Bursting with charm – and plenty of places to shop and eat - Brockport is known as the “Victorian Village on the Erie Canal.” Find parking and restrooms at the Brockport Canalfront Welcome Center, as well as walking tours, free bike rentals, and other amenities. A bike-share run by HOPR is available in Brockport (bikes are at the lift bridge), Rochester, Pittsford, and Fairport. When you’re ready to begin your ride, cross the lift bridge and head east on the Canalway Trail.

In 5 miles, you’ll reach the picturesque lift bridge marking the tiny hamlet of Adams Basin. Constructed around 1825, the stately home just before the bridge served as a canal tavern and inn throughout the 1800s. Continue about 4 miles to Spencerport.

Another lift bridge marks your arrival in Spencerport. Cross over to explore this quaint canal town, beginning at the Spencerport Depot and Canal Museum. Housed in a restored 1908 Trolley Depot, restrooms and showers are available on the lower level. Enjoy a meal or find snacks and beverages in town, before cycling back.

Reward yourself with a local draft at Stoneyard Brewing Company, located on the canal at 48 Merchant St. Need a bite? Head south on Main Street to Bill Grays, a local favorite for burgers or enjoy Abbotts Frozen Custard. Both are about a mile from the lift bridge.

Rent a kayak or canoe from Genesee Waterways Center or launch your own and follow the river through the Genesee Valley Park, designed by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. You’ll paddle north, past the University of Rochester, to the heart of downtown. Enjoy a variety of riverscapes before docking at Corn Hill Landing to stretch and eat. You’ll need the fuel: you’ll be paddling against the current on your return trip.

Drive to Rochester/High Falls

The centerpiece of Rochester, from High Falls flows commerce, art and the city’s charm. Find parking all around the falls, some for a fee. Walk across the bridge, just behind the famous Genesee Brewery to see high falls crashing into the Genesee River. Then head inside the Genesee Brewery for a tour, meal or tasting. Call ahead to book a weekday tour. On the weekends, they are offered on the hour from 12pm-7pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 12pm-5pm on Sundays.

Rochester offers a wealth of museums and historic sites, so choosing one may be a challenge. Spend the morning at the Susan B. Anthony House, the George Eastman House, or Mount Hope Cemetery. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t miss the Rochester Museum and Science Center and the National Museum of Play, which includes a replica of the Sesame Street neighborhood.

Learn more about each of these sights in the “More to Explore” section at the end of this itinerary.

Drive to Pittsford

Enjoy a leisurely afternoon along the canal in the Village of Pittsford. Schoen Place includes dozens of charming shops and restaurants, just steps from the water. A sampling includes: Lock 32 Brewing, Simply Crepes, the Village Coal Tower Restaurant, and Aladdin’s Eatery. Don’t miss the local ice cream and gift shop at Pittsford Farms Dairy.

Travel through a lock and back in time aboard the replica 1800s packet boat, Sam Patch. Cruise the Erie Canal as you learn about its impact on Rochester and surrounding towns. Trips depart from Schoen Place, Wednesday – Monday, Spring through Fall.

Drive to Bushnell’s Basin

Just 3 miles east of Pittsford, the historic hamlet of Bushnell’s Basin is home to Richardson’s Canal House. This 1800’s tavern turned restaurant served original canal travelers and still offers dining along the water. “The Basin” offers plenty of other dining options, as well as Abbott’s Custard and Seven Story Brewing.

Start your morning at one of the largest public markets in the country. Grab some coffee or a snack and stroll rows of local, farm-fresh meat, produce, dairy and seafood items, as well as ethnic specialties, plants and flowers, local products and artisan merchandise. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 6am – 1pm; Saturday 5am – 3pm.

Drive to Fairport

Fairport is home to a bustling canal port, where you’ll find boats, special events, plenty of dining and shopping options – as well as the village’s famous lift bridge. Poke around the village, then rent a kayak, canoe or bike from Erie Canal Boat Company to explore by water or land. For a quick ride or paddle, travel west 2 miles to Bushnell’s Basin. If cycling, cross over the canal to reach shops, food and amenities there. Paddlers can pull up to low docks at the canal amenity center.

No trip to Western New York would be complete without a stop at Wegmans Supermarket. Based in Rochester, this award-winning grocery chain continues to expand its national footprint as well as its selection of high-quality prepared foods. Try sushi, subs, pizza and Chinese fare – in addition to groceries, local beer and gifts. The experience sets a high bar few others can match. Traveling with kids? Try the Lollypop Farm for a farm walk, nature trail and petting area, run by the Greater Rochester Humane Society.