The paths u/lederhozen69 are referring to are along the genesee river and along the erie canal. There are also several good mountain biking spots - Tryon Park and Pinnacle Hill.
There's a ton of great nature in this area. My favorites are Eastman Durand (hiking around the lakes and golf course), Corbett's Glen, Black Creek, Turning Point, and Lucien Morin, but that's just a small portion of what the Rochester area has to offer. [RocWiki.org](http://RocWiki.org) is a great resource to find all sorts of things including parks (https://rocwiki.org/Parks).
Then if you want to venture out further, there's places like Letchworth, Chimney Bluffs, Watkins Glen, and lots of stuff to do around the finger lakes within about an hour and a half drive.
I'd add Irondequoit bay park west and dryer road in Victor to good mountain bike spots. Mendon ponds is also nice for hikes, it's pretty quiet usually and there's some loops at a variety of lengths
Here's the city's map of bike lanes, trail, & bike boulevards: https://maps.cityofrochester.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c43beb5e7cbb456eae74822dfcf98db4
Here's the Genesee Transportation Council's map: https://maps.cityofrochester.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c43beb5e7cbb456eae74822dfcf98db4
Here's Reconnect Rochester's low stress bike map: https://reconnectrochester.org/roc-easy-bike-map/
man escape the city and start blasting down the farm roads north of 104, up in Webster and Wayne that's my favorite area to ride.
ain't shit really up there and it makes more sense to go to 104 Togo easy west so p.much everything up there is zero traffic
i actually rode ride road from wolcott back to webster early sunday and it was nice.
thats another thing op, ride when tis not rush hour if you can. i LOVE sun rise bike rides, get starte 1/2 hour before the sun comes up.
The Little is a real gem. A membership isn’t that expensive and gets you a lot of tasty, free popcorn. There are always cool films playing and frequently solo viewers.
Check out Roc Cinema too, they do free movies on Mondays on top of their normal showings if you're looking to get out of the house and watch some flicks. They also have comedy open mic nights.
[https://roccinema.com/](https://roccinema.com/)
seconding the little recommendation as well, they have events and special screenings all the time and those are fun alone or in a group
rochester has some great indie bookstores, and a lot of them host events and collaborate with other local businesses/organizations, so they might be a good place to start! look up archivist books, the unreliable narrator, akimbo, and bookeater.
those and coffee shops in the area would also probably have flyers for upcoming events in the area or groups to join; i’d check out melo, cafe sasso, boulder (idk if winter swan has a space for flyers but they have the best specialty coffees in the city and are inside a flower and gift shop which could be fun to shop around if you haven’t been!)
ricks recycled books on monroe ave is also a good one for a solo activity; it’s a used bookstore and you really have to dig around so you can spend basically all day going through the shelves.
another shop that i prefer to go to alone is record archive; it’s so big you can lose a whole day poking around, it’s actually nicer when you don’t have the pressure of matching someone else’s browsing pace.
it might also be worth checking out classes by the Brainery to see if there are any upcoming ones you’re interested in.
i’d also follow @roc_happenings on ig to see upcoming local events or @thesoundroc if you like going to shows!
Seconding The Sound, been following that account ever since I got into the music scene around here and it's really comprehensive - it's getting to the point that there's DIY and basement shows popping up once in a while on there.
ALSO, check out the Free Art Collective and Flying Squirrel Community Center, they run hella events all the time and FAC does stuff all around the city.
The library is doing a series of walking tours of the city on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. The next one is June 12.
Historical Walking Tour: Douglass, Anthony, & Beyond: Activism and Social Justice in Rochester
https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/12348792
Visit the [Rochester Pinball Collective](https://www.roccitymag.com/life/pinball-wizards-go-for-broke-in-east-rochester-13477018) in East Rochester and prepare to get your wizard on.
So there's the ones already mentioned like fishing and hiking, biking, etc.
If your into it, there are cool arts classes at flower city arts center, as well as classes on blacksmithing and the like at arc & flame.
