Of course, if I’m going to be driving for half a day to a place, I’m going to want to make sure that there’s more than one reason to be going there. Experiencing a total solar eclipse at a winery, no matter how awesome that might be, isn’t enough to justify the trip.

Fortunately, Rochester is a big enough city to have plenty of things to see and do. While I do maintain that any community, no matter how small, is going to have at least one point of interest, if you’re going to make a vacation trip there, you want your destination to be big enough to be home to at least one or two minor league professional sports teams.

While Rochester is the home to the Red Wings (the AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals) as well as teams in other sports, the one attraction that is unique to the city is the Strong National Museum of Play – also known as the Toy Museum.

It’s an “interactive” museum focusing on toys and games – which means there will be a LOT of kids running around. At least on the main floor, where almost all the “interactivities” are. So kids will be running around making noise and playing with the exhibits, while their parents try to read the information attempting to explain what the kids are supposed to be learning.

As an aside, from what I’ve read, there’s actually little consensus in the psychology community as to why we play. Supposedly, we develop both physical and mental skills – but why do we like to play? Why is it fun?

Me, I strolled around looking over the displays on the history of the many toy and game categories, going “I had that, I played that…..” Indeed, for me that’s the real attraction of the place. Remembering all the things from your youth, and seeing how game concepts were invented and developed and turned into FUN!

I had that “Phoney Baloney” puzzle!

On the upper level, the galleries are devoted to computer / video games. They have an amazing collection that goes back to The Sumerian Game – released as an educational tool in 1964, it has a very good case to be the first true computer game.

This year is the 50th anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons….

I think it’s really important from a historical perspective to keep all these artifacts available, so we can see how the gaming industry developed and influenced not just popular culture, but technology as well.

When software was on cassette tapes….

And because a LOT of those old games are still fun to play! Which you CAN do there! They’ve got a heck of a lot of “old school” arcade games that you can actually play! Centipede! Defender! Pole Position!

Don’t die of dysentery!!

Also on the second level is the National Toy Hall of Fame – and the World Video Game Hall of Fame. It’s where to go if you want to get away from the kids and see some serious exhibits on computer / video games.

Remember these?

By the way, the museum’s website allows anyone to nominate something for their Halls of Fame. I’ve nominated “Uncle” Milton Levine’s Ant Farm for the Toy Hall and Rogue for the Video Game Hall…..

Oh, for some reason, the museum has a Butterfly Garden…. According to the staffer I chatted with, it’s as much of a pain to maintain as you can imagine. But making up for that is the ability to be in it after hours, when the place is closed….

Anyway, if you happen to find yourself in Rochester, there’s another “really shouldn’t leave the city without visiting it” museum, which I’ll tell you about next time.