While my parents were here for Christmas we took them on several outings. One, during our day in Rochester was to Highland Park the  largest (150 acres) and probably most well known park in Rochester. It holds many city festivals including the annual BBQ (for Festival and Lilac Festival, both of which L and I have attended in past summers.

The park has many walking paths through well maintained and developed gardens and orchards. It also includes a band shell for summer concerts, amphitheater for summer movies and plays, seasonal ice skating rink, lodges for rent, and Warner Castle home to Rochester’s Civic Garden Center . Parts of the park can be driven through as well.

Although L and I had been to Highland Park several times, we had never gone to the Lamberton Conservatory. We decided to take my parents because at Christmas the conservatory does a poinsettia display.

We went during the day and their poinsettia display was beautiful and included great variety. We were told as we walked through the separate rooms to watch for quail and tortoises. The conservatory cares for quail, tortoises, and turtles in the different green houses.

Although these gardens are much smaller than the botanical gardens in Buffalo they have done a great job with the smaller space providing a large variety of plants from all over the world.

My parents were entertained by pointing out all of the succulents and cacti they have at home which are so rare to us here.

Even though it has been unseasonably warm, the conservatory I think is always a great mini-retreat in the winter months, take off your coat for a short while and imagine you are in another climate on an adventure.

After the conservatory, we drove the scenic way through a good portion of the Highland park on our way out and on to our next adventure.

How do you escape the winter blues?