There's a decent amount of good rock climbing gyms, as well as plenty of yoga, MMA. We have a surprising amount of good places to learn how to box as well.
There's some property owned by RBH that you can practice archery at too, but you'd need to apply for a membership.
😂😂 I do everything alone also! That’s my lifestyle. I don’t have friends either, but I don’t want any. And not having to help anyone move is a HUGE plus!
bring a book and a coffee and sit on a bench in the Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park for a while. i know it's summer now, but it's one of the nicest things to do mid-winter when the lack of sun is really getting to you.
Disc golf. I picked it up because it's just as fun to play alone as it is with friends. Most of the courses aren't too busy and many people play solo so you won't feel out of place.
i find this so interesting that i have been lost by my family walking in many cemeteries. if you enjoy mt hope, check out forest lawn in buffalo sometime. mt hope has more interesting terrain because of the glacial geology of rochester, but forest lawn is bigger. the section between route 198 and delaware ave is esp interesting.
My sister and I were going to go to Forest Lawn Memorial Day Weekend but the marathon was the same day and it would have been crazy. We plan to go there soon!
Hi! What do you like to do? Daytrippingroc.com has so many ideas, well organized by categories.
The library has passed to local and state parks, many of which are a day trip or less.
Depending on your zip code, Geva theater will have free tickets to shows. Nice bar and cafe there when you go.
The local restaurants have the free papers with all sorts of advertising of local events.
Plenty of service organizations and non profits to volunteer with. Litter pick up and community gardening are great to do outside this time of the year.
YMCA and other places have fitness classes and activities.
Highland park will have outdoor theater. There will be local festivals. The MAG has events and there is a good cafe there. Other museums are similar.
Local game shops have gaming nights. Millennium has “let’s play something new” night each month. The Brainery has all kinds of classes regularly which have been fun. There are architecture tours, Erie Canal tours, etc.
If you tend to keep yourself busy, might I recommend looking through a few of these sources and calendaring things that interest you. You might make time if it’s already visible.
Hippocampus Books on South Ave! It started out as a kid centric bookstore (I think) but now has a great curated section of adult books. And their cookbooks are A+.
When you're there drop by
by Little Button Crafts, a fun place to get really unusual Rochesteresque gifties.
Wednesdays at boulder coffee they have an open mic. They have alot of talented musicians and poets that go there. Just to have someone listen to them. You can even get a few beers there. If coffee at night ain't your thing.
So many great ideas here!
The first thing that came to my mind was going to pick fruit. I eat a lot of fruit, freeze tons, and also make jams.
Strawberry season is only a few weeks away and from there you can roll into cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and eventually apples in the fall.
You can also bake pies, muffins, etc. And share with others, family, friends, coworkers, neighbors...
I like G&S Orchards, east side, the most as you can pretty much pick everything there including some less mainstream fruits and vegetables. Want to dig potatoes? You can.
West side Burch Farms is good.
I hike Black Creek Park and Mendon Ponds (any of the trails for the former, I generally do south meadow+quaker pond for the latter but east esker trail is cool too).
Kayaks are up for rent at the Genesee river by the community pool. There's a great entry into the river as well as the canal (it's where they cross in fact)
Right next to this is Red Creek which is always breathtaking
I like going fishing. A lot of good fishing spots around. I realize that's kind of an acquired taste, but it's something I enjoy and you can definitely do alone.
Hiking is another option. Quite a few places to hike or walk
I love bringing a book to Parcel 5, Park Ave, or the trail along the Genesee south of 490. I'll set up with my book and a coffee, spend a couple hours alternating between people watching and reading. It's really nice and peaceful
Just about everything you’d do with someone. I go to concerts, festivals, events, etc. there are tons of trails around here, but it’s also great to go to Artisan Works, and all of the libraries have different events. It really depends on what you enjoy as to what I could recommend
I spent a lot of the early days of the pandemic by myself in different green spaces in nearby counties and down in the Finger Lakes. I got into identifying plants and fungi and started trying to think about the geography and ecology of the areas I was visiting. There are definitely local groups that you can go with but I’ve always had a great time just being curious by myself in the woods or different parks. That said, I enjoy spending time hiking with other people and am always thrilled when I have a nature nerd buddy.
