Every summer Macaroni Kid has their annual Silver Daisy Boondoggle. This is a working vacation for 50 Silver Daisy publisher moms to meet up and check out all the family fun in the area we are exploring. This year was my first Boondoggle and it didn’t disappoint! I had the amazing opportunity to explore Rochester, NY! Yes, being a Bostonian, I wasn’t quite sure how this was going to go but man did they surprise this Boston girl.
How was it relaxing? DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel (Rochester) is right off the highway while checking in, the staff was so pleasant and everyone receives warm cookies to brighten your stay. These cookies were delicious and available all day, every day. They have a bar/lounge area that you can visit for lunch and dinner throughout your stay. The rooms and bathrooms were a perfect size for any family to stay and enjoy. There is also a small indoor pool. We also got to enjoy lunch at the Glen Iris Inn and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the waterfall right outside the front door of the restaurant. Their vegetable soup, Monte Cristo sandwiches and Brown Sugar Pie were a great way to sit back and relax while talking to friends. The grounds of the Gen Iris in were just as stunning as the Inn itself. Dinner one night was at Casa Larga Winery. This place was so spacious and relaxing. Wine tastings were an incredible event to share with a friend or significant other to help unwind after running around all day. Casa Larga Winery is in the Fingers Lake Region of New York and has an amazing backdrop to take in.
Where can you explore? We stood upon the Fairport Lift Bridge while they raised and lowered the bridge. It was amazing and so smooth you didn’t even realize it was moving. You can wave to passing boats. We were also able to board the Colonial Belle for a dinner cruise down the Erie Canal. We traveled down the Erie Canal and enjoyed the sights and low bridges that you experience while traveling to Lock 32 in Pittsford. Some of those bridges were so close to you, it was absolutely stunning. The Letchworth State Park had amazing waterfalls, hiking trails, camping sites and a Hot Air Balloon ride experience that you have to see to believe. This state park is enormous and could take well over a day to walk and explore. The history of the park was fascinating to hear.
What can you learn? The Strong Museum is absolutely incredible. This 2 story interactive museum is more than a city block long and open year round! From old video games to a Super Hero hall or their Reading Adventure room, there is something for everyone of all ages. We could spend days checking out everything along with their 1918 carousel and diner right inside the entrance.The Genesee Country Village and Museum was a step back in time. GCV&M has costumed tour guides as well as a working brewery, pottery shop, blacksmith shop, tin shop and farm. One of the highlights of the museum is their amazing barns and Art Gallery. The Susan B. Anthony House & Museum was the place Susan B Anthony called home when she was arrested for voting in 1872. Show and teach the kids the history surrounding this National Historic Landmark. We also visited the Rochester Museum and Science Center. With its planetarium, electric room, nature center and Science on a Sphere programs, you could get lost in all the wonder for days.
Where can you have fun? The Seabreeze Amusement Park is located right on Lake Ontario and is a small family owned and operated amusement park. They have numerous roller coasters, a classic wooden carousel, thrill rides and a complete water park with a wave pool, tube slides and so much more. This park is extremely clean and I would feel comfortable with my tweens going off on their own to enjoy the rides. We had a lot of fun and could of done this park for days! We were able to have tons of fun at the Seneca Park Zoo. They had some amazing animals like the Rhino, African Elephants and so much more. They also have live shows with the lions and their trainers as well as an underwater viewing area for the habitats of the polar bears, sea lions and African penguins. What trip to NY would be complete without stopping at the local Wegmans Pittsford store. This store is where they try out all the cool things that goes on in the other stores. They have a movie night twice a week for the kids and all kinds of specialty sections from mexican to cheese to the bakery. One of THE coolest things we found was that they have a changing table AND free diapers and wipes in BOTH the Mens and Ladies rooms!
Who else made us feel special? Special thanks to Campground Owners of New York (Pittsford, NY) for stocking our rooms every night with some sweet treats and also Black Button Distillery (Rochester, NY) for our sample of Bourbon Cream! Of course, we can’t forget our wonderful bus driver AJ who drove us around all week in our big purple bus from Covered Wagon Tour Bus and our Barber Shop Quartet Notably Yours for our wonderful goodbye performance.
Visit Rochester hosted Macaroni Kid for a three-day press trip. Accommodations and most meals and activities were complementary. No other compensation was received in consideration of this article and all opinions are that of the writer.
