Visiting Rochester with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

#2North side, 2222 St. Paul St.

Seneca Park Zoo

Last entry is an hour before close.

Kids $11 online, $13 at the gateAdults $14 online, $16 at the gateChildren 3 and younger free

#3Downtown, 115 South Ave.

Rochester Central Library

Watch for weekend family events.

FreeIndoor

#4Northeast, 851 Joseph Ave.

Lincoln Branch & Toy Library

Babies & Books runs Tuesday mornings.

FreeIndoor

MORNINGThe Strong National Museum of PlayOpens at 10 · Downtown

Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Rochester

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day

LUNCHDinosaur Bar-B-Que (Rochester)Barbecue downtown · Downtown · Kids’ meal $9 (sliders, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, ribs or wings)

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPSeneca Park ZooZoo until 5 · North side, 2222 St. Paul St. · $11 online, $13 at the gate kids, $14 online, $16 at the gate adults

If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGSeneca Park ZooA morning outdoors · North side, 2222 St. Paul St. · $11 online, $13 at the gate kids, $14 online, $16 at the gate adults

NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.

AFTER NAPLincoln Branch & Toy LibraryStorytime or toys · Northeast, 851 Joseph Ave. · Free

Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

DOWNTOWNThe Strong and the Central LibraryBoth are downtown, a short drive apart.Near The Strong National Museum of Play and Rochester Central Library

Eat

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.

Barbecue · DowntownDinosaur Bar-B-Que (Rochester)Near The Strong National Museum of Play and Rochester Central LibraryKids’ meal $9 (sliders, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, ribs or wings)Entrée: Brisket sandwich $19; 2-meat combo $26

Plan B

Rainy-day backup plan

If the forecast turns, swap the outdoor stop for one of these. More options: indoor play places in Rochester.

DowntownThe Strong National Museum of PlayAll indoors.Under 2 freeIndoor

Downtown, 115 South Ave.Rochester Central LibraryIndoors.FreeIndoor

Northeast, 851 Joseph Ave.Lincoln Branch & Toy LibraryIndoors.FreeIndoor

Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Half-price Fridays

General admission to The Strong is half off every Friday from 4 to 8pm.

Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Rochester

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in RochesterBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 prices

Christmas lights in RochesterDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices

On a budget

Free and cheap wins for visitors

Spend less without skipping the good stuff.

Downtown, 115 South Ave.Rochester Central LibraryFree.FreeIndoor

Northeast, 851 Joseph Ave.Lincoln Branch & Toy LibraryFree.FreeIndoor

All free things to do in Rochester →

This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in Rochester. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#1Sat 1–3pm

Fall Literacy Festival & Parade (Central Library)

Join us for literacy and math fun, trick-or-treat with community partners, and participate in our Book Parade at 1:30 PM! First 100 families receive a free Polaroid photo. Free pumpkins available.

Central Library · Rochester

#210am–5pm (last entry 4pm)

Fall Fest: Spooky Weekend at Seneca Park Zoo

October weekends at the zoo bring a kiddie hay maze, a fairy garden, the scarecrow contest and a Nature Cart activity, plus animal meet-and-greets and otter, polar bear, rhino and baboon chats. Saturday is also Frontline Responders Day, with first-responder vehicles to see (costumes welcome).

Seneca Park Zoo · Rochester

Zoo admission: $16 adults

The Public Market’s yearly Sunday-before-Halloween party: trick-or-treat at vendor sheds run by community groups, plus performances, live entertainment and spooky crafts. Wear a costume.

#3Sun 4:30–7pm

Halloween at the Market

Rochester Public Market · Rochester

Fall Family Trunk or Treat with Brighton Memorial Library

#4Sat 10am–noon

Meet Bruce the Bear from the Ryan T. Higgins books and trunk or treat with the library, Friends of BML and Brighton Recreation. Held off-site this year because of the Town Hall renovation; costumes welcome.

Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship · Rochester

Book & Beast at Seneca Park Zoo

#5Wed 11–11:30am

A free 30-minute story time that ends with an up-close visit from one of the zoo’s ambassador animals.

Seneca Park Zoo · Rochester