate towards the north through New York. Their numbers increase to tens of thousands during the spring waterfowl migration, usually from the last two weeks of March to the first two weeks of April.
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
At 10,828 acres, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is the state’s largest refuge. Alabama Swaps amasses 19,000 acres designated for wildlife.
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,000-acre preserve on the north end of Cayuga Lake, under one of the most active flight lanes.
Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area
If you’re cruising on Edgemere along the ponds or on the parkway near Manitou, you’re enjoying the Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area.
Nature Centers and Preserves Around Rochester
The various nature centers, preserves, and management areas all work to protect and maintain natural spaces for the benefit of all.
April Showers
As the spring rains merge with snowmelt, every tributary swells and pushes downstream. Our rivers, creeks, and waterfalls become powerful, both awe-inspiring and destructive.
16 Places to Visit After Heavy Rains
These creeks, rivers, and waterfalls rage after heavy rains or quick snow-melts, offering a spectacular multi-sensory experience.
Not all waterfalls are hidden in dark ravines. Many of the region’s most stunning waterfalls can be viewed from the road or a short walk.
H2O Heritage: Exploring Rochester’s Freshwater Resources
Rochesterians are fortunate to be surrounded by abundant freshwater resources with unique stewardship opportunities.
Freshwater Creeks Around Rochester
These beautiful creeks around Rochester impact us in such subtle ways that they sometimes disappear into the background of our lives.
May Flowers
As the winter season ends, keep an eye out for signs of spring. After their long hibernation, flowers and buds will start to bloom. I’m excited to see lilacs, cherry blossoms, magnolias, tulips, and daffodils! It’s been said that “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.”
Powder Mills Park favorites include the fish hatchery, Daffodil Meadow Trail in early May, The Mushroom House, and fishing Irondequoit Creek.
Highland Park has been described as a museum of exotic trees. Many of the trees are the tallest of their species in the state, though few are native.
The Flower City: Exploring Rochester’s Extraordinary Flowers and Trees
Rochester became a global center for flower and tree nurseries in the mid-1800s, fostering our identity as The Flower City.
These carefully designed gardens, often cultivated for decades or centuries, display exceptional collections of flowers and trees.
Reopening in May
We have missed some of our favorite places, which have been closed since late fall or have had limited access to services. However, we are excited that these places will be open again in May, allowing us to enjoy the warmer springtime days in Rochester.
Gorge trails call out from their deep, dark, and cool caverns. If you haven’t already, check these spectacular trails off your list.
50 New York State Parks Within a Two-Hour Drive of Rochester
Venture into one of these New York State Parks within a two-hour drive of Rochester and discover what makes them unique.
Monroe County parks are free and offer 12,000 acres of natural, zoological, horticultural, historical, and geological experiences.
Explore The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail
The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail runs along the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario, from Fort Niagara in Youngstown to Fort Ontario in Oswego.
Explore the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
Enjoy each Erie Canal city, town, and village along the 115-mile stretch between the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and the Niagara River.
The Best Ice Cream Shops Around Rochester
These top ice cream and frozen dessert shops in charming villages and city neighborhoods turn a simple scoop into an artisanal delight.
Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve
Penn Dixie Fossil Park is a hidden gem 10 miles south of Buffalo. Visitors can find and collect 380 million-year-old fossils.
Seabreeze, Darien Lake, and Other Amusement Parks Near Rochester
When May comes around, you find the amusement parks with the dry rides opening on the weekends and water parks opening in mid-June.
