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You don't always need a gym to work out! Have the kids join in on the workout or put the baby in the stroller. Jog or walk the trails and stop at the various exercise equipment as you breath in the fresh air. All are free and all are stroller friendly! Tinker Park1525 Calkins Rd, Pittsford, NY 14534 Tinker Park is popular for its Nature Center and hikes through the woods. However, there is also a fitness trail just beyond the bridge to the pond. The trail is 1.2 miles and does a loop around the park. The workout equipment is simple (unlike the machines at some other parks) but it gets the job done! There are signs at each station describing the exercise.  Fellows Road Park499 Fellows Rd, Fairport, NY 14450 Fellows Road Park is one of our favorites to use for the fitness trail! There is a great playground near the parking lot but if you continue on further you will see the start of the Fitness Trail. The trail loop is just under 1 mile and the equipment was in great working condition when we visited.  Greece Town Hall Campus3 Vince Tofany Blvd, Rochester, NY 14612 A handful of exercise equipment can be found at the Greece Town Hall campus by the pond. If you follow the trail around the pound, tennis court and playground, it is just under half a mile. There is also a story trail along the path! The trail is paved making it great for strollers and bikes as well. With the nearby playground and Rec Center, this is a great place to entertain the kids while you get a couple steps in!  Webster Recreation1350 Chiyoda Dr, Webster, NY 14580 One of the more unique fitness areas can be found behind the Webster Recreation Center. The walk to this area in itself can be a workout for some! If you follow the Chiyoda Trail from the Rec Center parking lot to this area behind the baseball fields, it's just under 1/3 mile. You can also take a shortcut through the baseball fields. Once there, you will find a parkour style fitness area! This area can be entertaining and challenging for kids and adults! There is a climbing wall, tunnels, tire course, balance beams and more. If you have any energy left, First Responders Playground is also just a short walk away!  Manchester Getaway Trail55 North Ave, Manchester, NY 14504 The Manchester Getaway trail is 1.5 miles and runs from NY Route 96 to Clifton Street in the main Village. The trail was opened and maintained in mid 2012 and continues to be a popular walking destination for many people on a daily basis. On this trail you will find creek access to the Canandaigua Outlet and seats to enjoy the view as well as a few exercise fitness stops to have a bit of fun on your trek along the river. The trail is flat and stroller friendly you will also see some fun sculptures on your walk as well!  Penfield's Veterans Memorial ParkVeterans Park Way, Penfield, NY Unlike the fitness trails listed above, this trail at Penfield's Veterans Memorial Park is for kids only! Labeled the "Tot Trail" this path is near the playground and very short. The equipment is small and simple - fit for any kid or toddler!  Fitness StationsAside from the above mentioned trails, you will also find fitness stations often next to or apart of a playground! Some of our favorites are pictured below!  Cobbs Hill Park  Victor Municipal Park  Troup St Park  Richard P. Outhouse Park If you are looking for a way to cool off this summer in a spot that is a little more tranquil and less frequented than a public pool or beach, head to the creekside! There are many spots in and around Rochester. Grab those water shoes and a net-and remember to always practice water safety skills. There are many more great spots beyond this list. Send your recommendations our way and we will put together another list for next summer! Powder Mills Park, Fish Hatchery 115 Park Rd, Pittsford, NY 14534 Why it's great for wading: Powder Mills is an excellent spot to spend a summer's day. With the fish hatchery, hiking trail and creek all within close proximity, it makes for a great way to fly through a hot day. We like to start off feeding the fish at the hatchery then head to the trail for a short hike in the woods right behind the building. After finishing the hike, the kids can cool down in the creek! During our visit the creek was shallow all the way through. Pack some quarters and plastic cups for fish food at the Fish Hatchery.  Channing H. Philbrick Park1 Linear Park Dr, Penfield, NY 14526 Why it's great for wading: Swimming is not permitted at Channing H. Philbrick park but there are offshoots from the larger creek that makes for a great spot to stop and splash in the water before continuing on the walk. We even saw some tadpoles on our visit! The water access pictured below is quick and easy to get to by entering the hiking trail nearest the main parking area. Head down the trail just a couple of yards and you will see the small creek on your right. Venture further and you will likely see the larger creek with deep waters, strong rapids and even some small waterfalls!  