If I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me, I’d be rich. I don’t know if this is some party line the residents of greater Rochester reserve for the recently relocated, but everyone I meet tells me this. The guy who waxed my eyebrows, the manager at the local Wegmans, the front desk staff at the Y, my doctor…I’ve yet to meet a single person here who has not told me how great it is for kids.
They might be right. My kids have adjusted to our move better than I have. Today, I took the boys to Frontier Field to see our minor league Rochester Redwings play the Pawtucket Red Sox. This was the second professional baseball game they attended in four days. You can’t really do that in Boston. We were given free tickets outside the park and the boys were able to scoot down to some empty seats in the front row. Tommy even caught a ball one of the players threw into the stands between innings! At the end of the game, all kids were invited onto the field to run the bases.
Now, I realize this is the minor leagues. But with the outrageous price of tickets in a major league park, this is a welcome change! A family of four can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four beverages for …wait for it..$30! You can’t even park for that price outside Fenway Park. Fact is, my kids know the difference between the majors and the minors, but they had as much fun today as they ever had at Fenway!
Tomorrow, my babysitter will probably take them on an adventure: the science museum, the children’s museum, or the zoo. They’re all within 15 minutes of our house. On the weekends we’ve taken several hikes through town trails, biked along the Erie Canal, gone swimming in the indoor and outdoor Y pools, and played in the parks.
When I met my new doctor a couple weeks ago, she told me her Rochester story. She grew up in DC, still calls it “home” and yet she lives here with her husband and kids. She came to Rochester for her residency and never left. “It’s just easier here,” she says.
Then there’s the woman I chatted with at the swimming pool who relocated here from San Francisco. “I did it for the kids,” she said, “But I’ll tell you what…I don’t plan on dying here. I’m going back, someday.”
Then I smiled inside thinking, Amen, Sista! I know exacly what you mean.
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6 Responses to It’s a Great Place to Raise a Family
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The lady at the pool – amen, Sista indeed! My experience is that if you were raised in the Rochester area, you will eventually move back. There is something that just draws people back. It is a great place for the kids. I could do with more shopping options, but I deal with it and thank goodnees for on-line shopping.
The kids will have a great time this week exploring more of the area. The children’s museum is wonderful. My kids love the science museum too.
You had a nice hot day for a ball game!
I returned to my home town after being away for a decade and it really has been good for my family. Missed you at BlogHer. Glad you are settling in to your new home. Hope to see you on one of your Boston visits!
I visit Rochester occasionally to see family. Some grown up things I like there are: the bagels (authentic!), there’s an excellent biker bar slash bbq joint downtown, the movie theatre at Kodak, and the easy drive to Toronto for weekends. And the “Little” is a nice independent movie theatre.
Erin, we moved from Cambridge two years ago. Now we live in Albuquerque, NM. I cried everyday for about 6 months after moving. This place is the anticambridge- really mild climate, low standrd of lvng, and extremely boring. I’ve had a hard time making friends b/c I’m used to people constantly challenging themselves. One way that helped me remember the good bkgrps I used to go to was listening to your podcast. It’s been a while since I tuned in, though – I guess we’re gettin g used to our environs. Good luck to you. I know the pain. But you’re near family, right? That will help.
Rochester sounds like a great place to live. Never been. How much influence does the University of Rochester have on the city itself?
Sandy Avila, Director of Operations of Prepped & Polished
I knew you’d love it!! I live about 90 minutes south of you, but Rochester makes a great day trip or overnight trip. Last year we stayed overnight and did the play museaum, the zoo, charlotte beach, and shopping! We’re so glad to have you here!!!! Don’t forget about the hockey in the winter either!!!