In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
BFLO Harbor Kayak
Outdoors · Half a day$$$$
Paddle the Buffalo River past the grain elevators. Book a sunset tour.
Outdoors (38)
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
Buffalo Boat Tours
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Harbor and Niagara River cruises from Canalside. Look for sunset and concert sailings.
In the city · Outer Harbor · ~12 min from downtown
Buffalo Harbor State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Marina boardwalk and lakefront lawns. Bring a blanket and takeout.
In the city · Waterfront · ~5 min from downtown
Canalside
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Waterfront boardwalks, free concerts and events, and the visitor center at the new Chandlery.
In the city · Delaware Park · ~14 min from downtown
Delaware Park & Hoyt Lake
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Olmsted's big park. Loop the lake, find the Japanese Garden, and visit the Rose Garden in June.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~11 min from downtown
Elmwood Village stroll
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Boutiques, Talking Leaves bookstore and patios from Bidwell to Forest. Window-shop and talk.
In the city · Waterfront · ~5 min from downtown
Erie Basin Marina
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Free observation tower, flower gardens and a front-row seat for the Lake Erie sunset.
In the city · Delaware Ave · ~13 min from downtown
Forest Lawn
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
A 269-acre garden cemetery full of sculpture and ponds. Look for Wright's Blue Sky Mausoleum.
In the city · North Buffalo · ~18 min from downtown
Hertel Avenue stroll
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Little Italy turned eclectic main street: coffee, bookshops, bars and the North Park Theatre.
In the city · Outer Harbor · ~8 min from downtown
Outer Harbor & Wilkeson Pointe
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Lakefront trails, beach chairs and one of the best sunset spots in the city.
In the city · Canalside · ~5 min from downtown
Queen City Bike Ferry
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Summer ferry from Canalside to the Outer Harbor. Bring bikes and ride the lakefront trails.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~13 min from downtown
Richardson Olmsted Campus
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Walk the grounds beneath H.H. Richardson's twin towers, one of Buffalo's most striking buildings.
In the city · Erie Basin Marina · ~5 min from downtown
Spirit of Buffalo
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Tall-ship sunset sails on Lake Erie. A real anniversary move.
In the city · South Buffalo · ~13 min from downtown
Tifft Nature Preserve
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
264 acres of trails and boardwalks minutes from downtown. Snowshoe it in winter.
Inner ring · Amherst · ~21 min from downtown
Amherst State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Wooded trails along Ellicott Creek. Quiet, flat, and pretty in fresh snow.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~20 min from downtown
Ellicott Creek Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Island picnic spots and paths along the creek. Pack sandwiches.
Inner ring · Williamsville · ~20 min from downtown
Glen Park & Glen Falls
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
A waterfall in the middle of Williamsville village. Short walk, big payoff.
Inner ring · Depew · ~19 min from downtown
Reinstein Woods
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
State nature preserve with ponds, old forest and guided walks. Snowshoe programs in winter.
Inner ring · Blasdell · ~16 min from downtown
Woodlawn Beach State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Sandy Lake Erie beach with the skyline to the north. Sunset here is unreal.
Short drive · Grand Island · ~15 min from downtown
Beaver Island State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Niagara River beach and trails in summer, sledding and cross-country skiing in winter.
Short drive · Grand Island · ~28 min from downtown
Buckhorn Island State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Marsh boardwalks and birding at the island's quiet northern tip.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~28 min from downtown
Cave of the Winds
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Ponchos on. Wooden decks lead right to the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
Short drive · Orchard Park · ~28 min from downtown
Chestnut Ridge Park
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Legendary sledding hill with a skyline view, plus the trail to Eternal Flame Falls.
Short drive · Orchard Park · ~30 min from downtown
Eternal Flame Falls
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
A natural gas flame burning behind a waterfall. The trail is steep and muddy, so wear real shoes.
Short drive · Brant · ~37 min from downtown
Evangola State Park
Outdoors · Half a day$$$$
Crescent beach on Lake Erie below shale cliffs. Quieter than the city beaches.
Short drive · North Tonawanda · ~25 min from downtown
Gratwick Riverside Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Riverfront park with a long walking path and summer concerts.
Short drive · East Aurora · ~30 min from downtown
Knox Farm State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Rolling meadows and old estate trails. Cross-country ski it when it snows.
Short drive · Lewiston · ~35 min from downtown
Lewiston village
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Walkable Center Street with cafés and galleries, and a landing on the Niagara River.
Short drive · Lockport · ~36 min from downtown
Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Ride up and down through the canal locks on a two-hour cruise.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~28 min from downtown
Maid of the Mist
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
The classic boat ride into the roar and mist of the falls.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~28 min from downtown
Niagara Falls State Park
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
America's oldest state park. Go after dark for the illuminated falls. Free to walk, but parking costs extra.
Short drive · Hamburg · ~18 min from downtown
Penn Dixie Fossil Park
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Dig for 380-million-year-old trilobites, and look for their stargazing nights.
Short drive · Niagara Falls · ~31 min from downtown
Whirlpool State Park
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Stairs down into the Niagara Gorge. The rapids up close are wild.
Road trip · North Java · ~49 min from downtown
Beaver Meadow Audubon
Outdoors · An evening$$$$
Dark-sky stargazing nights and quiet trails far from the city glow.
Road trip · Ashford Hollow · ~58 min from downtown
Griffis Sculpture Park
Outdoors · Half a day$$$$
Giant metal sculptures scattered across 400-plus acres of woods and meadows.
Road trip · Castile · ~74 min from downtown
Letchworth State Park
Outdoors · All day$$$$
The "Grand Canyon of the East": three big waterfalls and miles of gorge-rim trail. Peak foliage is unreal.
Road trip · Olcott · ~51 min from downtown
Olcott Beach
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Lake Ontario beach town with an antique carousel park and a lighthouse pier.
Road trip · Gowanda · ~49 min from downtown
Zoar Valley
Outdoors · Half a dayFree
Deep shale gorge hiking along Cattaraugus Creek. Serious trails, huge payoff.
Make it a whole night
Stack dinner, something to do and dessert. The planner estimates drive time, timing and cost for two, and adds it all to your calendar.
More occasions
By town & neighborhood
- Buffalo
- Elmwood Village & Delaware Park
- Allentown
- Downtown & Canalside
- Hertel & North Buffalo
- Old First Ward, Larkinville & South Buffalo
- West Side & Black Rock
- Amherst, Williamsville & Northtowns
- Hamburg, Orchard Park & Southtowns
- East Aurora
- Grand Island & the Tonawandas
- Niagara Falls & Lewiston
- Lockport & Niagara wine country
- Ellicottville & ski country
- Letchworth, Chautauqua & beyond
- Across the border