# Weekend getaways from Rochester with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/rochester-ny/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Rochester for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Some weekends only have something farther out, and those are marked as a long drive.

Last checked: 2026-10-18.

## Weekend of Oct 23–25: Pittsburgh (about 5 hr 30 min, long drive)

Daytime ZooBoo on Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 3, the Alice in Wonderland flower show at Phipps, and costume activities at Phipps on Friday evening. Most of it fits between breakfast and nap.

- **ZooBoo**, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. See the zoo's ticket page. Daytime trick-or-treating, last weekend of the season. A Halloween parade starts at 11:30 a.m. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/zooboo/
- **Halloween Happenings at Phipps**, Fri Oct 23, 5–8 p.m., Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Free with regular admission. Kids can come in costume for festive activities. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar
- **Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Conservatory hours, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Included with admission. Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar
- **Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza**, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, 6–11 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. See the zoo's ticket page. Runs nightly through Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/experiences/events/

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Pittsburgh (about 5 hr 30 min, long drive)

The last weekend for both the Alice flower show at Phipps, which is warm and indoors, and the zoo's Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza, which starts at 6 if you want one late night.

- **Fall Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Autumn**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, Conservatory hours, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Included with admission. Chrysanthemum displays inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Ends Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar
- **Jack O'Lantern Extravaganza**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Sun Nov 1, 6–11 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. See the zoo's ticket page. Runs nightly through Nov. 1. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/experiences/events/

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Buffalo (about 1 hr 30 min)

DinoFEST takes over the Buffalo Museum of Science both days: fossil digs, an oobleck pit, a giant foam dig pit, T. Rex films and a dinosaur stage show on Sunday afternoon.

- **DinoFEST: Roar & Explore Weekend**, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Buffalo Museum of Science. $29; members $5; sluice bags and some crafts extra. A whole weekend of dinosaurs: fossil digs, an oobleck pit, a giant foam dig pit, T. Rex film showings, meet-the-scientists on Saturday and a dino stage show on Sunday. Official page: https://www.sciencebuff.org/event/dinofest-roar-explore-weekend/

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Cleveland (about 5 hr, long drive)

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's North Pole Adventure starts Friday. Book the 5 p.m. train and you're back by 6:30.

- **North Pole Adventure**, Fri Nov 13, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, 5 p.m. (back 6:30) or 7:55 p.m. (back 9:25), Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, Independence. $60–$110 per person, depending on seat class and date. Runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 22. The 5 p.m. train is back by 6:30. Official page: https://www.cvsr.org/excursions/north-pole-adventure/north-pole-adventure

## Weekend of Nov 20–22

Nothing verified within reach is worth the drive this weekend.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Pittsburgh (about 5 hr 30 min, long drive)

The zoo's drive-thru lights open Friday at $45 a car, and Phipps Holiday Magic is warm and indoors.

- **Phipps Holiday Magic**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, See Phipps for hours, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. See Phipps for tickets. Opens Friday, Nov. 20. Official page: https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar/detail/holiday-magic
- **Zoo Lights Drive-Thru**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, 5–10 p.m., Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. $45 per vehicle ($40 members). Select nights. You stay in your car the whole way, and one price covers everyone in it. Official page: https://www.pittsburghzoo.org/event/zoo-lights/

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Rochester with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Rochester are Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

**Which cities are within an easy drive of Rochester?**
Buffalo (about 1 hr 30 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

**Why is the same city picked more than once?**
Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

**Are the times and prices current?**
They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.