Page Updated: December 13, 2023

Northwestern New York

New State! It’s been a while! The drive into western New York was a surprise. Perfectly green and lush, the region really is beautiful. Plenty of forest, plenty of fields, plenty of rivers, plenty of activities... on several occasions I caught myself imagining the area blanketed with snow and whether we could consider it for possible relocation.

With no shortage of things to do, our rental – tucked in a small neighborhood right off the Erie Canal south of Rochester – provided the perfect location to explore. On arrival day, I’d convinced myself I’d dedicate several days a week to biking the canal path. In actuality, I made it out once… and I chose to give myself a break from “capturing the moment,” and just enjoyed the ride camera free! 

The locals were easy to talk to. We chatted with lots – and lots - of them. It’s not hard for people to know we’re “not from around here.” It doesn’t matter if we’re buying groceries, taking an Uber, crossing paths on a hike, seeing a tourist attraction, or sitting at a bar ordering a flight of the local brews… whatever we do, if I speak, curiosity takes over and questions kick in. Where are you from? How long are you here? How long have you been traveling? Traveling in an RV? Where all have you visited? What’s your favorite place? I teased Lee that I need a hat that says “It’s a Georgia accent.”

What I found most telling about our 4 week stint in western New York is every one of the locals we spoke with all shared the same opinion of their state. They all agreed it was gorgeous, but they’d never move to New York given the choice. After a month of exploring, we came to the same conclusion. For us, western New York is a great place for future vacations, but we could tick it off the list for relocation.

Still, western New York is beautifully scenic, and we encourage anyone to visit if you can!

THE LOCAL GRUB

Sausage Omelet w Swiss

Can’t speak to lunch and beyond, but Bob’s Diner on Henrietta Rd is a great little stop in Rochester for your classic diner selections. The food was great. The servers are friendly. The prices are decent. Two thumbs up!



The Distillery Restaurant on S Winston Rd in Henrietta was short staffed (July 2022) - short on cooks; but still came through with great food.

Steakhouse Salad


Lee ordered this ridiculously phenomenal bowl of goodness, while I ordered a Grilled Romain Salad (not pictured) that was equally delicious. I had trouble staying out of his food. So so good. Whiskey River Pub & Grill in Charlotte, NY.

Smokehouse Brisket & Mac-n-Cheese Bowl

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scenes from the leg!

THE FUN STUFF

07/02/2022

Genesee Country Village and Museum

Genesee Country Village and Museum is the largest living history museum in the state. Buildings were collected from across the region, restored, furnished, and…

07/03/2022

The Finger Lakes is a remarkably scenic region full of interwoven glacial lakes, gorges, and waterfalls spread out over an area the size of New Jersey…

Finger Lakes

07/03/2022

Scenic course on the north shore of Lake Seneca with wide open spaces for long throws and a few strategic hidden baskets around bends…

5 & 20

07/03/2022

A charming historical town on the north shore of Seneca Lake in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region, Geneva is well known for its annual…

Geneva

07/03/2022

Montezuma National Wildlife Preserve

The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge sits just north of Cayuga Lake; a neighboring finger lake east of Seneca Lake. The 10k+ acre refuge works…

07/09/2022

Chimney Bluffs Trail

Quick and easy hike with great views of Lake Ontario. The trail is well marked and well shaded. Not the “bluff'“ hike the name conjures up…

07/09/2022

Once one of a pair of sentinel pier lights on the largest natural bay on Lake Ontario, the Sodus Outer Lighthouse, originally constructed late 1850s, is now…

Sodus Outer Lighthouse

07/09/2022

On the cliffs of Sodus Bay at the edge of Lake Ontario sits Sodus Bay Lighthouse. Built in 1870, the current structure…

Sodus Bay Lighthouse

07/09/2022

We couldn’t find any history about the light, but we didn’t think this stop was much of a lighthouse at all…

Irondequoit Bay Lighthouse

07/10/2022

Built in 1822 and restored by the Lighthouse Historical Society in 1984, the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse is the oldest surviving lighthouse on Lake Ontario…

Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse

07/10/2022

On the shore of Lake Ontario, the 39 acre Ontario Beach Park includes Charlotte Pier, the Rochester Harbor Lighthouse natural beaches, six volleyball nets, numerous…

Ontario Beach Park

07/10/2022

Rochester Harbor Lighthouse

Nothing much to say about this one. Just that we saw it and can tick it off the list!

07/15/2022

Capitol to the province of Ontario, the city of Toronto is the largest in Canada and the fourth most populous in North America. More than 180 languages fill the…

Toronto

07/16/2022

Built in 1914, located in midtown Toronto, and marketed as North America’s only full-sized castle – Casa Loma is one of the city’s top tourist attractions. The Gothic…

Casa Loma

07/16/2022

A multicultural neighborhood in the heart of Toronto, Kensington Market is loaded with artist and owners occupying open air shops…

Kensington Market

07/17/2022

The Royal Ontario Museum, dedicated to art, culture, and nature, is the largest museum in Canada. In addition to its many galleries, the museum also…

Royal Ontario Museum

07/20/2022

The oldest state park in New York and the United States, Niagara Falls State Park covers 400+ acres and is home to American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls…

Niagara Falls State Park

07/20/2022

Not to be confused with Cave of the Winds Mountain Park in Manitou Springs CO, Cave of the Winds Niagara Falls is an attraction of Niagara Falls State Park…

Cave of the Winds

07/20/2022

One of the beautiful natural wonders of North America, Niagara Falls is a bustling destination for millions of tourists annually….

Niagara Falls Ontario

07/21/2022

A tourist attraction in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario; Journey Behind the Falls takes visitors 125 feet down in an elevator to the old Niagara tunnels…

Journey Behind the Falls

07/21/2022

A relatively new attraction in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario (opening Jul 2021), the Niagara Parks Power Station walks visitors through the in-depth history…

Niagara Falls Power Station

07/21/2022

A mA most popular way to experience Niagara Falls is cruising right up the river! Niagara City Cruises takes visitors on a tour around a section of the Niagara Gorge…

Niagara City Cruises