đ Staying in a School
đ Staying in a School That Never Lets Out: A Time Travel Stay at Rochesterâs School 31 The challenge of traveling with parents is this: you want them to be comfortable, but you also donât want them to be bored. So when I scrolled past School 31 on Airbnbâa boutique hotel converted from a century-old elementary schoolâI clicked âBookâ almost instantly. Who could resist the adventure of sleeping in a classroom? The school sits in Rochesterâs historic East End cultural district, its red-brick facade covered in ivy, the clock towerâs hands forever frozen at some forgotten ten-minute recess. Pushing open the heavy oak school door (no prompt after entering the codeâjust push; your first âadaptation lessonâ), the time-travel magic officially begins. đ Common Areas: An Immersive Exhibit of Childhood The hotel preserves the entire third floor in its original school layout, open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Mint-green lockers line the hallways, blackboards still display chalk writings from the 1960s: âTodayâs Lesson: Be Kind.â Sunlight streams through tall windows, casting diamond-shaped patches on waxed wooden floors. The air carries scents of old books, crayons, and pine-scented cleanerâa blend so specific my dad blurted out, âThis is exactly like my elementary school in Shenyang!â Mom touched the grade bulletin board on the wall and smiled: âI signed my name on one just like this when you failed third-grade math.â đ Room LOFT 208: A Smart Dream by the Blackboard Our room, LOFT 208, was converted from a high-ceilinged classroom. Industrial steel frames support the lofted sleeping area; the ground floor holds a living space and mini-kitchen. The best detail: the original blackboard remains intact, with the Wi-Fi password written in chalk beside it; the teacherâs desk now serves as a writing table, its drawers holding yellowed old textbooks. But the contrast quickly appearsâan iPad embedded in the wall controls temperature, motorized blinds, smart locks, and lighting scenes. My dad studied the iPad and sighed: âWe used chalk; you use tablets. Times have really changed.â đď¸ The Stay: Sweet Annoyances Snacks & wine as ritual đˇ: The cabinet was stocked with local handmade chocolates, maple cookies, and dried apples; the fridge held milk and juice, plus a bottle of New York State Pinot Noir. This feeling of âbeing welcomedâ felt far more touching than a standard hotel minibar. The loft ladder challenge: The metal staircase to the second level was indeed hard on the feet, requiring extra careânot knee-friendly for older guests. Central ACâs breathing: The old buildingâs ventilation system wheezed like a history teacher catching their breath, especially noticeable late at night. Light sleepers might need earplugs. The retro price of no elevator: Suitcases had to be carried up three flightsâa physical tax for staying in a century-old building. đ Location: The Living Room of Museum Row School 31âs truly irreplaceable asset is its location. We walked to the Strong Museum of Play (Americaâs best toy museum) in the morning, strolled to the George Eastman Museum (Kodak founderâs mansion) in the afternoon, and found a steakhouse under the trees on East Avenue at duskâall within a five-minute walk. This âliving in the cultural heartâ convenience gave tangible value to the $600 CAD price tag. On our rainy departure day, we left the key in the chalk tray beneath the blackboard. Mom glanced back at the empty hallway and said softly, âIt feels like school just let out.â In that moment, I understood: School 31 isnât just selling accommodationâitâs offering a gentle journey through time. Between smart tablets and chalk dust, between the scent of wine and old wood, you touch a cityâs educational memory and its pulse of renewal. If you ever visit Rochester and are tired of chain hotel sameness, consider booking a night at School 31. Remember to wear comfortable shoes, bring a bit of childlike curiosity, and eyes willing to listen to stories. Here, youâre not a touristâyouâre a student, if only for a night, forever young. đ #RochesterDesignHotel#OldSchoolReborn#TimeWarpStay#TravelingWithParents#NorthAmericaHiddenStays