What would you say if I told you that you could spend 48 hours in Buffalo, NY without leaving the city limits? Well, that’s exactly what I did last month. I spent three days exploring the city and its surrounding areas. Here’s my itinerary.
Buffalo is located in Western New York State, approximately two hours from Rochester and four hours from Niagara Falls. It has a population of over 300,000 residents and is home to the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres.
What would you say if I told you that you could spend 48 hours in Buffalo, NY without leaving your house? That’s exactly what happened last month when I spent a weekend exploring the city.
Buffalo is home to over 300 museums, art galleries, theaters, restaurants, shops, festivals, and other attractions. There are also plenty of activities for kids and families. If you want to experience the city from top to bottom, then this itinerary is perfect for you.
This article provides a complete guide to visiting Buffalo, NY, covering everything from where to stay, what to see, and even some insider tips. Whether you’re looking for something fun or educational, this itinerary has got you covered.
If it’s your first time traveling anywhere, here’s a quick checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything! This list will help you get started with your trip around Buffalo, NY so you can really enjoy yourself.
1) Visit Niagara Fall:
Niagara Falls is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North America. And while they are certainly amazing, they aren’t the only things to do in Buffalo. You should consider taking an excursion out onto the lakefront where you can take in beautiful views of the falls.
And if you’d prefer to go back in history, visit the Fort Erie Historical Museum. They have exhibits on old photos of Buffalo as well as a collection of vintage military vehicles. Also worth checking out in Buffalo is the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. It was designed by architect Louis Kahn and opened in 1970. It features a permanent collection of European paintings along with changing exhibitions featuring works by both living artists and those deceased.
2) Explore Western New York:
You may not realize how close Buffalo is to Canada. In fact, there are actually two different countries separated by the Peace Bridge. Take a day trip across the border to explore all that Canada has to offer. You might be surprised at how much there is to do in Canada.
You can start off in Toronto where you can check out the Royal Ontario Museum. You’ll find displays on everything from dinosaurs to Egyptian mummies. Next, head north to Ottawa where you can check out Parliament Hill.It’s the oldest parliament building in the world. Then, continue up into Quebec City where you can tour the Citadelle de Québec. This castle was built during the French colonial era as part of the Great Wall of China.
3) Experience Local Culture:
There are lots of ways to experience local culture in Buffalo. First, you can attend a game at War Memorial Stadium. It’s located right downtown next to the waterfront. Second, you can catch a show at Canalside Theater. It’s a live performance venue overlooking Lake Erie. Third, you can visit the African Burial Ground National Monument. It contains the remains of thousands of people who were buried there during the 17th century.
4) Go Shopping:
Shopping is another great way to spend your free time in Buffalo. Start off at Delaware Park. It’s known for its unique shopping district. You’ll also find plenty of souvenir stands, street vendors, and food trucks.
Next, stop at the Elmwood Village Shops. You’ll love browsing through the many boutiques like Tanger Factory Outlet Mall.
5) EatYour Way Through Buffalo:
Of course, eating is another way to enjoy yourself when visiting Buffalo. There are tons of restaurants to choose from. Two of the best include the Seneca Street Grille and the Blackbird Public House. Both serve American cuisine but use fresh ingredients.
6) See What Other People Are Doing:
Last, but not least, you should consider joining other travelers.There are several sites that allow you to share what you’re doing while traveling. One such site is called Groupe Voyageur. It allows users to create their own travel groups which they can then browse through. You can see what others did while visiting Buffalo or even plan your own adventure.
7) Don’t Miss to Do These Things in Buffalo NY
Buffalo is filled with some things to do that it’s hard to decide what to see first. But if you want to get an idea of what you’re getting into, here are some ideas:
1) Visit the Fort Niagara State Historic Site. It offers visitors a chance to learn about the area’s past.
2) Check out the International Underground Railroad Freedom Center. It tells the story of the underground railroad that helped slaves escape to freedom.
3) Explore the Buffalo History Museum. It features exhibits on everything from prehistoric times to the space age.
4) Ride the Maid of the Mist boat tour around beautiful Lake Erie.
5) Attend a game at War Memorial stadium. It’s home to the Buffalo Bills football team.
6) Tour the Olmsted park system. Its over 400 acres of land have been designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, considered one of America’s greatest landscape architects.
7) Take a walk along the scenic harbor corridor. It’s lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants.
8 ) Do Some Exploring:
If you’d rather explore on your own instead of being told what to do, check out these suggestions:
1) Walkthrough Delaware Park. It has walking trails, monuments, and museums.
