Genesee Country Village & Museum

History and fun aren’t mutually exclusive, and that’s especially true at Genesee Country Village & Museum. Located just outside Rochester in Mumford, New York, this living-history destination is the largest of its kind in the state and the third largest in the nation. 

Upon arrival, you’ll notice the centerpiece of the property, the interactive historic village. This sprawling property invites people to step back in time to see what life in the region was like and how it evolved between 1790 and 1900. Home to 68 historic buildings, the village also has more than 20,000 artifacts recovered from the Genesee Valley and Rochester areas. Throughout the grounds, costumed educators tell stories and perform demonstrations that bring history to life and offer a fun way to experience how people lived here generations ago. 

Visitors of all ages will want to make their first stop at the confectionery. This charming space is filled with authentic and historically inspired candies and treats. (Pick your favorites and be sure to purchase enough to take with you for the trip home.) 

Over at the 1830 printing office, visitors can see how newspapers were painstakingly created in the 19th century. Watch as a demonstrator surrounded by drawers of letters places each individual character into a Washington-style printing press and churns out each copy by hand. (Curious guests can even try the process themselves.)

Visitors can also explore nature on the grounds, which are composed of hundreds of acres comprising meadows, ponds and forests. Hike along 5 miles of serene trails at the Genesee Country Nature Center, and keep an eye out for native animals among the 175 acres of wildlife habitat. 

History and nature come together along the Maple History Trail. Here, visitors walk among century-old maple trees, and those who visit in early spring can see both modern and traditional methods of sap collection. 1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford, New York 14511, 585/538-6822, gcv.org