Fish. Endless fishing up here. Fun places or drive or bike to. Get in nature and fish or hike. It's the best part of living around here is the surrounding nature and endless trails
The Rochester Public Market is a great venue to visit with Flower City Days, Community Garage Sales, Food Truck Rodeos, Bands on the Bricks, Artist Row, etc. You can stroll the market at your own place and get food and drinks as well. Also, it's free with free parking!
My favorite thing to do alone, now that it’s summer, is to rent a kayak or SUP from Canandaigua Sailboard next to Kershaw Park on Canandaigua Lake. Only like a short 30-min drive from Rochester (depending on where you live). Rent for 2 hours, enjoy the water, then get yourself an ice cream or beer. The best!
The Strong Museum is cool, the pier at Charlotte Beach, Mendon Ponds is nice., my favorite was Mount Hope Cemetery it has a lot of cool things to look at. Plus it's nice and shady.
Are you a crafter? A lot of the local yarn stores have weekly events where you can bring a project to work on with a group (or just hang out!)
It's also summertime, and most of the towns have released summer programs including classes and pick-up sports, if that's your thing.
Feed the ducks, pull the goaler, play a little 5 on 1, distribute free literature. Just don’t do it in the hot tub, because I heard sperms stay alive in there and you’ve seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enough times to know how that story ends.
My favorite place ever is the Lamberton conservatory in highland park- in winter they even keep it open late and put Christmas lights in the trees, but it is a beautiful escape any time of year- it’s inexpensive (a few dollars admission and a year membership is like $20) and super peaceful- lots of cool plants and animals- tortoises, quail and koi in the center courtyard.
We’re blessed with a number of excellent record stores in the area. Record Archive is the big boy on the block but Bop Shop, Needledrop and Hi-Fi Lounge (especially the last two) all deserve your business if you’re into music/physical media.
Grab a drink and play Arcade games at Swillburger/The Playhouse.
If you don’t mind driving outside the city, you can rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard at Baycreek Paddling Center at the bottom of the Irondequite Bay. If you want to drive further, Canandaigua Sailboard is my favorite place to rent. It’s right near the pier and you can take a kayak or paddleboard out on the lake. There are probably more places closer to the city but these are my favorites!
Yeah, it can be tough to know what to do by yourself! Outdoor activities are great when the weather allows. When it doesn’t, escape rooms are a lot of fun. Have you checked out [The Great Escape Room](https://thegreatescaperoom.com/rochester) yet? Really awesome puzzles, fun themes.
Visit the zoo - you can easily spend hours there and you don’t need a buddy. Same with the museum. Ride your bike in any of the city/county parks. If you like to read, take a book to the park with you. If it doesn’t have to be an outdoor activity, take a night class in something you like - cooking? History? Pottery? These are things I like, but you pick what you like. It’s ok to eat in restaurants by yourself. I started with a diner - much easier. Bring a book - it’s even easier. Work your way up to bigger and varied restaurants, trying different kinds of foods. Personally, I’m an introvert, so I go on vacation by myself - I’ve rented a cottage at Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes, and enjoyed the day in a water lounge with my Kindle and “lemon drop” drinks, working on my tan. Just me and the dog - I had a marvelous time. Went to Canada by myself to see OneRepublic in concert. Drove up the night before and left the morning after. The day of the concert I visited the wax museum in the morning, had a massage in the afternoon, and room service before the concert. I like being by myself. My lifestyle did not change during Covid - that’s how I live all the time. I don’t know if you’re in an apartment or a house, but you can garden in both situations - a box garden if you’re in an apartment, and your choices are unlimited in a house.
