I joined the University of Rochester in the fall of 2022. As someone who lived in Rajasthan, India their whole life, I had never seen fall before. I loved the feeling of crunchy leaves beneath my feet and enjoyed looking at the autumn colors. When winter hit, I was excited to feel and experience snow for the first time. But soon, the 4 PM sunsets got to me. I started to feel the seasonal depression setting in. The months of hibernation are tough on both the mind and body. If you’re an adventurous kind of person, you might have spent your winter outside ice skating and skiing. But I stayed indoors playing board games and reading, waiting for the weather to turn. If you’re anything like me, you too want to make the most of the natural beauty of Upstate New York.

The city of Rochester transforms during the summer months. One of the biggest transformations is the weekly farmers’ markets. Every neighborhood has its own. The best one to visit is the Rochester Public Market. Cash only, no taxes, operating three days a week. Not only do you get produce straight from the farm, there’s also delectable treats everywhere: sugar donuts, empanadas, muffins, fresh juice, Vietnamese spring rolls, etc. My favorite place is a small meat shop tucked away on the inside where I buy soup bones for just about 5 dollars and make a 2-liter pot of bone broth.

Rochester is surrounded by affordable state parks and camping sites. Lake Ontario has several beaches, and the Erie Canal offers wonderful biking and walking paths to soak in the sun. Here are some of my personal recommendations for making the most out of your summer:

Canal Trail

The Erie Canal is drained during the winter months. But when the water reappears, it’s the perfect opportunity for a nice long walk along a scenic route. My friend drove us to Lock 33 and we spent our afternoon doing a 6 mile walk all the way to Aladdin’s Natural Eatery. The route is pretty easy; it is a mostly flat Canalside walk which gives plenty of time to talk and take short breaks. The lunch was wonderful; refreshing fresh Mediterranean salads followed by baklava drenched in sugar syrup. There are many things to do in the Pittsford area. There’s a pub right next to Aladdin’s and a Simply Crepes right behind it. Pittsford Farms offers many a comforting cups of ice cream. 

Day Hikes

• Chimney Bluffs State Park is a 1-hour drive from campus and offers a gorgeous view of Lake Ontario. A vehicle pass will cost 5 dollars. There are two hiking routes, both about 3 miles each, and beginner friendly.
• Stony Brook State Park is a 50-minute drive from campus and offers a beautiful gorge trail with a natural swimming pool. It has three hiking routes between 1-3 miles each, all beginner to moderate difficulty. You can also book a camping site here if you want to spend a weekend exploring the place properly. A car pass costs 9 dollars, and a camping site is less than 20 dollars per night.
• Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous Finger Lakes Park known for its beautiful gorge trail (opens end of May 2024). This is a 1.5-hour drive from campus and has two hiking trails and great burger joints nearby. The park is surrounded by vineyards that offer affordable wine tastings, so remember to carry your ID!

Camping Weekend

In case you’re interested in spending a weekend camping, here’s an itinerary for Taughannock Falls State Park!

Supplies needed: Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pop up canopy if you want to cover your picnic table, food ingredients, cooking utensils, dish soap, water bottles (there will be free water filling stations available), flash light, power bank, hiking shoes and comfortable clothes, a warm sweatshirt, bug spray, propane grill if you don’t want to have a fire going all the time, camp chairs, lighter, and cooler. These are camping essentials, but if you need more information, visit this website.

This state park is 81 miles from campus, which is a 1.5-hour long drive. Like all state parks, a tent site costs less than 20 dollars per night depending on the day. There are shower facilities with hot water which means you still have some comfort even while roughing it out. If you want to spend a little more money to not stay in a tent, there are plenty of cabins available but be sure to book one in advance! Before getting into the two-day itinerary, here’s some basic rules to follow when you go camping:

1. You can only buy and burn the firewood you buy from the local area. One campfire may use up to two bundles of wood so plan accordingly. A bundle of wood can cost between 5-7 USD.
2. Never leave your fire unattended and put it out completely if you’re going out or sleeping.
3. Only use dishwashing stations to wash your dishes so you don’t get soap into the campsite as well as ensuring you don’t leave any food around your site for the critters.
4. Don’t cut any live trees/branches.

Day 1: Explore Taughannock Falls

• Set up your camp site, unpack your supplies, familiarize yourself with the site. Walk around the campground. Campers are generally really friendly, and you may make new friends!
• Spend your afternoon at the state park. The gorge trail is very beginner friendly and completely flat unlike the other gorge trails listed here.

Day 2: Explore Nearby State Parks and Spend the Evening in Ithaca

• Go to Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert Treman State Park (they’re both right next to each other). There’s a day pass required to get into any state park in New York. However, your camping reservation acts as your pass so do not pay that fee! Both these falls have natural swimming pools at the base of a waterfall and several hiking trails. Be prepared for a steep walk and lots of stairs! It’ll help work up your appetite when you spend an evening out in the city.
• My favorite part of Ithaca was exploring the Ithaca Commons, a pedestrian only shopping area. I had dinner at Bickering Twins, a popular Mexican restaurant with great cocktails. But you can also visit Ithaca Alehouse for a good burger or Tacos CDMX and Viva Taqueria and Cantina for other Mexican options.
• Camping is a great way to fall in love with the Finger Lakes Region. Farther away is the Adirondacks Mountain Range for more adventurous hikers. I hope to visit Lake Placid this summer where the Winter Olympics were held in 1932 and 1980.

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