After spending years in major American cities, I am back in my hometown; To like

Within 24 hours following my university degree, I hit the road and I traveled 1,500 miles from my hometown to start my first full -time job. I was officially in the “real world”.

During the next eight years, I spent an apartment in an apartment and a city in town, spending my 20 years to explore Miami dynamic artistic sceneBoston’s Rich History and New York City – Well, everything.

However, when the time came to sign another year’s lease in the Upper East Side in Manhattan, my husband and I have reconsidered.

With dreams to start a family and perhaps a business one day, we decided to return to my hometown of Rochester, New York, in June 2024.

Upstate New York has so much to offer

For an intermediate city, I think Rochester has obtained major boastful rights. It is the birthplace of WegmansAt more than 140 annual festivals and houses the greatest variety of lilac on earth (a fun fact that requires its own festival, of course).

The greatness of the region is done too. This year, Redfin Appointed Fairport, New York, (a suburb of Rochester) one of the warmest districts in the country.

The food scene and drinks are incredible

I may have been spoiled by World Kitchen of New York CityBut he is sure to say that Rochester also impressed me.

If I am in a mood to go out, I like to make reservations at the High -end steakhouse, the good luck of the area of ​​the farm at the table, or the restaurant seven stories by Michelin.

Meanwhile, if the day calls for relaxed dishes, you will find my husband and I to the beloved Dogtown joint Hot-Dog, the Mexican restaurant belonging to the fishing flower, or a local pizza sorcerer, for a slicit of strait style.

The cellars, breweries and award-winning distilleries also increase in popularity everywhere from downtown Rochester to the suburbs like Fairport.

Beautiful nature is of the next level

We have exchanged taxis and turnstiles for panoramic trails, and we could not be happier. With more than 12,000 acres of parks, this part of New York has many large spaces to explore, all a few minutes by car from the limits of the city of Rochester.

Our favorite place for hiking is Highland Park, designed by the same landscape architect who created Central Park.

Although we appreciated our days of cycling along the Hudson river and relaxing on the esplanade in the Boston rear bay, our proximity to the Finger Lakes is yet another reason why we have chosen to develop roots in Rochester. We like to spend weekends in summer to visit the many vineyards of the New York wine country.

Living in Rochester also means that we can plan an escape in the mountains to the Adirondacks, a day trip to Niagara FallsOr a last minute attempt to see the northern lights above Lake Ontario.

There is always a museum to visit or an event to attend

We may not grab Broadway shows Tuesday evening, but the variety of art and culture here in Rochester is outside the charts.

I recommend visiting the Strong National Museum of Play, George Eastman House and world class performances at the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

My favorite event of the year is Fairport Canal Days, a celebration of a weekend featuring local craftsmen, fashionable catering trucks and a whitish duckling race race organized on the Erie Canal.

I’m so happy to have found my way in my hometown

After a year back in Rochester, I could not be more satisfied with my decision to return.

When I was younger, I did not necessarily appreciate the delicious food, proximity to nature or the prosperous artistic scene. But now I understand how special Rochester is.