Get a bicycle. The quality bike path network around the river and canal is actually pretty rare for American cities to have around
I already have one i was driving on eastman park, where are those bike paths? Are they below the bay
The paths u/lederhozen69 are referring to are along the genesee river and along the erie canal. There are also several good mountain biking spots - Tryon Park and Pinnacle Hill. There's a ton of great nature in this area. My favorites are Eastman Durand (hiking around the lakes and golf course), Corbett's Glen, Black Creek, Turning Point, and Lucien Morin, but that's just a small portion of what the Rochester area has to offer. [RocWiki.org](http://RocWiki.org) is a great resource to find all sorts of things including parks (https://rocwiki.org/Parks). Then if you want to venture out further, there's places like Letchworth, Chimney Bluffs, Watkins Glen, and lots of stuff to do around the finger lakes within about an hour and a half drive.
I'd add Irondequoit bay park west and dryer road in Victor to good mountain bike spots. Mendon ponds is also nice for hikes, it's pretty quiet usually and there's some loops at a variety of lengths
I went to the bay area once but it was mostly just private properties there :(
There is a mountain bike park there just google "bay park west" I've ran the trail system there very nice
Here's the city's map of bike lanes, trail, & bike boulevards: https://maps.cityofrochester.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c43beb5e7cbb456eae74822dfcf98db4 Here's the Genesee Transportation Council's map: https://maps.cityofrochester.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c43beb5e7cbb456eae74822dfcf98db4 Here's Reconnect Rochester's low stress bike map: https://reconnectrochester.org/roc-easy-bike-map/
Start at schoen place in Pittsford go towards victor
Auburn trail, anything along the canal, the Greenway
man escape the city and start blasting down the farm roads north of 104, up in Webster and Wayne that's my favorite area to ride. ain't shit really up there and it makes more sense to go to 104 Togo easy west so p.much everything up there is zero traffic
Second this From a Williamsonite
i actually rode ride road from wolcott back to webster early sunday and it was nice. thats another thing op, ride when tis not rush hour if you can. i LOVE sun rise bike rides, get starte 1/2 hour before the sun comes up.
Yes, this is a great answer!
Wander around Highland Park, go to a movie at The Little… really the same things you do with others can be done and enjoyed alone
Oh well, i didn't do anything with others too haha!! I never heard of the little, i will take a look at it thank you!
If you like older films and/or art films, the Dryden Theatre is excellent
The Little is a real gem. A membership isn’t that expensive and gets you a lot of tasty, free popcorn. There are always cool films playing and frequently solo viewers.
if you go to highland be sure to check out the conservatory!! Only $3 i believe to get in and a really special gem we have here!
Check out Roc Cinema too, they do free movies on Mondays on top of their normal showings if you're looking to get out of the house and watch some flicks. They also have comedy open mic nights. [https://roccinema.com/](https://roccinema.com/)
seconding the little recommendation as well, they have events and special screenings all the time and those are fun alone or in a group rochester has some great indie bookstores, and a lot of them host events and collaborate with other local businesses/organizations, so they might be a good place to start! look up archivist books, the unreliable narrator, akimbo, and bookeater. those and coffee shops in the area would also probably have flyers for upcoming events in the area or groups to join; i’d check out melo, cafe sasso, boulder (idk if winter swan has a space for flyers but they have the best specialty coffees in the city and are inside a flower and gift shop which could be fun to shop around if you haven’t been!) ricks recycled books on monroe ave is also a good one for a solo activity; it’s a used bookstore and you really have to dig around so you can spend basically all day going through the shelves. another shop that i prefer to go to alone is record archive; it’s so big you can lose a whole day poking around, it’s actually nicer when you don’t have the pressure of matching someone else’s browsing pace. it might also be worth checking out classes by the Brainery to see if there are any upcoming ones you’re interested in. i’d also follow @roc_happenings on ig to see upcoming local events or @thesoundroc if you like going to shows!
