Rochester NY New York, Lake Ontario
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Charlotte district, at the mouth of the Genesee River on Lake Ontario. This is Rochester’s outer harbour, established in the early 19th century for trade with Canada; downtown lies about a dozen kilometres upriver.
No. Allow 15 to 20 minutes by road between the lakeside terminal and downtown; taxis and excursion shuttles make the connection. Around the terminal, however, Charlotte is entirely walkable.
Take a taxi downtown for High Falls and the Brown’s Race district, then continue to the George Eastman Museum in the East Avenue neighbourhood. Leave margin for the return trip to the lake, especially at rush hour.
An old-fashioned lakeside resort feel: a 721-metre stone pier leading to the lighthouse, a municipal beach with its boardwalk, a marina and restaurants. An hour here on landing sets the pace for the day.
Yes, and it is the great surprise of the call: the Genesee drops 29 metres into a red sandstone gorge in the heart of the city. The Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge crosses the falls and gives the best viewpoint.
Because it holds the oldest photography museum in the world, founded in 1947. The founder of Kodak, who put photography within everyone’s reach, left a colonial-style residence surrounded by gardens, historic cameras and master prints; allow two hours if pictures are your thing.
The old milling quarter around the falls, which still has its 19th-century raceways and buildings. Water power drove the mills here in the days when the city ground flour for a good part of the continent.
Yes. Excursions usually combine the falls, the museum and an orientation tour, but an independent traveller can put together the same programme by taxi without difficulty. High Falls and Brown’s Race are walkable once you are downtown.
The US dollar and English. Credit cards are accepted everywhere and restaurant tipping runs 15 to 20 percent.
June through October, the Great Lakes sailing season. Summer brings the Charlotte beach and pier to life; autumn brings colour to the Genesee gorge with quieter streets.
