Visitors and residents alike enjoy Rochester and Western New York for its outdoor activities. Rochester is consistently listed among the best places to live in the country. You can walk, hike, bicycle, ride horses, canoe, and play at many other activities throughout the area. In May, don't miss the Lilac Festival, and in the fall, don't miss the spectacular foliage! There are many old indian trails, railroad beds, and canal tow paths converted to trails. Even many Rochester residents don't realize the extent of the local trail system!
Not only is the area beautiful, but steeped in history as well. The world famous Erie Canal (60K JPEG, New Window) cuts through the entire region with a tow path along its side. The path is used by walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, and bicyclists, past scenic parks and pleasure boat traffic. This canal helped to open the west in the 1820's, nearly a hundred years before the much shorter Panama Canal was opened.
Gorgeous Letchworth State Park (50K JPEG, New Window) has been called "The Grand Canyon of the East". The Genesee River has cut a huge scenic gorge through this giant park. Don't miss the Upper, Middle, and Lower falls, or the many trails which run throughout the park. Some of the trails are open to mountain biking.
There are also areas maintained by volunteer trail groups specifically for hiking and mountain biking.