Grimes Glen4703 Vine St, Naples, NY 14512 Why it's great for wading: Grimes Glen is a gully. There is a trail you can walk for most of it but there is a good chunk that is a creek walk. We only made it to the first big waterfall- it wasn’t slippery and was fun to climb. Its beautiful all the way through with plenty of creek to share with all the visitors. Wear water shoes and expect to get wet! There have been reports of falling rock and the park was closed temporarily because of this. Proceed with caution!  Bay Park WestS Glen Rd, Irondequoit, NY 14609 Why it's great for wading: Located in Irondequoit right by the Bay. This is a great park for hiking and lots of people bike here. It is a shared trail. The creek is shallow with lots of open space great for walking (and stomping) through. This trail has easier paths and harder paths and it’s pretty easy to find your way out. Bring Bug Spray!  Sawyer Park 732 Long Pond Rd, Rochester, NY 14612 Why it's great for wading: Not only does Sawyer Park have two playgrounds, but also hiking trails with creek access. We love the creek for its gradual slope into the water and the still and shallow water. The terrain of the nearby trai is flat but some trails can get narrow. To get to the creek, take road all the way back to the pavillions.  Harry Allen Park23 N Main St, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 Why it's great for wading: First of all, its beautiful! The steep stone walls and surrounding woods makes for a peaceful visit on a hot day. The creek access is just a short walk down the Zebulon Norton trail behind the Harry Allen Park Playground. There's a rocky "shore line" for those that like to toss stones into the water.  Ontario Pathways1990 NY-96, Phelps, NY 14532 (Vet Clinic directly across the street from the entrance) Why it's great for wading: Ontario Pathways is a 23 mile long trail for walking, hiking, and biking with so much to explore. There are natural dams in place for some deeper exploration of tadpoles and other water bugs. The path itself is long but about a 10 minute walk into the trail on the right hand side you will see a set of boulders. Walk down to the water and explore the waterfalls!  Durand Eastman Park, Leastman Trail 1200 Kings Hwy N, Rochester, NY 14617 Why it's great for wading: This is a quiet trail tucked in a cute neighborhood in Irondequoit. There is an awesome little stream to play in on hot days. It has some hills but it’s a pretty easy trail. Quick hike to the creek area if you are just looking for some water fun.  Mertensia Park1390-1394 Mertensia Rd, Farmington, NY 14425 Why it's great for wading: Mertensia Park is a lovely park that has many amenities on site. One of the fantastic perks of this park is you can play at the playground or enjoy a turn at tennis and when you are through it is a short walk to the creek to relax and cool off. This is a easy flat trail where you can bring the children and they can explore the water and look for fairy houses at the same time. Take note there is some Poison Ivy on the trail.  Shortsville Budd Park37 Water St, Shortsville, NY 14548 Why it's great for wading: There is plenty of sites to take in and fun for kids to explore. This is a popular fishing area for locals who like to admire nature. There are bridges, flowers and stumps to walk on- so there is a little bit for everyone. Looking for a place just to sit and listen to water? There are plenty of swinging seats to enjoy the scenery.  Webster County Park1078 Lake Rd, Webster, NY 14580 Why it's great for wading: This is one of the few spots where kids can see the creek meet the lake. At this particular spot near the pier at Webster County Park, there is a small landing area with easy access right near the creek. To the left is the lake but to the right is the expansive creek. During our visit, there were not steep drops in the water and it was easy to keep the kids away from the lake. They loved walking in the open waters of the creek and tossing rocks.  Four Mile Creek PreservePhillips Rd & Lake Rd. Webster, NY 14580 Why it's great for wading: It takes a short 5-10 minute walk on flat terrain to get to the creek (though there are several tricky roots for the little ones to maneuver). Once there, there are bridges and benches and beauty abounding! If you venture further onto the red trails, it is said you can find old cars scattered in the woods. Unfortunately, the creek was too fun and distracting that we didn't make it that far but let us know if you do!  There are so many local fields to see the sunflowers in bloom this year! From Kelly's Farm Market in Hilton to LaMora Farms in Ontario and areas in between such as Wickham Farms in Penfield, Stokoe Farms in Scottsville and Hopkins Farm in Pittsford you will see beautiful sunflower fields with plenty of photo opportunities. BrockportKirby's 2020 sunflower field is twice the size of last year's! It will be in full bloom around the 20th of September. Check their facebook page for all the details and updates. Visiting the sunflower field is free and open whenever the market is open.