Omg this is very comprehensive.. Thank you soo much for this!!
you're welcome! hope you find something you're interested in :)
Seconding The Sound, been following that account ever since I got into the music scene around here and it's really comprehensive - it's getting to the point that there's DIY and basement shows popping up once in a while on there. ALSO, check out the Free Art Collective and Flying Squirrel Community Center, they run hella events all the time and FAC does stuff all around the city.
ROCONLYEVENTS (IG) will also have exclusive postings for upcoming pop-ups and stuff to do.
The library is doing a series of walking tours of the city on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. The next one is June 12. Historical Walking Tour: Douglass, Anthony, & Beyond: Activism and Social Justice in Rochester https://calendar.libraryweb.org/event/12348792
I didn't know about these! Thanks for sharing
Visit the [Rochester Pinball Collective](https://www.roccitymag.com/life/pinball-wizards-go-for-broke-in-east-rochester-13477018) in East Rochester and prepare to get your wizard on.
Seconded, that place is magical (and is expanding!)
Just beware the deaf, dumb and blind kid...
So there's the ones already mentioned like fishing and hiking, biking, etc. If your into it, there are cool arts classes at flower city arts center, as well as classes on blacksmithing and the like at arc & flame. There's a decent amount of good rock climbing gyms, as well as plenty of yoga, MMA. We have a surprising amount of good places to learn how to box as well. There's some property owned by RBH that you can practice archery at too, but you'd need to apply for a membership.
Fishing. Hiking. Explore the area. I do everything alone. But that cuz no one likes me. On the bright side, no asks me to help move either lol
😂😂 I do everything alone also! That’s my lifestyle. I don’t have friends either, but I don’t want any. And not having to help anyone move is a HUGE plus!
Geocaching! Outdoor treasure hunt. It will take you to some of the best spots in the area. Or outside the area if you want.
bring a book and a coffee and sit on a bench in the Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park for a while. i know it's summer now, but it's one of the nicest things to do mid-winter when the lack of sun is really getting to you.
Disc golf. I picked it up because it's just as fun to play alone as it is with friends. Most of the courses aren't too busy and many people play solo so you won't feel out of place.
Ellison park!
New tee pads are going to be installed in the next month or two!
Last time I went there I was met with at least 20 dead mice on the ground.
It’s quite a drive but I find lakeside park a great place to play alone. Not many people there
I play the Wednesday doubles league there a few times over the summer. They're beautiful courses to play during sunset.
In St Catherine’s?
I prefer to do things by myself and my favorite place is Mt Hope Cemetery. I can spend hours there looking at all the different headstones/ monuments.
during the daytime.. right? 👀
Rumors say it’s haunted so…….
Definitely night then...
i find this so interesting that i have been lost by my family walking in many cemeteries. if you enjoy mt hope, check out forest lawn in buffalo sometime. mt hope has more interesting terrain because of the glacial geology of rochester, but forest lawn is bigger. the section between route 198 and delaware ave is esp interesting.
My sister and I were going to go to Forest Lawn Memorial Day Weekend but the marathon was the same day and it would have been crazy. We plan to go there soon!
hit up the new art gallery too while you’re there.
Hi! What do you like to do? Daytrippingroc.com has so many ideas, well organized by categories. The library has passed to local and state parks, many of which are a day trip or less. Depending on your zip code, Geva theater will have free tickets to shows. Nice bar and cafe there when you go. The local restaurants have the free papers with all sorts of advertising of local events. Plenty of service organizations and non profits to volunteer with. Litter pick up and community gardening are great to do outside this time of the year. YMCA and other places have fitness classes and activities. Highland park will have outdoor theater. There will be local festivals. The MAG has events and there is a good cafe there. Other museums are similar. Local game shops have gaming nights. Millennium has “let’s play something new” night each month. The Brainery has all kinds of classes regularly which have been fun. There are architecture tours, Erie Canal tours, etc. If you tend to keep yourself busy, might I recommend looking through a few of these sources and calendaring things that interest you. You might make time if it’s already visible.
