Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 2: NY: A Hidden Gem on Lake Ontario — Travel with Kids in 3-2-1
11 Plays2 hours ago
In this episode of Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety, Dr. Josette Bianchi returns to her hometown and shares a simple way to explore Rochester using the show’s 3-2-1 travel format. The journey includes a playful museum designed for hands-on discovery, a quiet nature trail where kids can wander and notice small surprises along the path, and a smaller amusement park that feels more manageable than larger theme parks. Along the way, two local food stops offer easy, family-friendly options and a chance to experience a few Rochester favorites.
Topics Covered:
- 00:00:00 – Welcome to Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety
- 00:01:55 – Destination spotlight: Rochester, New York
- 00:02:54 – Place #1: The Strong National Museum of Play
- 00:05:11 – Place #2: Birdsong Fairy Trail at Mendon Ponds Park
- 00:06:14 – A reset after busy indoor activities
- 00:07:23 – Place #3: Seabreeze Amusement Park
- 00:08:09 – Set expectations and keep the visit simple
- 00:10:00 – Restaurant #1: Red Fedele’s Brook House
- 00:11:45 – Restaurant #2: Bill Gray’s and Rochester food staples
- 00:13:24 – Travel tip: Pack layers and stay flexible
- 00:14:53 – Final reminder: Travel at your family’s pace
About Your Host:
Dr. Josette Bianchi is a board-certified pediatrician, mom of three, and a travel lover who believes families should feel confident exploring the world together. Through Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety, she shares practical tips, real-life experiences, and encouragement for families raising children with big feelings, sensory needs, or behavioral differences. Combining her medical background with her perspective as a parent, Dr. Bianchi helps families plan flexible, sensory-friendly trips. Each episode offers simple ideas, honest stories, and helpful tools to make travel more manageable and more meaningful for neurodiverse families.
Connect with Dr. Jo:
- Email: familytravelsupport@gmail.com; josettemarie@gmail.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josette-bianchi-40902943/
Resources:
- • National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID)
- • Visit Rochester
- • The Strong National Museum of Play
- • Museum Accessibility Information
- • Birdsong Fairy Trail / Monroe County Parks
- • Seabreeze Amusement Park Visitor Information
Podcast Show Description:
Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety is a podcast for families who love to travel and are raising children with big feelings, behavioral challenges, and neurodiverse needs. Join Dr. Josette Bianchi, a board-certified pediatrician and mom of three, as she shares practical tips and real-life experiences to help families plan more manageable trips using a simple 3-2-1 travel format.
Recommended
Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Host Introduction
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to Family Travel that supports ADHD, autism, and anxiety, podcast for families who love to travel and have children with big feelings and challenging moments.
00:00:11
Speaker
I'm Joseph Bianchi, a mom to three children, board-certified pediatrician, and a travel lover. If you're raising children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or other behavioral differences, and the idea of travel feels both exciting and overwhelming, this podcast is for you.
The 3-2-1 Travel Plan Explained
00:00:28
Speaker
Each week, using an easy-to-follow, 3-2-1 plan, three places, two food options, and one great tip for families, we'll talk about real-life experiences of traveling with kids who don't fit the typical mold.
00:00:40
Speaker
Most episodes will follow this format, but we'll also sprinkle in some listener stories, deeper dives into specific challenges, and interviews. From meltdowns at airport security to the beauty of a breakthrough moment in the middle of a museum, we're covering it all.
Educational Disclaimer
00:00:54
Speaker
Chaos, joy, and the learning that comes with it. Disclaimer, this podcast is for general information, educational purposes only and is not to be considered medical advice for any patient.
Sensory-Friendly Travel Tips and Empowering Experiences
00:01:06
Speaker
In this podcast, we will discuss tips and tools for planning sensory-friendly and flexible trips, how to manage behavioral challenges on the go, choosing destinations that support neurodiverse families, and stories from other parents who've been there too.
00:01:19
Speaker
This podcast isn't about perfection. It's about adapting, adjusting, and finding what works for your family. Because travel can be meaningful, empowering, and even fun when we stop comparing and start connecting.
00:01:32
Speaker
Whether you're planning your first road trip or you're already seasoned family travelers, Family Travel that supports ADHD, autism, and anxiety is here to help you feel seen, supported, and maybe even inspired to book that next adventure.