FarmingtonOn the corner of Route 332 and Collett Road West in Farmington you will see a beautiful sunflower field. The field was established by Harry Wells, Managing Vice President of American Equipment in 2015. The 12 acres of land uses Black Russian Sunflowers because of the type of soil that in the area. The sunflowers grow approximately six feet tall but there are some flowers that are easily double that height! The number of flowers there has also helped expand the bee community as well. You will see them buzzing around and it's a very vibrant setting! The reason the corner was established was to promote the beauty of Farmington as you enter or exit the Thruway. Turn onto Collett Road and there is a parking lot to park your vehicle. Stop by soon so you don't miss the wonder of this beautiful corner!
HiltonBe sure to check out Kelly's Farm Market and Bakery this Fall! Primarily an apple farm, you can grab some u-pick apples, cider and apple pie after strolling through the sunflower field. There's some great photo opportunities here and plenty of pumpkins to choose from! The sunflowers peak around mid September.  PenfieldThe Sunflower Spectacular happens each year from Mid August until early September at Wickham Farms! For the Weekdays- $10/ person Admission gets you access to the sunflower field, 2 u-pick sunflowers + the barnyard attractions. Prices vary for weekends with options to include the barnyard attractions or not. (Plus the lavender is starting to bloom again!) Open 10-7.
PittsfordIf you are just looking to grab a quick picture with the flowers, Hopkins Farm is where you want to be. This is a roadside field near the intersection of Calkins Rd. and Clover in Pittsford. The field is off of Clover and there is only roadside parking so it can get quite congested and a bit unsafe during weekends and evenings so please be careful. The farmer allows individuals to stroll this field for free to view and photograph the sunflowers so be courteous! Treat the flowers kindly and if you want to take some home, cut flowers can be bought for $1 each right down the road at the stand. This particular field was at its peak around August 14, 2020.
OntarioLaMora Farms is an adorable little farm stand in Ontario with u-pick Sunflowers and much more! At the gazebos there is fruit, veggies and baked goods to buy. You can use the cash box or venmo to pay. Beyond the gazebos is a chicken coop (bring quarters to feed them), as well as oversized games! Walk a bit further and that's where you can access the Sunflowers. It's free to snap some photos or $1 per flower for u-pick. Bring your own scissors/pruners!
ScottsvilleEnjoy over 250,000 sunflower blooms from the palest of yellows to the deepest velvet reds. Stokoe Farms is a the perfect way to enjoy a day in the great outdoors. Bring your camera and be sure to capture stunning views. All of the activities are open for fun and play as well. Kids 3 and under are Free! The ticket sales goes to Camp Good Days and Special Times!