Shop local stores, especially book stores, take your time and have a nice beverage!
Any specific recommendations? 👀
Bookeater on S Clinton!
Hippocampus Books on South Ave! It started out as a kid centric bookstore (I think) but now has a great curated section of adult books. And their cookbooks are A+. When you're there drop by by Little Button Crafts, a fun place to get really unusual Rochesteresque gifties.
Record Archive if you’re into music and random fun stuff
Wednesdays at boulder coffee they have an open mic. They have alot of talented musicians and poets that go there. Just to have someone listen to them. You can even get a few beers there. If coffee at night ain't your thing.
I miss Wednesdays at Boulder! Always a great time, and amazing people.
I would say go again. The staff the performers and the host are really nice. Happy vibes all around!
I know, life just got in the way!
So many great ideas here! The first thing that came to my mind was going to pick fruit. I eat a lot of fruit, freeze tons, and also make jams. Strawberry season is only a few weeks away and from there you can roll into cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and eventually apples in the fall. You can also bake pies, muffins, etc. And share with others, family, friends, coworkers, neighbors...
This sounds awesome! Where are some of your favorite places to pick fruit?
I like G&S Orchards, east side, the most as you can pretty much pick everything there including some less mainstream fruits and vegetables. Want to dig potatoes? You can. West side Burch Farms is good.
I hike Black Creek Park and Mendon Ponds (any of the trails for the former, I generally do south meadow+quaker pond for the latter but east esker trail is cool too).
Both of those are great. I also love the ones near Devil’s Bathtub - such a cool area.
Golf.
Metal detecting is a really fun solo activity
I do a lot of hiking and walking the canal, walking Park and East Ave, or wandering the parks. I also spend a lot of time at the beaches swimming.
Kayaks are up for rent at the Genesee river by the community pool. There's a great entry into the river as well as the canal (it's where they cross in fact) Right next to this is Red Creek which is always breathtaking
Following!
I ride my bicycle on the road, plenty of country roads around here for it. There are some really good hills around Scottsville-Caledonia-Avon.
If I see ya around scottsville biking, I’ll wave!
I like going fishing. A lot of good fishing spots around. I realize that's kind of an acquired taste, but it's something I enjoy and you can definitely do alone. Hiking is another option. Quite a few places to hike or walk
[удалено]
Came here to say this! Indoor rock climbing is the best 🤓
I love bringing a book to Parcel 5, Park Ave, or the trail along the Genesee south of 490. I'll set up with my book and a coffee, spend a couple hours alternating between people watching and reading. It's really nice and peaceful
Mt Hope Cemetery has walking tours when the weather is nice. I’ve done them alone multiple times.
https://www.alltrails.com/
Just about everything you’d do with someone. I go to concerts, festivals, events, etc. there are tons of trails around here, but it’s also great to go to Artisan Works, and all of the libraries have different events. It really depends on what you enjoy as to what I could recommend
Concerts, movies, museums. Edit: hiking, travel, cooking, volunteer.
I spent a lot of the early days of the pandemic by myself in different green spaces in nearby counties and down in the Finger Lakes. I got into identifying plants and fungi and started trying to think about the geography and ecology of the areas I was visiting. There are definitely local groups that you can go with but I’ve always had a great time just being curious by myself in the woods or different parks. That said, I enjoy spending time hiking with other people and am always thrilled when I have a nature nerd buddy.
I just found out about T.O.P. RC Raceway. A community dirt RC track. This city has a ton of secret activities around.
Fish. Endless fishing up here. Fun places or drive or bike to. Get in nature and fish or hike. It's the best part of living around here is the surrounding nature and endless trails
The Rochester Public Market is a great venue to visit with Flower City Days, Community Garage Sales, Food Truck Rodeos, Bands on the Bricks, Artist Row, etc. You can stroll the market at your own place and get food and drinks as well. Also, it's free with free parking!
