Rochester

Halfway between Buffalo and Syracuse just north of I-90 lies the city of Rochester, the state’s third-largest city. This is a city of learning institutions, including the University of Rochester with the Eastman School of Music. The city is also the home of the Rochester Symphony and the Strong Museum. This museum is an eclectic one, with over 300,000 objects including a collection of 27,000 dolls, dollhouses, pattern glass, folk art, Tiffany glass, toy trains, and miniatures of a large and varied lot (585-263-2700). Be sure to explore East Street, beyond the inner ring, a wide boulevard that is graced with the city’s grandest estates—one of which belonged to George Eastman. The George Eastman House and Museum of Photography is the home of the father of photography and on display are the furnishings of his home and all things related to the industry of which he was the leader—cameras, photographs, and films (585-271-3361).