LJ

In the interests of (our) economy, we decided to take mini-holidays this year. So off we headed to Rochester, New York, an old favourite getaway for an action-packed weekend.

Found a great price ($119 per night: Priceline.com) for spacious suite with kitchen at the Marriot Residence Inn. The Henrietta location has the advantage of being on a protected nature preserve out back with easy access to the highway out front. Also, they take pets and we had Betty the Cairn terrier on board. I enjoyed the outdoor pool and generous real breakfast (eggs, corned beef hash) included in the price. Betty liked the smells as we walked in the adjacent fields.

After check-in, we sat by the pool and enjoyed a gloriously sunny and quiet afternoon. Few children as this locale rents suites for long-term use: lots of business folk enjoying the rare bright day here in a water-logged north east!

Visited TOP’s to stock up on supplies for kitchen, then on to super wine selection at Century Liquor store, fixture for years, recently sold to Wegmans: still good. Minutes away from Marriot.

Next day dawned glorious again, so a quick breakfast and on to Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester that dates back to the end of the 18th century. Charming boutiques, shady tree lined streets, beautiful colonial architecture, high end restaurants, and a fabulous spa-resort www.delmontespa.com where those with deep pockets can stay.

But, for us, the draw in Pittsford is the serene and beautiful canal: Rochester and many of the local towns, like Lockport, for example, are built on the Erie Canal. This gives the walker water-side trails plus great historical interest. They wind through towns, villages and big cities alike and the State has worked hard to make them accessible and enjoyable to walkers, joggers and (respectful) cyclists.

Betty especially liked the walk, meeting and greeting other dogs and (mostly) meandering bicyclists. We were all enjoying it for about 2 hours…right up until the moment that the gal on the very expensive “40-speed” came charging at us with her attached-by-leash-to-handlebars giant black dog! Crisis!!!

We pulled far off the path when we heard her approach, but it was too late. She was going way too fast and her dog chose that moment to cross in front of her, sending the woman tumbling off the bike. Cyclists behind her then screeched to halt: luckily one was her husband. Unluckily, he decided to give her a dressing down for “insisting she could ride with that damn dog attached”. It was mostly her pride that was hurt, but she’d had a tumble, so she started to yell and sob and blame everybody in sight. “Damn dog” predictably started to bark his head off at all the commotion and he charged off with her hobbling in pursuit. Other cyclists drew up over the wreckage of her once-fine bike, took sides and started to shout it out: amazing how passionate folks can get based on NO evidence!

DH, Betty and I beat a quiet retreat in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile back at Schoen Place, the hub of the canal-scene in Pittsford, we wandered the boutiques (The Map Store, Harmony in Wood, natural food restaurant called Aladdin’s).

Then on to the George Eastman house. Downtown Rochester went through some hard times, but it has been re-vitalized and this remains one of the premiere photographic museums in the country. The founder of Eastman-Kodak is honoured by this superb historical collection and imaginative contemporary exhibits.

Lunch back at hotel, another quick swim. We are not mall people but there are many in the vicinity for those who are. But I wanted to hit A.C. Moore’s Craft store. My good friend is about to become a grandma for the first time and I am looking at creating a pillow to match the quilt I know she is making for her grand-daughter-to-be. Great bargains at Moores! And then DH also found a pair of Nunn Bush leather loafers for only $39 in the local Marshalls!

Dinner at Mario’s Italian Steakhouse (Monroe Ave.) rounded off the day. Pear and pecorino salad. Great lasagna, veal-based, not drenched in tomato sauce…DH had the parmigiano-encrusted prime rib…wonderful bottle of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Mario trained his chefs by taking them back to the Abruzzo region of Italy, on the Adriatic, an area we know well and he has maintained many of the regional favourites on this updated menu.

After breakfast and check-out the next day, we headed out along Route 31. We wandered and took in more of the Erie Canal, one of the few remaining drive-in movie theatres (next time we’ll stay overnight in Middleport) and stopped to buy local corn, apricots, late raspberries in this farm area. Lovely, leisurely weekend…and brought it in under-budget!

wliwl

Glad you had fun in my (underrated) hometown. Thanks for the report!

LJ

I totally agree about Rochester being given less credit and attention than it deserves as a destination. It is a charming small city which has worked hard to bring itself back from inner-city blight and succeeded mightily, as my family and I have observed in our 25 years of visits.

Rochester has a great deal to offer culturally, from a food perspective and architecturally and it is FUN!

Gardyloo

Yes, but did you overlook the Museum of Jell-O? http://www.jellogallery.org/

LJ

You know, I saw that ad for the Museum of Jell-o on the way into the city...I laughed but there was a time when the car was filled with kids when it would have seemed a charming idea!

KathyK

LJ, I enjoyed your report. Next time head to Buffalo where you'll find loads of great restaurants and wonderful architecture. By the way, I don't think you'll find a hotel in Middleport.

LJ

I did wonder about Middleport and a hotel, but lots of B&B's in that area (now to find one that thinks that dogs are an asset!)