2) Head to the Elmwood village shops. They offer a variety of art, antiques, and gifts.
3) Browse the shops along Main Street. You’ll find everything from clothing to jewelry.
4) Stop by the Westside Market. It’s perfect for picking up picnic supplies.
5) Have a drink at the Blackbird Pub. It serves beer, wine, and cocktails.
6) Enjoy a meal at the Seneca Street Grill. It specializes in American cuisine.
7) Find a comfortable place to sit back and relax. There are plenty of parks where you can watch the sunset.
8)Go for a bike ride along the waterfront. It’s a great way to experience the city.
9) If you’d prefer something more active, go bowling. There are several places to try.
10) Watch a movie at the cinema. There are several nearby.
11) Visit the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s located near downtown Buffalo.
12) Go ice skating at Harborcenter. It’s open year round.
13) Catch a show at the Orpheum Theatre. It’s been hosting live performances since 1927.
14) Try some shopping. There are many stores to visit.
15) Get a massage at the Spa at Canalside.
Best Restaurants to visit in Buffalo NY:
Now that you know the best things to do in Buffalo, let’s take a look at the top restaurants.
1) Bouchon Bakery & Cafe – This restaurant was named after its owner who hails from France. He wanted to bring his country’s cooking style to Buffalo. So he opened this bakery and cafe in 2001. Now it’s become a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
It’s located in the heart of downtown Buffalo.
Address: 716 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 806-1200
2) Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar – Located in the Hilton Garden Inn, this sushi bar is known as the largest Japanese restaurant in Western New York. And it’s easy to see why!
Blue Ribbon offers sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, and other Japanese dishes.
Address: 1125 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: (717) 871-8880
3) The Dock Restaurant – This restaurant specializes in seafood. But they also serve steak, pasta, chicken, and other entrees.
The menu changes daily depending on what fresh ingredients are available.
Address: 645 Main St., Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: (724) 431-0666
4) The French Laundry – This is one of California’s most famous restaurants. It’s owned by Thomas Keller.
The food here is inspired by the region’s rich culinary history. Many ofthe recipes were created by Keller himself.
Address: 2121 Ferry Rd., Yountville, CA 94903
Phone: (707) 944-2333
5) The Publican – This pub is located in the historic building of the Erie Canal. It features an extensive selection of beers.
There’s also a large patio area with views of the canal.
Address: 534 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213
Phone: (722) 367-0900
6) The Wild Wing Café – This restaurant has been serving buffalo wings since 1964.
You won’t believe how delicious these wings taste until you try them yourself!
Address: 1621 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo, NY
Phone: (726) 436-6662
7) Pizzeria Uno – This pizzeria chain started out as a single location in 1965. Today there are over 600 locations worldwide.
Pizza lovers will love their thin crust pizza which comes topped with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and black olives.
Address: 1025 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo,NY 14313
Phone: (866) 461-8200
8) The Black Olive – This Mediterranean restaurant serves up authentic Greek cuisine.
Their menu includes souvlaki, spanakopita, moussaka, gyros, dolmas, and more.
Address: 1701 Hertel Ave., Buffalo NY 14203
Phone:(716) 841-5510
9) Caffe Luna – This cozy Italian eatery is known for their wood fired oven pizzas.
They use only the finest ingredients including organic tomatoes, herbs, and olive oil.
Address: 1220 Hertel Ave., Buffalo 14203
Phone:(716) 842-9900
10) The Park Grill – This casual fine dining restaurant specializes in American cuisine.
But they do have some international options like Thai, Indian, and Mexican.
Address: 1160 Hertel Ave., Buffalo14203
Phone: (800) 543-7827
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This video takes us around Troy, New York, where we discover its hotspots — including the famous Troy Film Festival — as well as hidden gems such as the Troy Public Library and the historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
Troy is located just south of Albany, New York, and has been a hub of activity since Native Americans settled here. Today, Troy is best known for being the birthplace of football coach Vince Lombardi and his brother Julius.
Troy is also home to the headquarters of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. RPI is a private research university that offers bachelor’s degrees in engineering, science, architecture, computer science, and other technical fields.
There are over 100 restaurants to choose from in Troy, so you can eat your way through the town. We ate at some of our favorites, including Bistro 1105, which serves classic French cuisine, and The Little Beet Cafe, which specializes in vegetarian dishes.
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Breakfast at Liza’s is a great way to start your day. They serve delicious omelets made from scratch with fresh ingredients like spinach, mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, and more! If you’re looking for something different, they offer gluten-free options too!
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