About "100 Things To Do In Rochester Before You Die"

Rochester is known as the cultural capital of Western New York because of its world-class museums, music, and more. Take your own tour of this affordable, accessible gem with "100 Things to Do in Rochester Before You Die," a local’s lowdown on what makes this place so remarkable no matter the month or weather. 

Explore the arts scene by learning how the city became the birthplace of amateur photography or by dancing at one of the world’s largest jazz festivals. Get playful at the world’s largest toy museum or thumb through the largest vinyl record collection in the Northeast. Stroll picture-perfect villages along the Erie Canal or admire the Genesee River’s 96-foot waterfall from a pedestrian bridge in the middle of downtown. Follow in the footsteps of such historical icons as Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. Round out your visit with some of Rochester’s best food—maybe even the iconic, celebrity-endorsed Garbage Plate, which is as messy as it sounds.

With insider tips and suggested itineraries by subject and season, this guide to Rochester showcases both the obvious and the obscure in this vibrant city.

 Robin L. Flanigan is a national award-winning, freelance journalist for magazines and newspapers. In addition to "100 Things To Do In Rochester Before You Die,” she is also the author of the celebrity-endorsed children’s book "M is for Mindful.” Robin was a beat reporter for eleven years in newsrooms including Rochester’s Democrat and Chronicle.  Her work has earned awards from the Education Writers Association, the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association, the New York News Publishers Association, and elsewhere, and has been published in People Magazine, AARP, USA Today and Education Week. Her essays have appeared in The Sun and other literary magazines and anthologies. She climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2008, where she saw the curvature of the earth at sunrise.