Here's a few things to do and see in the greater Buffalo area. Most of these are landmarks that Katie and Josh particularly recommend; for a more complete list of Buffalo-based activities, visit www.gobuffaloniagara.com, or www.northofthefalls.com, which lists attractions a little closer to Katie's hometown of Lewiston. Drive times listed are from East Aurora.
Categories:
In East Aurora
Nature
Local Culture & History
Museums & Performing Arts
Canadians
NOT Near
Millard Fillmore House
24 Shearer Ave.
A house that the 13th President helped build and lived in for four years. Millard Fillmore, our last Whig president, moved to East Aurora in 1823 to set up his law practice. He served as President from 1850-1853, succeeding Zachary Taylor who died of gastroenteritis. He is remembered for sending Commodore Perry to Japan, and (unfavorably) for signing into law the Fugitive Slave Act, which required Northern states to return fugitive slaves, a measure that caused his own Whig party to disown him. He's also the president with the most L's in his name (second place on that front, William McKinley, also has Buffalo connections). Despite claims on the National Park Service page linked above, the Fillmore House is open to the public on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays in the afternoon in June through October.
The Roycroft Campus and Elbert Hubbard Museum
31 S. Grove St. and 363 Oakwood Ave.
Touring the original Roycroft Campus (of which the Roycroft Inn is a part) and the Elbert Hubbard museum would be a great way to get to know East Aurora and the role the town played in the Arts & Crafts movement. The Elbert Hubbard museum is open for tours on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons, and the Roycroft Campus is open during regular business hours--start your exploring at The Copper Shop across the street from the Inn.
Vidler's 5&10
676 Main St.
A legend of a five & dime, you can find anything in Vidler's cavernous reaches. It's really worth checking out.
Ghost Walks
31 S. Grove St.
We don't know much about these tours, but they look like they might offer a unique perspective on the area.
Toy Town Museum
636 Girard Ave.
Again, we haven't been here, or even driven by, but East Aurora is to be home to the Fisher-Price toy company headquarters and hosts an annual toy festival, so perhaps this place knows what it's talking about.
Niagara Falls (Goat Island)
45-minute drive
If you haven't seen it, Niagara Falls is Water Pouring Over Rocks not to be missed. There are some nice walks on Goat Island, which divides the US and Horseshoe Falls. (It's called "Goat Island" because an early Western farmer in the area lost a herd of goats when they froze to death out there in 1780. Lesson: don't try to winter your livestock on Goat Island.) It offers great views of the falls and a giant Tesla Statue, and is the starting point for the Cave of the Winds tour, in which you get to experience the Majesty of the falls up close & personal. Fun fact: Goat Island is the oldest state park in the country. The Canadian side offers a different, if more touristy (hello, wax museums!) view of the falls. Here's a printable guide to all the tourist attractions in the area.
Niagara Rapids JetBoat
1-hour drive
While Josh and Katie have never been on the JetBoat personally, they hear tell that it's quite an exciting trip. Armed with a life vest, you ride on a quick little boat that winds its way up the lower Niagara River to the Whirlpool, getting splashed along the way. Reservations recommended in the summer months.
Maid of the Mist
45-minute drive
Okay, the main site for Maid of the Mist linked above is pretty irritating and un-informative, but it really is a great experience. One of the oldest tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, you don a poncho and ride out to the base of the falls, experiencing the majesty from below. A must-see if you're doing Niagara Falls. Boats leave from both the US and Canadian sides, but in the summer, lines on the Canadian side are MUCH longer than on the US, so we recommend boarding from the Observation Tower. And prepare to get wet!
If you plan to do many Niagara Falls related activities, something like the Passport to the Falls (available from Niagara Falls State Park) might be worthwhile.
Letchworth State Park
1-hour drive (but a beautiful one through WNY farmland)
In the other direction out of East Aurora from just about everything else on this list, Letchworth State Park (often called the "Grand Canyon of the East") offers gorgeous hikes in a large state park surrounding the Genesse River. This would be a half-day trip, at least, but offers probably the best location for doing some longer hikes in a more wild setting than the Buffalo-Niagara area offers. Josh liked it enough to blog about it. Plus, it's just up the road from where Katie's mom grew up. (And if you're in the area, check out Welch's Farm for all your maple syrup needs!)
For trails in Letchworth, see the New York State Parks WNY Trail Guide (PDF document), page 6.
Artpark and the Niagara Gorge
1-hour drive
Artpark, in Lewiston, has lots of live shows and hands-on art activities. One of a few near-misses in Josh and Katie history happened here: Josh visited Artpark occasionally with his grandparents when he was younger, and there were a few summers when Katie was there every day to see plays by the Artpark Repertory Theatre (they used to do plays & stories for kids). Perhaps they once attended the same performance of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. In addition to having a performing arts center, Artpark also boasts some beautiful trails along the Niagara River. While perhaps not a destination in itself, a walk around Artpark provides views of the swirling blue-green water that are quite memorable. It might fold in well with a visit to Lewiston, Katie's hometown, and Fort Niagara. It's only ten or fifteen minutes from Niagara Falls.