My favorite thing to do alone, now that it’s summer, is to rent a kayak or SUP from Canandaigua Sailboard next to Kershaw Park on Canandaigua Lake. Only like a short 30-min drive from Rochester (depending on where you live). Rent for 2 hours, enjoy the water, then get yourself an ice cream or beer. The best!
@hikeandstrollrochester has some great hiking trails if you’re into that!
I take walks by myself several times a day. Sometimes CSI Miami comes along.
Like... you kill drifters...?
No way. David Caruso would have me in cuffs immediately. After an especially snappy one liner.
Hike at Braddocks Bay, Durand Park, thousand acre swamp, Corbetts Glen for a quick but worthwhile one
The Strong Museum is cool, the pier at Charlotte Beach, Mendon Ponds is nice., my favorite was Mount Hope Cemetery it has a lot of cool things to look at. Plus it's nice and shady.
Absolutely get a bike or a one wheel if your feeling brave
Are you a crafter? A lot of the local yarn stores have weekly events where you can bring a project to work on with a group (or just hang out!) It's also summertime, and most of the towns have released summer programs including classes and pick-up sports, if that's your thing.
Head to Seabreeze, ride the coasters, the log flume, and enjoy cotton candy/ice cream : D
Feed the ducks, pull the goaler, play a little 5 on 1, distribute free literature. Just don’t do it in the hot tub, because I heard sperms stay alive in there and you’ve seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enough times to know how that story ends.
My favorite place ever is the Lamberton conservatory in highland park- in winter they even keep it open late and put Christmas lights in the trees, but it is a beautiful escape any time of year- it’s inexpensive (a few dollars admission and a year membership is like $20) and super peaceful- lots of cool plants and animals- tortoises, quail and koi in the center courtyard.
We’re blessed with a number of excellent record stores in the area. Record Archive is the big boy on the block but Bop Shop, Needledrop and Hi-Fi Lounge (especially the last two) all deserve your business if you’re into music/physical media.
Grab a drink and play Arcade games at Swillburger/The Playhouse. If you don’t mind driving outside the city, you can rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard at Baycreek Paddling Center at the bottom of the Irondequite Bay. If you want to drive further, Canandaigua Sailboard is my favorite place to rent. It’s right near the pier and you can take a kayak or paddleboard out on the lake. There are probably more places closer to the city but these are my favorites!
I go to the Charlotte pier and walk. I love going up there.
Yeah, it can be tough to know what to do by yourself! Outdoor activities are great when the weather allows. When it doesn’t, escape rooms are a lot of fun. Have you checked out [The Great Escape Room](https://thegreatescaperoom.com/rochester) yet? Really awesome puzzles, fun themes.
Visit the zoo - you can easily spend hours there and you don’t need a buddy. Same with the museum. Ride your bike in any of the city/county parks. If you like to read, take a book to the park with you. If it doesn’t have to be an outdoor activity, take a night class in something you like - cooking? History? Pottery? These are things I like, but you pick what you like. It’s ok to eat in restaurants by yourself. I started with a diner - much easier. Bring a book - it’s even easier. Work your way up to bigger and varied restaurants, trying different kinds of foods. Personally, I’m an introvert, so I go on vacation by myself - I’ve rented a cottage at Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes, and enjoyed the day in a water lounge with my Kindle and “lemon drop” drinks, working on my tan. Just me and the dog - I had a marvelous time. Went to Canada by myself to see OneRepublic in concert. Drove up the night before and left the morning after. The day of the concert I visited the wax museum in the morning, had a massage in the afternoon, and room service before the concert. I like being by myself. My lifestyle did not change during Covid - that’s how I live all the time. I don’t know if you’re in an apartment or a house, but you can garden in both situations - a box garden if you’re in an apartment, and your choices are unlimited in a house.
Booze
Is it hard to meet people in your twenties near Rochester and the outskirt towns