00:01:46
Speaker
Because around here, we truly believe in wandering without limits. So grab your crew, your luggage, and your love of adventure, and let's hit the road together.
Exploring Rochester: Family and Accessibility Features
00:01:55
Speaker
Today, let's head to Rochester, New York, my hometown and one of my favorite places.
00:02:00
Speaker
Rochester sits on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in western New York, about an hour from Buffalo and close to the Finger Lakes region. It's a mid-sized city with lots of parks, museums, and family-friendly outdoor spaces.
00:02:12
Speaker
One thing that I really appreciate about Rochester for families is that it's manageable. Traffic is reasonable, parking is usually pretty easy, and many attractions are within a short drive of each other.
00:02:23
Speaker
When you're traveling with kids who may need breaks, flexibility, or a slower pace, that can make all the difference. Rochester is also home to one of the largest deaf communities in the United States, in part because the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology is located here in Rochester.
00:02:40
Speaker
Because of that, you'll often see American Sign Language used around the city, and many organizations and museums place a strong emphasis on accessibility and inclusion around the deaf community and other communities as well.
Visiting the Strong Museum with Kids
00:02:53
Speaker
Okay, so let's start with our three places to visit here in Rochester, New York. We're going to start with the Strong National Museum of Play. The Strong Museum out of Play is often voted as one of the best children's museums in the country.
00:03:06
Speaker
It recently underwent major renovations over the past few years, adding more square footage, a new parking garage, and a skyline climbing area, which is great for taking out energy.
00:03:17
Speaker
There's also a butterfly garden, which can be a nice calmer break from the busy areas of the museum. It's located at 1 Manhattan Square Drive. When I was younger, Strong Museum of Play was mostly just a doll museum. They had lots of different dollhouses, dolls on exhibit.
00:03:34
Speaker
It was great to go to, but it's totally different in Revamp now. It's incredibly interactive with several exhibits, collections, and many rotating exhibits as well. Because the museum is large and sometimes stimulating, one strategy that works for us is picking two to three areas to focus on rather than trying to see everything.
00:03:53
Speaker
This is a strategy we use a lot here at the show. We talked about it in our Philadelphia episode, and we'll continue to talk about it because it's a great strategy that really helps us organize our time and keep things just a little bit more manageable rather than trying to see everything.
00:04:07
Speaker
Our favorites, other than the skyline climbing area, which I will add, costs extra. So you need to be aware of that when you go that you're going to pay a little bit extra if the kids want to do the skyline climbing area. And you can only go through it once. Once you get off the skyline climbing area, you've used your time and you can't get back on unless you pay i again.
00:04:28
Speaker
There is a skyline climbing area that's dedicated to younger children, more like preschool, toddlers, kindergarten, and then there's one for older children. And it's based on height. In addition to that area, our favorites include the Sesame Street neighborhood, the Wegmans Marketplace exhibit, that's really our true favorite, and the Storybrooke area with the Berenstain Bears and classic fairy tales.
00:04:51
Speaker
For quiet experiences, the museum offers sensory-friendly Sundays before opening to the public, with reduced lighting and lower noise levels. I definitely suggest checking out the website to see which days that that experience is offered.
00:05:05
Speaker
Noise-canceling headphones are also available at Admissions, the Play Lab, and the Paychex Theater.
Outdoor Fun at Birdsong Ferry Trail
00:05:11
Speaker
Number two on our list is the Birdsong Ferry Trail, located at Mendenpons Park.
00:05:16
Speaker
I usually like to try and include something that's free or discounted in our episodes because travel can really get expensive and doing the activities can be expensive.
00:05:26
Speaker
You're only going to spend a little bit of time somewhere like our family. i mean, sometimes for us, Making it 30, 60 minutes at a place is really considered a victory. But if you're paying like $100, $150 to get in somewhere for all the kids, then sometimes it doesn't feel like that big of a victory. So including something that's free or discounted is really important to us here at the show.
00:05:48
Speaker
The Birdsong Ferry Trail is free. It's located at Menden Ponds Park, which has a lot to offer even beyond this trail. It's located near the Wild Wings Nature Center, and you want to use Pond Road from Route 65 enter.
