In one of the “Man on the Street” interviews you’ll find in this
publication, software writer Andrew Branch says he likes Rochester because
“no matter where you live, it’s close to lakes, skiing, and the
Adirondacks. Everything’s available.”
That’s a concise way of explaining just some of Rochester’s charms. We’ve
got rivers, lakes, beaches, gorgeous parks, plentiful nature trails, mountains
and ski resorts within an hour’s drive – anything your nature-loving self
requires, we’ve got it. And the snow really isn’t that bad. Really.
Such a geographically exciting area gave birth to an equally exciting city.
Over its nearly 200 years, Rochester has become home to major corporations like
Kodak and Xerox, as well as growing into a center for higher education with
about a dozen colleges and universities based in and around the city. These
businesses and institutions have drawn hundreds of thousands of fascinating
people to Western New York, and around them a rich stew of cultural
opportunities has brewed.
This guide to Rochester should give you a good sense of how to get started
appreciating the Flower City. From a self-guided tour through its neighborhoods
and suburbs to an exploration of its fascinating history to a survey of its
music, arts, and nightlife scenes, you should get a fairly good picture of why
Rochester is such a special place to live.
And just because it bears mentioning: the snow really isn’t that bad. Really.
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2008.
