Rochester

Those who have heard the prevailing hearsay about Rochester – that it's a gritty, failed post-industrial city – may be surprised to find that it's an energized city with a world-class restaurant scene, friendly bars, stunning architecture and museums covering everything from the city's important history of activism to children's games. Although the winters are notoriously rough, the city is open year-round and you'll find that a little snow doesn't stop the locals from taking advantage of everything their city has to offer.