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At some point I have to stop working, pick up the kids from daycare, cook supper, do baths and bedtime. At first, I was at a loss on how to entertain my kids on the weekend, but eventually I started exploring the local parks and have found some favorite spots and of course, the best slides. These are also activities that anybody can enjoy, either on their own or with some friends.

Ellison Park

Ellison Park is expansive, with excellent walking trails and the most intense and fun slides of any park I’ve found in Rochester. Located off of Blossom Road, the park features trails through the woods and one that follows Irondequoit Creek. These trails are mostly stroller-friendly, although can occasionally be muddy depending on the weather. One option is to park right next to the play area on Ellison Park Road. Another option is to use the parking lot off of North Landing Road and walk along the trails. It’s a bit of a walk to the slides from this parking lot, but I love watching my toddler run all the way there and it certainly tires him out for nap time! We also love to play Pooh sticks on the bridge across the creek.

Highland Park

Highland Park in the city of Rochester is beautiful and has a lot of opportunities for kids who like to wander. At one end of the park is the Lilac Adventure Zone, an all-natural wooden play structure better suited to older kids which encourages climbing and risky play. If you’re looking for a more traditional park with good slides and swings, there is a play structure with on-street parking on Reservoir Ave.

Right across from this play structure is the Lamberton Conservatory, where adults and slightly older kids pay a $3 entry fee and you can see a vast collection of plants, guineas, turtles and tortoises. It’s a perfect trip for rainy days when you still want some nature but can’t spend much time outside. My kids can stay and look at the turtles for a good hour, so I can’t recommend the conservatory enough! They also offer yearly memberships, so if you make your visits frequent enough this would be something to consider.

Further down Reservoir Ave and still a part of Highland Park is the Sunken Garden, a small garden space that looks like it belongs to a castle. This is a relatively quick visit, but dreamers may like to pretend they’re in a fantasy story while walking around.

Cobbs Hill Reservoir

Cobbs Hill Reservoir is another great place to go to get outside, all times of the year! There is a parking lot below the reservoir off of Culver Road that has access to Lake Riley and the Cobbs Hill Park Playground. The slides are sub-par compared to other parks, but older kids may love the obstacle course with challenging navigation features. The lake is not for swimming, but it’s a great place for fish-spotting, picnics, and kicking a ball around. There are also tennis courts at this park, for anyone looking for a place to play tennis! Up the hill at the reservoir proper (accessed via Highland Ave.) is plenty of parking and a sidewalk path that goes around the reservoir with beautiful views of downtown. During the winter months this path can get a bit windy and chilly, so plan your visit accordingly.

If you feel a bit more adventurous and want to go on a short hike, there is easy access to Washington Grove, a small preserved forest in the city. The pedestrian-only trails meander through the woods, and you can make your hike as long or short as you wish. This is an excellent place to bird watch and to see some graffiti art by local artists on the old reservoir structures.