200 years.
That’s about how long tourists have been enamored with the Buffalo area. As America prospered in the industrial age and its citizens began to find ways to use their newfound disposable income and leisure time, a visit to the Buffalo area was easily considered a must-see trip of a lifetime for many visitors.
Guests came, and continue to come, to Buffalo to see the sights, hear the sounds and enjoy the food. While you may be able to guess the top attraction back then (it’s made of water and it falls…), the area now boasts a host of attractions, old and new, for tourists and locals alike to enjoy.
Niagara Falls
If you were asked the first thing tourists typically think of when they consider Buffalo as a travel destination, you’d probably guess Niagara Falls. And, you’d probably be right.
Niagara Falls actually encompasses three distinct falls: Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The US gateway to Niagara Falls is only a short drive from Buffalo.
You can enjoy the majesty of the falls in a variety of ways, from up close and personal with a boat ride, to taking in the overall majesty on some of the areas gorgeous hiking trails. And, you can enjoy their beauty day or night, as they’re illuminated after nightfall.
Albright-Knox Gallery
The Albright-Knox Gallery may have begun exhibiting art in the 1860s; however, the gallery has progressed and evolved with time. Albright-Knox currently is home to a host of important art pieces and is considered one of the nation’s gems when it comes to modern and contemporary art.
The sixth-oldest public art institution in the United States, the Gallery includes works by Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and many others. You can feast upon art in a variety of mediums and can participate in tours to get a better understanding of the pieces’ cultural significance.
The Gallery is also family-friendly and offers many scheduled events to give even the youngest visitors a chance to develop into future artists and art lovers. Storytime, stroller tours and kids’ yoga are all slated on the gallery’s event calendar.
And if the art alone isn’t enough to nourish you, you can stop in at the AK Cafe for meals, sweets and coffee. Seating is available inside for chilly days, or outside in the sculpture gallery when the weather is amenable.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site
The TR Inaugural Site takes visitors back to Buffalo’s original heyday and gives a sense of time and place to the first President Roosevelt’s inauguration.
The site’s collection gives visitors a view into the national and world issues burgeoning at the time Roosevelt took office, as well as offering a view into daily life during the beginning of the 20th century.
A guided tour kicks off your visit, and after the presentation, visitors have the opportunity to explore the site on their own.
Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens
You know you’re in for a visual extravaganza when the buildings used to house the gardens are as show-stopping as the plants themselves. The Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens are a marvel; gorgeously constructed domes filled with palm trees, rainforests, succulents and more.
Visiting in the midst of winter? You won’t be able to believe you’re in chilly Buffalo when you’re surrounded by the beauty of the tropical garden spaces. And, in warmer weather, the healing garden and the children’s outdoor play area provide welcoming spaces for visitors to enjoy and refresh.
New Era Stadium Tours
Bills fans, rejoice! If you’re in town and it doesn’t happen to be an NFL game day, you can still get up close and personal with your favorite team.
Fans can enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium, including a look at the press areas, luxury clubs and suites, and the field. Tours are available every other Friday from April through July and every other Saturday from August to October.
Darwin D. Martin House
Designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Martin House exemplifies Wright’s iconic Prairie House ideal. Scholars consider the house to be one of the finest achievements of his Prairie period.
Built in the early 1900s, substantial renovation efforts have been completed on the complex to restore it to its original glory and enhance it for future generations of visitors.
Guests on the property will want to watch for the famous Tree of Life window and enjoy the beauty of the landscape’s connection with the overall complex.
200 years’ worth of delighted visitors can’t be wrong. With so much to see and do in Buffalo, anytime is a great time to start booking your hotel, planning a trip and preparing to enjoy all the city and the surrounding region has to offer.
