Jul 21, 2023
Explore the roots of Rochester! Register now for the Sips and Sights of Rochester FAM Tour, Wednesday, September 13 from 1:30 PM to 6 PM!
Visit Rochester and NYSTIA invite you to join your tourism colleagues and visit the attractions that highlight the unique history, architecture, cuisine and culture of Rochester. Join us as we visit three iconic Rochester venues to explore the history, businesses and people that are a part of it's past, present and future! Along the way, there will be tastings from iconic local breweries, wineries and distilleries and light, locally inspired fare, neighborhood and museum tours and more!
How to Register:
If you are already registered for the Annual Meeting, simply add the Sips and Sights of Rochester FAM Tour to your registration. If you have not yet registered, the option to add on the tour will automatically be listed as an 'Additional Item' in the registration portal.
Cost: $125 per person: includes bus transportation; admission fees; beer, wine and distilled spirts tastings; and locally inspired fare!
Space is limited, please register today for your chance to sample some of Rochester’s very best sights and sips!
1:30 pm - Bus departs from the hotel to Genesee Brew House
Our tour begins at the Genesee Brew House, a 9,200 square-foot space into a beer destination, featuring interactive exhibits, multimedia content, a gift shop, a pilot brewery, and a pub-style restaurant. The Brew House was created to capture and share the history of The Genesee Brewery - one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in America.
If you’re drinking local in Rochester today, you have more than two dozen breweries to choose from. But the wonderful and rich craft beverage culture that exists in Rochester would not be possible without the legacy and impact of Genesee Brewing. For over 125 years Genesee has been an American icon. Today, every can, bottle and pint glass delivers the same full taste and quality that made it famous in 1878!
Enjoy light fare, drink tickets, and views of a 96-foot waterfall in the middle of downtown Rochester! High Falls is one of three waterfalls of the Genesee River in downtown Rochester, and is one of the largest urban waterfalls in the country!
3:00 pm - Bus departs from Genesee Brewing for the George Eastman Museum
Following tastings at the Genesee Brew House, the tour will depart to the George Eastman Museum – the oldest photography museum in the world! The museum has a collection of over 400,000 photographs from 14,000 photographers dating from the beginnings of the medium (including the largest collection of daguerreotypes outside of France). The museum is housed within George Eastman’s stunning 1905 Colonial Revival mansion, alongside historic gardens.
The historic significance of George Eastman (founder of Eastman Kodak and father of modern photography) and his impact on the Rochester community cannot be understated. George Eastman was an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and pioneer of popular photography and motion picture film. Visitors to Rochester today will find countless spaces and places touched by the legacy of Eastman, including the George Eastman Museum, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Rochester – featuring the Eastman School of Music, along with many other connections to the area. For more information on the life of George Eastman, please visit the Eastman Museum website here.
4:15 pm - Bus departs from the George Eastman Museum to Black Button Distilling
Our tour will conclude at Black Button Distilling, the first small-batch distillery to open in Rochester since prohibition. Now in its tenth year of business, Black Button recently expanded and opened up a new tasting room on University Avenue in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts. Sample Black Button’s lineup of spirits including the award-winning Bourbon Cream. Be sure to ask founder Jason Barrett how Black Button got its name!
Award-winning bourbon from Black Button Distilling has earned dozens of medals from distilled spirit competitions across the globe, including winning Best in NY State from the 2021 Heartland Whiskey Competition, while also tying for best bourbon in the same competition with a Kentucky made Bourbon.
During your visit, enjoy beer, wine and distilled spirits tastings accompanied by light fare including veggie trays, caprese skewers, Swedish meatballs, BBQ meatballs, and potato cheddar pierogies. Afterwards, make plans to dine with friends during Wednesday's freestyle dining night! Explore the fantastic restaurants of Rochester now and make your plans!