Image provided by Stokoe Farm StanleyThe sunflower field at Pick 'n Patch is free to see and take pictures at. They offer pre cut flowers at the barn as well. There is plenty of other activities to do on site including goats to feed, a corn maze and other kid-approved activities with an admission price.  When the temperatures go up kids get cranky! Am I right? Here's a list of free and cost effective places you can take the kids to pass the time and feel refreshed. Our area boasts several fun and interactive places to enjoy some water, check these out! Located in and around Rochester you will find these twelve great places! Camp EastmanCamp Eastman Way, Rochester, NY 14617 Camp Eastman offers a secluded splash pad and playground open to the public. The playground has a padded surface and is widespread- offering plenty of space for children to run around and play. Children can then cool off in the small spray area right near the playground. Camp Eastman is directly across Durand Eastman Beach, which offers opportunities for swimming, hiking and grilling. Splash pad is on a timer and therefore water output pauses every few minutes. Cost: FREE  Casey Park6551 Knickerbocker Rd, Ontario, NY 14519 Casey Park has a host of fun things to do when you go there. They have an impressive playground area as well as a lake to swim in and also a splash pad to cool off. The splash pad area is not usually busy it is a pretty simple play area but enjoyable all the same. Call ahead to see if a lifeguard is on duty if you plan to work the beach into your visit! Cost: Free  Edmund Lyon Park100 E Ivy St, East Rochester, NY 14445 Edmund Lyon Park is spacious and contains both a splash pad and playground. The park is dog friendly and has a lot of open space for playing Frisbee. Also within the park is a basketball court and baseball field. There is plenty of seating near the splash pad with picnic tables and grills and one shaded area. The nearby school (which goes year round) shares the playground and splash pad and therefore the areas can get crowded and chaotic. The splash pad surface is slippery so wear water shoes or sandals! Bathrooms are located across the park by the gazebo. Cost: FREE  First Responders Park1250 Chiyoda Dr, Webster, NY 14580 This firefighter-themed playground and splash pad offer hours of fun. A pavilion is located between the splash pad and playground offering a shaded area to rest and picnic. The playground and splash pad are far from the road and close enough to each other that children can run back and forth. The playground has a padded surface rather than wood chips. A great place for a firefighter-themed party! Cost: FREE  Humboldt Recreation Center1045 Atlantic Ave, Rochester, NY 14609 Humboldt Recreation Center features a splash pad and playground open to the public. The splash pad has multiple fountains making this a great spray ground for kids that like to run around and through water. Along with the playground, there is a large yard that is fenced in near the splash pad that also has several trees for shade! As this splash pad is part of the rec center, it can become crowded when programs are in session and there is limited parking within the parking lot. Cost: FREE  Kids Canyon1 Vince Tofany Blvd, Rochester, NY 14612 This playground/splash pad combo is geared toward younger children and will surely activate the imagination with its outdoor/animal theme. With large fish, beavers and bears to climb on along with a variety of swing types, the playground and splash pad is suitable for a range of needs and abilities. Cost: Free for Greece residents, $5 per child per day for non residents. The playground is free and fenced in but directly adjacent to splash pad. Therefore, warn your child if you do not plan on spending the $5 as it is definitely a tempting site! *COVID-19 Update: Splash Pad is currently open to Greece residents only*  MLK Jr. Memorial Park353 Court St, Rochester, NY 14607 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial park is an Industrial style playground found within the city of Rochester. The playground features a single fountain "splash pad" to cool off in after climbing its unique structures. Though this playground is geared toward older children, it can be fun for kids of all ages. There is plenty to do around this playground including the Play Walk and the Strong museum of play. The nearest bathrooms are outhouses. Cost: FREE  Pineway Ponds 99 Park Rd, Spencerport, NY 14559 The highlight of Pineway Ponds Park is its splash pad and playground with a padded surface. The playground recently was renovated with new equipment but the spray ground remained untouched. The park also includes baseball, softball, soccer, football, and lacrosse fields, a squash court and basketball ball courts. Cost: FREE  Ridgecrest Park988 Ebner Dr, Webster, NY 14580 The main attraction of Ridgecrest Park is its splash pad and skate park. There is plenty of parking and shaded picnic tables. The splash pad has been reported to be malfunctioning numerous times and is much less exciting than others. The nearest restroom is an outhouse. Cost: FREE  Seneca Lake State Park100 Waterloo Geneva Rd, Geneva, NY 14456 Seneca Lake State