Structure: Wooden Archway
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Audubon Community Nature Center – Nature Play Area
ocation: Jamestown, NY This nature center is located 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo, NY. One great spot in this nature center is the nature play area. Follow the painted animal prints on the paved path to a beautiful wooded area with large animals to climb on, wooden logs… Read more
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Brighton Memorial Library – Children’s Literary Garden
Location: Brighton, NY This super short paved garden trail is located just next to the Brighton Memorial Library. The path starts out with several wooden archways and is lined with literary quotes related to gardens and wonder. There is a bench, a small fairy garden, and a memorial. Around the other side of the library… Read more
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Burroughs Audubon Nature Club Sanctuary
Location: Victor, NY This beautiful trail network is located 20 minutes southeast of Rochester, NY. This sanctuary is private property belonging to the Burroughs Audubon Nature Club (BANC). Members may use the trails without a fee. Non-members may also use the trails but should donate to contribute to trail maintenance. The trails pass through woodlands… Read more
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Butterfly Nature Trail at Macedon Canal Park
Location: Macedon, NY This unique trail located 25 minutes southeast of Rochester is considered a “Forever Wild for Everyone Trail”. Along this accessible, stone dust trail there are numerous things to look at including informational signs about birds and butterflies, gardens, fairy houses, benches, painted rocks, and some old relics and info about the history… Read more
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Genesee Country Village & Museum – Historic Village
Location: Mumford, NY GCV&M is located 30 minutes west of Rochester, NY. It is the largest living history museum in New York State spanning 600 acres. The village and museum offer an immersive experience of 19th-century American life. It features 68 relocated and restored buildings from the Genesee Valley region, representing three time periods: Pioneer… Read more
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Genesee County Park & Forest – ACORNS Outdoor Learning Center
Location: East Bethany, NY This outdoor learning center is located 45 minutes west of Rochester, NY. The ACORNS Outdoor Learning Center is located right next to the Interpretive Center. There is a wildlife observation deck, gazebo, benches, large field, sensory garden, “messy materials” area, “discovery trail”, and more! I can’t wait to check this out… Read more
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Helmer Nature Center
Location: Irondequoit, NY This beautiful nature center is part of the West Irondequoit Central School District and is located 15 minutes north of Rochester, NY. There are wooded trails, meadows, wetlands, a stream, and a pond. In addition there are some bridges, benches, and a wildlife viewing area. There are a network of short trails… Read more
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Hoskins Park
Location: Henrietta, NY This tiny park is located 15 minutes south of Rochester, NY. There is a 0.25 mile loop path through this park. The surface is mostly stone dist but one small section is grass. There is a spot with two benches and a small trellis. There are also two new picnic tables. The… Read more
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Ithaca Children’s Garden
Location: Ithaca, NY This is a magical and wonderful place to walk around in Ithaca, located 1.5 hours southeast of Rochester. There is so much to do! There is a giant turtle you can walk on, multiple gardens, a play area, story walk, music garden, troll house, playground, and so much more! Important Info from… Read more
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John Ungar Nature Trail
Location: Webster, NY This short 0.34 mile loop trail branches off of the Hojack Trail halfway between Drumm Road and Van Alstyne in Webster, NY. It is a narrow, dirt path through a beautiful forest that starts with a set of stairs. There is a short boardwalk section and a wooden bench. There is also… Read more
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Leolyn Woods and Fairy Trail at Lily Dale
Location: Lily Dale, NY This trail is located in Chautauqua County – 2.5 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 1.5 hours south of Buffalo. Leolyn Woods is a peaceful old-growth forest with towering trees that are hundreds of years old. The Fairy Trail is a beautiful trail through the woods with many fairies, fairy houses, gnome… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – Devil’s Bathtub Trail
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This beautiful trail is located in Mendon Ponds Park, 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. According to the park website, Devil’s Bathtub Trail is a loop and is described as a ”easy 0.67 mile walk with one steep climb and stair and boardwalk sections.” It has a small viewing platform with benches… Read more
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Mendon Ponds Park – Sharon’s Sensory Garden
Location: Mendon/Pittsford, NY This beautiful garden is located in Mendon Ponds Park, 20 minutes south of Rochester, NY. I obviously did not visit at the right time – this garden would be much better in spring or summer when things are in bloom and not covered in snow! This sensory garden is located right next to… Read more
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Meridian Centre Park
Location: Brighton, NY This lovely park is tucked behind some office buildings 12 minutes south of Rochester, NY. This park contains meadows, wetlands, and forest areas. There is a nice playground near the parking area with a few paths to take. The paved paths around the park are stroller friendly and accessible. When the trail… Read more
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Onondaga Lake Park – Butterfly Garden of Hope
Location: Liverpool, NY This park is located just over an hour east of Rochester, NY on the shore of Onondaga Lake near Syracuse. The Onondaga Lake Park – Butterfly Garden of Hope is located on the northeast shore of the lake. According to the official website, “The Butterfly Garden of HOPE is a memorial to… Read more
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Powers Farm Market – Nativity Trail
Location: Pittsford, NY We love visiting Powers Farm Market in every season! In the winter, there are Christmas trees for sale, an outdoor firepit, a festively decorated door, and a Nativity Trail. This short little path through the farm features animals, nativity scenes, and is lined by lights. This trail is also open after dark,… Read more
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Sterling Nature Center – Forest Ecology Trail
ocation: Sterling, NY This nature park is located 1.25 hours east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. According to the official website, the Forest Ecology Trail is a 0.6 mile loop that “circles through several contrasting forest types including a conifer plantation, northern hardwood sugar maple, and a beech-hemlock lowland forest on… Read more
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Tinker Nature Park – Demonstration Gardens
Location: Henrietta, NY This cute little garden is right near the main parking lot at Tinker Nature Park. According to the sign the garden has an alphabet garden, native perennial garden, vegetable garden, mini garden, hummingbird garden, flowering shrub garden, butterfly garden, and herb garden. Be sure to stay on the grass path and not… Read more
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Tinker Nature Park – Nature Trail
Location: Pittsford, NY This is a beautiful park located 15 minutes south of Rochester, NY. The Nature Trail is the inner loop, shown in the map below. The loop is 0.45 miles long with a mostly flat surface through beautiful woods. There are several benches along the trail and a short boardwalk section. There are… Read more
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Trail of Hope
Location: Lyons, NY This short, flat trail (about 0.5-0.75 miles) is located near the Lyons Community Center. The trail contains a LOT of wooden signs, art, and gardens. There’s a covered bridge, a yellow brick road, benches, artwork, picnic tables, a wooden ship, a butterfly garden, a deck overlooking the creek, and more! Official Facebook… Read more
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Trillium Nature Center – Fairy House Lane
Location: North Java, NY This Buffalo Audubon Society nature center (formerly Beaver Meadows Nature Center) is located 1.25 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 40 minutes from Buffalo. A short walk from the interpretive center is the fairy house lane. This very short trail has fun and whimsical structures, fairy houses, and artwork. The nature… Read more
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Trillium Nature Center – Grounds
Location: North Java, NY This Buffalo Audubon Society nature center (formerly Beaver Meadows Nature Center) is located 1.25 hours southwest of Rochester, NY and 40 minutes from Buffalo. The outdoor areas outside of the interpretive center are really beautiful. There are wildflower meadows in late summer, informational signs, gardens with a small pond, and a… Read more