Devil's Hole (Niagara Gorge)
50-minute drive
Devils Hole is said to be the site of the first labor uprising in the country (the Devil's Hole Massacre) when, in 1763, a group of Seneca Indians ambushed a group making the portage around Niagara Falls, killing all in the party. The road had recently been widened to allow carts through, putting Senecas who carried goods along the portage out of work. These days it's a nice, quiet state park with a beautiful steep hike (mostly stairs) down to the level of the river. Katie recommends taking a picnic lunch down to eat at a table overlooking the swirling water.
For trails in Artpark and Devil's Hole, see the New York State Parks WNY Trail Guide (PDF document), page 5.
More nature is at the botanic gardens in Ontario.
Darwin Martin House (Frank Lloyd Wright)
30-minute drive
If you have even a passing interest in Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie-style architecture, the Darwin Martin House is worth a visit. It's a gorgeous property in a lovely part of Buffalo, and is in the final stages of a fifty-million dollar restoration. The Martin House is widely regarded as one of Wright's most important early works. Katie particularly recommends this activity. Tour reservations recommended.
Old Fort Niagara
1-hour drive
French and Indian War Encampment July 6-8
Positioned at the mouth of the Niagara River, Old Fort Niagara was an important outpost in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and in the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Katie spent a summer in high school working in their museum shop, so it is near to her heart. The fort has historical re-enactments and excellent tours, and features the oldest building the the Great Lakes (the "French Castle," built in 1726). The weekend of July 6-8 the Old Fort will be having its French and Indian War Encampment, so if you're a fan of mid-18th century history, music, and dress, check it out. The surrounding state park is also quite lovely, with great views of Toronto across Lake Ontario.
Anchor Bar
30-minute drive time
Where the chicken wing (or "Buffalo wing," as the out-of-towners call it) was invented in 1964. Pay your homage.
Taste of Buffalo Festival, July 7-8
30-minute drive
At Niagara Square, the heart of downtown Buffalo, this annual festival features local restaurants and their specialties. Taste of Buffalo is the second largest food festival in the country and has been happening since 1984. (If you're not a fan of traffic & crowds, it might be a reason to avoid downtown Buffalo during the weekend.)
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
30-minute drive
Get your National Parks Passport stamped here! And then learn about the history of the McKinley assassination at the 1901 Pan-Am Exposition and how Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest President of the United States.
Elmwood Avenue
30-minute drive
The heart of the Buffalo arts district, Elmwood Avenue has plenty of great artsy shops, galleries, and coffee shops. Here's a review at Project for Public Spaces. A great place for just going exploring.
Albright-Knox
30-minute drive
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is one of Buffalo's finest attractions. They have intriguing traveling shows and an impressive permanent collection, particularly in modern and contemporary art. The gallery is in Delaware park, right near Shakespeare in the Park (see below). They will also be having a free outdoor jazz concert at 2 pm on Sunday July 8. Josh particularly recommends this activity.
Hallwalls
30-minute drive
An offbeat contemporary arts center in downtown Buffalo, housed in the Church of Ani (the old church that Ani DiFranco has helped buy and restore). Hallwalls would be a good addition to a day in downtown Buffalo.
Shakespeare in the Park
30-minute drive
An annual tradition since 1976, Shakespeare in the Park puts up high-quality and free outdoor performances all summer long in Frederick-Law-Olmsted-designed Delaware Park, one of the loveliest spots in Buffalo. They're performing All's Well that Ends Well June 21 - July 15. The performances are right near the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.
See also the Shaw Festival, below, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Travel to and from Canada requires proof of citizenship (n.b.: a US driver's license is not proof of citizenship). A passport will be required for land travel into Canada as of 1 Jan 2008, and by air as of 23 Jan 2007. Check the US State Department travel pages for further information. The bridges to and from Canada can develop long backups at customs, particularly in the summer. The drive times listed here assume clear traffic.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
1-hour drive
A charming town positioned where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario (just across from Old Fort Niagara), Niagara-on-the-Lake feature upscale shops, plenty of plays, and a lovely main street. For most of high school it's where Katie chose to spend every birthday. Exploring Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Niagara Parks Botanic Gardens (below) together makes an excellent Canada day trip. A must-visit if you're in town is Maple Leaf Fudge, purveyors of fine deliciousness; or, if you're feeling refined, try a traditional High Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. For more local flavor, you might tour a few Niagara Region wineries, including Inniskillin, makers of the famed ice wine. Also, the internationally-renowned Shaw Festival will have seven different plays during the weekend of July 7-8.
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Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens50-minute driveLarge, winding, and varied--including a butterfly garden--the botanical gardens feature work by a local horticulture school. You can explore tree-lined avenues and a Japanese water garden. And a floral clock. The gardens are expansive and spectacular in the summer. One can easily spend an afternoon wandering the grounds; Katie has, many times. It's one of her favorite spots in the area. |
Toronto
They have things there. It's only a two-hour drive from Buffalo to the largest metropolitan area in Canada. A travel guide is a better source than Katie is if you want to adventure up there.