Park is home to a one of a kind splash pad with 100 water jets that spontaneously spray water. Neighboring the Sprayground is a large playground with equipment for children ages 4-12 as well as a swimming area. Cost: $7 per car, 6/16 - 9/3: 8 AM - 6 PM, daily  Sweden Town ParkJohn Henion Parkway, Brockport, NY 14420 This new splash pad as of June 2019 is so unique with the spinning ball fountains scattered throughout. The water is continuous and controlled by a button. There is a pavilion near by for picnics and shade as well as a bathroom shelter a short walk away. The adjacent playground is handicap accessible and has a padded play surface. Cost: FREE  Union Station Park 25 Rock Island Dr, North Chili, NY 14514 Along with a splash pad, Union Station features a toddler-sized playground. The park is removed from the road and surrounded by open fields. A paved trail can be found around the perimeter of the park. Cost: FREE  Troup Street Park210-266 Troup St, Rochester, NY 14608 This is a small splash pad, has one water sprayer that comes out of the ground. It is brand new (summer 2020), as they replaced the old spray park with this. It is just perfect for a quick cool down on a hot day!  My 5 year old caught the zipline bug after a visit to one of our favorite parks. Read through to find our favorite and to see what other playgrounds have this fun addition. Are we missing any? Black Creek Park3835 Union St, North Chili, NY 14514 Black Creek Park has not one but two ziplines side by side! Zipline race anyone? Aside from these, the playground is expansive and fun for a wide variety of ages. It has unique tunnels and plenty of slides. It is near a pond and several walking trails, plus it boasts a great sledding hill in the winter!  B. Foreman Park4507 Lake Rd, Williamson, NY 14589 B. Foreman Park is such a hidden gem! Within this gem is a trail along the lake and two playgrounds. The playground nearest the parking lot is newer and includes a zipline! This one requires some adult supervision for the younger ones as it can be hard to reach. The rest of this playground is super fun with different climbing structures, bridges and slides. This park can get windy so wear layers!  Mertensia Park1390-1394 Mertensia Rd, Farmington, NY 14425 A hidden gem- Mertensia is a peaceful, secluded park with a quiet playground and beautiful creek. Break a sweat on the zipline before heading to the creek just a short walk from the trailhead.  Barry Park 56 Barry St, Brockport, NY 14420 This was an exciting find! A double zipline! This one not only has a seated disc zipline for the kids but also an adaptive swing zipline so that a wide range of ages and abilities can enjoy the thrill of zipping!  Harry Allen Park 23 N Main St, Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 Harry Allen is a great little park right within the town of Honeoye Falls. Along with the zipline, it has several swings and slides and hiking trails down to the creek!  Parma Town Parks1300 Hilton Parma Corners Rd, Hilton, NY 14468 Parma Town Parks is expansive and has two playgrounds on site. The smaller red playground has a zipline as well as a small sandbox. There's also a skatepark, hiking paths and a large pond. It's a beautiful park to go zip, bike and fish!  Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill6475 Gannett Hill Park Dr, Naples, NY 14512 Ontario County Park has two playgrounds. One is further into the park with a parking area and several playground structures as well as a bathroom facility and shelter. The other is closer to the entrance and camping area- This one is small with no parking lot. The latter is where you will find the zipline. If you are there for the zipline, I'd suggest stopping by this playground briefly before driving onto the bigger one down the road within the park. Be sure to make time for hiking!  Seneca Lake State Park1 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY 14456 This zipline at Seneca Lake Park is probably the best one out there and is the very one that sparked our Zipline enthusiasm! Unlike the other ziplines we have come across, this one is much easier for the kids to enjoy with a spot to sit on while you zip and a platform to "launch" off of on both ends. Not to mention, there's a beautiful view of Seneca Lake to zip towards. The playground itself is beautiful and expansive. There's also a beach and splash pad near by!  Sampson State Park6040 -96 A Romulus, NY This zipline is located on a superstar playground with a phenomenal view! This is a forward thinking play area with unique equipment. There are two play areas for 5+ and under 5. The playground itself is in fantastic shape with plenty of space for the imagination to wander! The view is second to none. The playground is right on the water and close to beach with access as well. Come spend the day, you will have a blast!  Stokoe Farms656 S Rd, Scottsville, NY 14546 By paying the admission price, you can go on this stomach dropping zipline again and again at Stokoe farm! They have a staffed zipline where employees will give you a boost upon request and help the littles ones aboard. This zipline is fun for adults too! They also have a separate zipline for the babies!
