5 Museums in Rochester and Upstate NY to Learn Local History

Upstate New York is a fabulous region. There are a number of great attractions, wineries in the Finger Lakes, and even numerous waterfalls in New York to enjoy as well.

In fact, I've visited the region a half dozen times over the last few years and still have only begun to scratch the surface of what there is to see.

During a recent visit as part of a media tour before the NATJA conference, I was able to explore the areas of Rochester, Cayuga County, and Syracuse, and spent a fair bit of time exploring some of the historical sights of this interesting region.

In this one, I wanted to share a few of the must-see museums that focus on New York's great history!

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Dear DMOs, CVBs, Businesses, and Bloggers – Quit Stealing Images

It should go without saying that you shouldn't steal from people. I'm an adult. You're probably an adult. I don't steal from you, you don't steal from me. It is not very hard.

Sadly, in the realm of content and new media, theft, specifically image theft, is rampant.

Fellow “bloggers” have stolen from us. My city's tourist office has stolen from us. My state's tourist office has stolen from us. So many people in new media and destination marketing cannot be bothered to learn what copyright infringement is, and real content creators (specifically, real bloggers- without quotes) are the victims.

This has to stop. 

As I have no patience for this kind of, please excuse me, bullshit, I'm airing out some grievances today.

Notes: All photos featured in this article have been stolen from us at one point in time with the exception of the response letter sent to us by our state. I am also not a lawyer and this article does not constitute legal advice.

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KEEN Footwear – Perfect for The Multi-Purpose Packing List

When I spent five months in Asia in late-2010 there was one set of items in my packing list that went through more torture than any other.  Not my shirts, pants, or even my expensive and fragile electronics. 

The items in my packing list that went through the most torment were simply my walking shoes and flip flops. 

From long hikes in the mud, the flip flops being stolen by a dog on a beach in Thailand, to an immeasurable number of puddles and miles walked, my shoes were really put to the test. What else goes through such wear and tear when walking more than a thousand miles over the course five months? Nothing we know of.

So when we began putting together our packing list for our upcoming 14-18 month trip around the world we knew that having the right pair of shoes was going to be the most crucial decision we would make.  After all, if I walked over a thousand miles on a five month trip, an adventure three times as long is going to provide three times more wear and tear to whatever goes on our feet.

Obviously, we didn't take our shoe choice lightly and ended up with KEEN Footwear!

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Becoming a Kid Again at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester

When we travel, we often hit many museums in order to learn more about the history of the region, notable figures or events, and more.

But every so often we'll come across a museum that is so unique that we are absolutely blown away by it all and are left wondering why it took us so long to visit in the first place. 

The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, is one of those museums, and if you find yourself in upstate New York you really need to make a detour to check this one out. 

It will truly make you feel like a kid again!

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