Hey friends! I hope you’re having an incredible summer so far! I’ve been thoroughly enjoying summertime with my little kiddos. We’ve been getting outside every chance we get to soak up all of the summer fun. Last month, we spent a couple of weeks in Rochester, New York and we had a blast. My husband, Michael, is from Rochester so the kids and I stayed with my in-laws!
Taya is 3-years-old and Jace is 1 year old, so activities and places that are little-kid-friendly are a must for us. If you live in the Rochester, NY area or are planning a visit with young kids, here are 7 places you should consider checking out!
THINGS TO DO IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK WITH YOUNG KIDS
1. Ontario Play & Cafe – Ontario Play & Cafe is a 14,000 SF facility great for children ages 10 and younger with a ton of opportunities for fun, hands-on, open play. It was the perfect place to take the kids on a rainy day. They have a huge indoor playground area complete with climbing activities, slides, and more. Ontario Play & Cafe has a closed-off play area for babies and toddlers, which Jace really enjoyed. There’s even a hands-on water play station and other sensory activities. There’s a cafe and plenty of seating for parents to sit and relax if they have older kids.
Weekday Day Passes: Children under 2 years old – $10 (Infants under 1 year FREE with paid sibling), Children 2 to 12 years old – $15, Up to 2 Adults & Children 13 and up – Free. Their weekend day pass prices are upped a little bit. Overall, it’s a great value considering the play activities, space, and price! We’ll definitely visit Ontario Play & Cafe in the future.
2. Mamaste Cafe & Play – We visited Mamaste Cafe & Play back in March and I fell in love with it! It’s absolutely adorable and curated beautifully. The play space is for children ages 5 and younger. There are slides, pretend play activities and lots of hands-on play options in the play space. Socks must be worn inside the play area and they have socks available for purchase if you forget your own. The cafe is incredible – from the beverage to the food. I ordered an iced vanilla chai and it was delicious! My favorite part for the parents is definitely the seating area. In addition to couches and seats, there’s a bar top all around the play area where you can easily look in on your kids while they play. They also have board games, puzzles, and art supplies for kiddos over the age of 5.
Play Space Admission: Under 6 months – Free, “Crawler” 6 months – 14 months – $3, “Climber” 15 months – 5 years – $5. There is a sibling discount of 20%, as well as other discounts available. I can’t recommend Mamaste Cafe & Play enough for kids 5 and under!
3. Seneca Park Zoo – This was our second time visiting Seneca Park Zoo and it’s always such a nice time. The kids love seeing and learning about the animals! It’s a large zoo with lots to see, play areas for kids, and spots for yummy snacks. My kids really loved observing the lions but our family favorite will always be the Sea Lions!
Peak Admission (April 1st – October 31st) is $12 for ages 12 and up, and $9 for ages 3-11.
4. Hamlin Beach State Park – If you’re looking to take a little drive, I recommend taking a visit to Hamlin Beach State Park. There are multiple areas to visit here and many things to do. You can swim, hike, and even camp if you want to. There are numerous playground areas for kids to play but it’s simply a beautiful place to take a walk with your family. The vehicle entrance fee is $9.
5. Wild Over Water Zone Spray Park– The Wild Over Water Zone Spray Park in Greece, NY is an absolute blast for the kids! The splash pad is a zoo-themed facility with dumping coconuts, spraying zebras, and tons of ground features that are sure to get you and your little ones soaked. It’s the best way to cool off on a hot day. We went in the morning when it opened and it was the perfect time for us. The spray park was immensely clean and well-maintained. I highly recommend it!
The spray park is free for Greece residents and $5 for non-residents. Completely worth it!
There is a playground right next to the spray park which is free to use for all. It’s fenced-in and has slides, plenty of areas to climb, and more. It’s completely padded and very well-maintained. We loved getting the last of our energy out there after the spray park!
6. The Strong National Museum of Play – The Strong Museum is nearly 150,000 SF of dynamic, interactive exhibit space, providing educational and intergenerational fun. It’s such a neat place and while it’s for all ages, it is definitely better suited for kids who are a bit older. There are numerous exhibits but overall, it can be a little overstimulating for really young kids. Honestly, it was a bit overstimulating for me, haha. We lasted about 2 hours before deciding that the kids had enough play, so we didn’t get to check out every exhibit.
Taya really enjoyed the Wegmans Super Kids Market exhibit! It was just like a Wegmans store but in tiny human form. It was adorable! Taya got to fill up her grocery cart, check out, and restock. We also explored the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, which was an additional cost of $6 for ages 2 and up. It was very peaceful and filled with many different butterflies. A sweet experience!
We’ll take the kids back when they’re a bit older. I think when they’re 6 and 8 years old that they’ll have a cooler experience. If you embrace the magic of play chaos, totally check it out even with younger kids. If you’re like me, save this for your must-do list when your kids are a little older.
Admission cost is $23 per person over the age of 2.
7. The Pier at Ontario Beach Park – We enjoy grabbing Abbott’s ice cream and taking a walk on the pier at Ontario Beach Park. It’s easiest to take a wagon or stroller for the kids to sit and enjoy watching the water and the boats come in. After all, what kid doesn’t love a wagon ride?!
Ontario Beach Park also has a playground and an antique carousel that kids are sure to enjoy. If you want a personal recommendation on a time to go on a stroll, DM me on Instagram!
PIN FOR LATER!
I hope you enjoyed reading through my recommendations on places to go and things to do in Rochester, New York with young kids! I’m sure I’ll be sharing more Rochester gems in the future.
Be sure to find me on Instagram @summertelban for more mom life content!