Rochester is filled with so many great playgrounds and parks. With over 3,500 acres of nationally recognized parks to adventure and explore, here are our favorite City Playgrounds. Cobbs Hill80 Culver Rd, Rochester, NY 14610 Cobbs Park has a lot to offer with the reservoir, sledding hill and stroller friendly trail! But it doesn't stop there - the playground is amazing! It is so unique and sure to entertain even the older kids with the parkour obstacles and map.  Ellwanger & Barry800 Meigs St, Rochester, NY 14620 This newer playground has such a strong community feel. You will likely find a stocked sandbox here as well as several yard toys donated by local families. You are sure to meet a friendly Rochesterian anytime you visit.  Genesee Valley Playground1316 Genesee St, Rochester NY 14611 Genesee Valley is an expansive park with beautiful trails. The playground itself is very unique. The surface is padded, there are swings for all abilities, and different structures for varying age groups. The "ropes course" appeal to older children while the various slides and spinning mechanisms appeal to the youngins. The playground is surrounded by trees and open fields and is partially fenced in.  Martin Luther King Jr. Park353 Court St, Rochester, NY 14607 This playground is a fun spot hidden right within the city. Along with the tube slide and climbing structure there are spray fountains. This site is also the start of the new Play Walk and is walking distance to the Museum of Play!  Humboldt Recreation Center1045 Atlantic Ave, Rochester, NY 14609 This is a great stop for both spray park and playground activities. The splash pad has multiple fountains making this a great spray ground for kids that like to run around and through the water. Along with the playground, there is a large yard that is fenced in near the splash pad that also has several trees for shade!  Lilac Adventure ZoneHighland Ave and Meadowbrook Rd Lilac Adventure Zone is the perfect spot for any "Ground is Lava" enthusiast. Part of the beautiful Highland Park, this playground is a new and well loved addition to our city.  University Ave740 University Ave, Rochester, NY 14607 This playground is in a convenient spot for strolling and enjoying the city. This playground is amidst the University Ave Art Walk! This playground also features a basketball court and is fenced in with a good amount of space for running around. There is a lack of swings at this playground but so many fun things to do on the Art Walk. The playground is at the Corner of University Ave and Merriman St.  Maplewood89 Maplewood Dr, Rochester, NY 14615 This is a fun park right within the city of Rochester. There are a few sets of exercise equipment and lots of space for running around. The playground is down hill from the road and parking lot, well secluding it from traffic. There is a large Fire Truck playring structure to climb on and a sign teaching fire safety. There are several play structures spaced apart from one another creating ample space to play and several "stations" to be discovered.  Marie Daley Park160 Gregory St, Rochester, NY 14620 This is a beautiful playground near the South Wedge. There is a lot of open space for running around as well as unique and fun structures to play on. Along with regular and baby swings, there is a tire swing! Consider checking out Coffee Connection, Hippocampo Children's Books, Little Button Craft and much more in the nearby South Wedge.  Sebastian Park20 Planet St, Rochester, NY 14606 This playground seems to be pretty friendly for all ages and it looks brand new! The activities on the one playground are unique and fun! There is a nice grassy area next to the playground and a pavilion with a basketball court.  Interested in other city playgrounds? Find the full list HERE!
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