Rochester has no shortage of beautiful places to hike. If you're looking for a place to hike and bike that's family-friendly and suitable for people of all different levels of athleticism, this is a nice option.
It's located in the Charlotte neighborhood of Rochester, just minutes away from Lake Ontario. The 275-acre park takes you along the banks of the Genesee river. For parts of the hike, you're going right over the water as you walk on a wide boardwalk-like structure.
Part of the trail takes you through a wooded area that provides plenty of shade and ample space for bikers to make their way around walkers. The rest of the trail that has you walking on the boardwalk is completely open, so don't expect any shade as you pass through this area.
What you can expect to see are a ton of cat tails, a nice sunset, and perhaps a few turtles if you look closely enough. Although you'll have to deal with the sun on sunny days, the boardwalk has fenced-in sides, so you don't need to worry about your children (or yourself) falling in.
The park's trail connects to the Genesee Riverway Trail, a trail that spans 16 miles! So if you're looking for a much longer hike or bike ride, you have plenty of options. If you take the trail one way it'll lead you to Ontario Beach Park.
Here you'll find a beach that typically allows swimming, a pier to walk on (they don't allow pets, bikes, skateboarding, rollerblading, etc.), and quite a few restaurants. Abbott's has two locations (one directly in the park, and another across the street). Bill Gray's has their grill and taproom open all year. There's also California Rollin' II (sushi) and Jose Joes (burritos and burgers) that are open seasonally.
A walk across the street takes you to a bar known for its wings called Windjammers and Mr. Dominic's at the Lake, a top-tier Italian eatery.
Visiting Turning Point Park can easily turn into a day-long excursion if you follow the trail to Ontario Beach Park!
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