00:06:02
Speaker
The trail is about 0.8 miles long and features small fairy houses and nature displays along the path. It's free. It's peaceful. It's especially nice earlier in the morning when it's quieter. We've gone all different times of the day, and I've never seen it be super busy. It's usually pretty calm and quiet.
00:06:21
Speaker
Outdoor spaces like this can be a great reset day for kids who may feel overstimulated indoors. If you've done a few like indoor activities or busier things like the Strong Museum, this is a nice like reset for everybody in your group.
00:06:35
Speaker
Helpful ideas are to bring some snacks and water with you. Let the kids explore at their own pace. It's only 0.8 mile loop, so it doesn't take very long. You can kind of take it nice and slow.
00:06:47
Speaker
And you can sometimes do like a cute little small scavenger hunt for extra engagement along the way if you think that's something your kids will like. Nearby, there's a small nature center. The Wild Wing Center is there and a wooden playground with lots of large log climbing structures. My kids love those. And it's really great for taking out some energy and getting that climbing energy out that some kids just need.
00:07:09
Speaker
The trail terrain can be uneven. It's definitely not accessible for everybody. And if you are bringing a stroller, you want a more rugged stroller that you would use for a typical trail or somewhere in the woods.
Seabreeze Amusement Park for Neurodiverse Families
00:07:23
Speaker
Our third stop in Rochester is Seabreeze Amusement Park. And I know many people may be thinking, I don't know, an amusement park, that's not really for my group, can be overstimulating, long lines, it's hard for my kids to wait.
00:07:38
Speaker
I totally get that right there with you. But Seabreeze is a little bit different, and that's one of the reasons I include it on my list. It's an amusement park that actually works for us, whereas many parks in the past haven't.
00:07:51
Speaker
So it's why I like to include it. It's a small traditional amusement park that's located right near Lake Ontario. The park works well for many neurodiverse families because it's affordable, it's very small and manageable, and the lines tend to move really quickly. And that's one of the reasons why I like to suggest it.
00:08:09
Speaker
You don't have to spend the entire day there. a lot of families like ours just will spend two to three hours there. I really control expectations when I go, just like anywhere else.
00:08:20
Speaker
I'll say, we're either going to do the water park we're going to do the land rides. And we're just going to do one. And I don't mind doing that because I'm not breaking the bank to go there. It's a lot less expensive than some of your typical amusement parks. So I'm okay saying, we're just going to focus on half the park today and maybe another time to do the other half.
00:08:39
Speaker
My family tends to like the land rides, so we typically focus our time there. There's also a large picnic area where families can bring their own food. Just of note, they don't tend to have the typical accessibility pass where you will skip to the front of the line or wait in a shorter line like many amusement parks offer.
00:08:59
Speaker
But I think that that's okay. We've never had a problem. The lines are always short. If you do have accessibility issues and you want to reach out to them ahead of time, I suggest going to the website.
00:09:10
Speaker
They have a whole
Dining in Rochester: Family-Friendly Options
00:09:11
Speaker
guide of all the accessibility things that they offer. And there's also a number to call or you can email them. So in summary, the three places that we went today were the Strong Museum of Play, the Birdsong Ferry Trail at Mendenpance Park, and then we also went to Seabreeze Amusement Park.
00:09:27
Speaker
Okay, so now our two places to eat. This one was really hard for me. I think for a small or a mid-sized city, Rochester has an amazing food scene. And I know I may be biased because I'm from there and I've spent a lot of time there, but I've lived a lot of places and I truly think the food scene here incredible.
00:09:49
Speaker
I don't know that I necessarily picked the best restaurants, but I picked the ones that I think are the best for families and are best for neurodiverse families.
00:10:00
Speaker
Personally, I think Red Fidelity's Brookhouse, which is my first choice, is the best restaurant in the city. I am a little bit biased. It's my family's restaurant. I do think it's the best. But the second choice I picked was more of like a fast food option. So when I'm talking about these restaurants, I'm taking a lot into account.
00:10:18
Speaker
when I'm picking them. I'm thinking about food. I'm thinking about easy access. I'm thinking of lots of options. And I'm thinking, what do neurodiverse kids or families with some neurodiverse kids need?
00:10:29
Speaker
Okay. So first one, my personal favorite restaurant in Rochester, my family's restaurant, Red Fidelity's Brookhouse. It's located at 920 Elmridge Center Drive in Rochester. It's located on the west side of the city.
00:10:42
Speaker
You definitely do need a car to get here. probably about 15 to 20 minutes from the city center. Reservations are recommended. it can get busy, but they have a few quiet options. So it can be loud. It can be a little overstimulating, particularly on a Friday or Saturday night.
00:11:02
Speaker
But if you go during the week, it's a lot calmer. Sitting in the main areas is fine. But there are some quieter seating options if you are there on a Friday or Saturday and you're calling ahead.
00:11:12
Speaker
You could ask to sit outside if it's in the spring or summer, which is a little bit quieter. And there's also a family dining room that's available in the back that's a smaller dining room and a little bit calmer.
00:11:23
Speaker
Outside, there's a koi pond that the kids love. And during the winter, there's also festive decorations that are all over the facility, which is really nice. And the kids always love that. Portions are large and the menu has many kid-friendly options.
00:11:38
Speaker
Big crowd pleaser in our group is the calamari. My son loves it. It is a little bit spicy, but it is a huge crowd pleaser. Second on our list is Bill Gray's. And I really picked this because it's easy, it's affordable, there's locations all over the city, and this is a way to try a lot of Rochester favorites that you can't get in other cities.
00:11:59
Speaker
There are some sort of staples or classic things to try in Rochester that you can really hit a lot of these here at Bill Gray's. It's a Rochester staple known as the home of the world's greatest cheeseburger. There's locations throughout the city, as I said before.
00:12:14
Speaker
Some of the locations are a little bit more upscale. They have the taproom option where you could get drinks and things like that. So if you're going a date night or maybe you're with older kids and you're okay having a drink, that is also an option at some of these locations.
00:12:30
Speaker
I recommend trying the great plate. That's Bill Graves' version of the famous garbage garbage plate or trash plate in Rochester. They're large enough to share. um They have really good hot sauce. Everyone always talks about like the gravy hot sauce on the trash plates or the garbage plates.
00:12:45
Speaker
And they have really good gravy hot sauce on their plate, I think. The other things that you can try here that are sort of Rochester classic staples are Abbott's frozen custard. You don't have to get that only at Bill Gray's. They have freestanding Abbott's frozen custard throughout the city as well.
00:13:01
Speaker
But it's a nice way to just kind of hit both while you're there. And also the Rochester pop-opens waggle hot dogs you could get at Bill Gray's as well. So our two food choices, just to recap, are Red Deli's Brookhouse and Bill Gray's, which there are several locations throughout the city.
00:13:17
Speaker
Many other food options in Rochester, but these are the two that we chose for today, and I think you'll be happy with them. Okay, so how about our unique travel trip or our special travel tip for families with neurodiverse children?
Weather Preparedness and Conclusion
00:13:33
Speaker
Okay, Rochester weather can change quickly. So our tip is to bring layers and be ready to change plans on a dime to adjust to the weather. We're located near Lake Ontario here in Rochester. Layers are helpful. Flexibility is key.
00:13:49
Speaker
Luckily, the city offers many backup activities that plans need to change. So there's lots of indoor options. We will be focusing later on on a Rochester winter episode where we're just going to talk about some winter options. I wanted to make this episode a little bit more general, but we will do a winter episode in the future to focus on that. We'll talk about ice fishing. We'll talk about skiing, ice skating, and a few other winter activities.
00:14:16
Speaker
So to recap for today, we talked about three places, two restaurants, and one great travel tip. The three places were the Strong Museum of Play, the Birdsong Fairy Trail at Menden Ponds Park, and Seabree.
00:14:30
Speaker
Two places to eat, Red Fidelity's Brookhouse, located on the western side of the city, and Bill Gray's, which are located in several different places throughout the city. You can just go to their website to see which location is most convenient for you.
00:14:43
Speaker
Our one great travel tip is just to bring layers and be ready to change on a dime because weather in Rochester can be very variable and change quickly. So in summary, travel doesn't have to look like anyone else's version to be meaningful.
00:14:57
Speaker
Meet your family where they are, adjust when needed, and keep wandering without limits. You guys got this. If you felt like this episode resonated with you or maybe another parent or caregiver you know, please follow us or subscribe and share it with that other parent or caregiver who might benefit as well. If you have any feedback or any guidance you'd like to give us, please reach out. Otherwise, we'll see you next time.