Niagara Falls, the (unofficial) eighth wonder of the world, is truly a spectacular sight to behold. A MUST visit location, what you witness here will leave you with an everlasting feeling of awe.
Although Niagara Falls was my sightseeing destination, I ultimately decided to stay close by in Buffalo, NY; A decision I did NOT regret, as I quickly discovered that Buffalo is AWESOME!
PLAY
BFLO Harbor Kayak
There are a ton of fun things to do in Buffalo, and exploring the waterfront is a great place to start.
BFLO Harbor Kayak is located at Canalside on the wharf. Kayaks (single and tandem) or stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) are available for rental. They also offer kayak tours down the Buffalo River – some of which include hikes up into various grain elevators. Instruction and lessons for those wanting to try paddleboarding are also available.
Attend a Show or Party at Buffalo Iron Works
Looking for some late-night fun? Then you definitely want to check out Buffalo Iron Works. A live music venue located in Buffalo’s historic Cobblestone District, Buffalo Iron Works features excellent live music, themed parties, a full bar and a taco stand!
Have a Blast at Buffalo RiverWorks
Ok, this place is cool; like, really, really cool.
As visitbuffaloniagara.com states, “one of Buffalo’s remarkable examples of adaptive reuse, RiverWorks is constructed in the footprint and ruins of the former GLF grain silos, a reminder of Buffalo’s strong industrial heritage.
This brewery, restaurant, sports, leisure, adventure and entertainment complex has become a one-of-a-kind destination along Buffalo’s waterfront featuring fun throughout summer and winter including ziplining, rock climbing, roller derby, ice skating, curling and more!”
Since I was visiting in September, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the annual Chalkfest Buffalo and Art Show event. THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR CHALK ARTISTS AND SPECTATORS ALIKE! Because the event take place in mid September, the theme is always Halloween, which as you can guess, makes for some really fantastic designs and pieces.
FINALLY SEE THE ALMIGHTY NIAGARA FALLS!!!
After a Friday night and Saturday spent exploring the wonderful city of Buffalo, Sunday was spent visiting the spectacular and utterly breathtaking Niagara Falls. Words simply can’t express the sheer beauty of this amazing natural attraction.
On approach, before the falls even come into view, they can be HEARD. The roar is impressive to say the very least. Descending the steps to the multiple viewing decks, you can feel the spray of these epic falls on your face; an incredibly refreshing feeling on a very warm September day.
I knew that seeing the falls for the first time would be powerful, but what I hadn’t expected was the emotion that it would bring. The sense of awe I felt was overwhelming, as child-like wonder took over my entire being. I was brought to tears almost instantly, as I admired this magnificent phenomena produced by our dear mother Earth.
EAT
Water Street Landing, Lewiston NY
Looking to enjoy an elegant meal in a romantic setting with waterfront views? Just a short drive from Niagara Falls State Park in the neighboring town of Lewiston you’ll find Water Street Landing; a beautiful eatery serving the likes of everything from Surf & Turf to a Fish Fry dinner, all with views of the mighty Niagara River. This lovely location also feature frequent live music.
The Silo Restaurant
Also in Lewiston NY is The Silo Restaurant. Another great waterfront location, The Silo serves affordable, all American cuisine and ice cream, and is famous for its Haystack sandwich, which has even made its way onto the Travel Channel’s Man V. Food! Enjoy a meal on their suspended circular deck overlooking the Niagara River. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Anchor Bar, Buffalo NY
Ok, so OBVIOUSLY I couldn’t visit the Buffalo and Niagara NY area without visiting the home of the original BUFFALO WINGS!!!
As the story goes “on a Friday night in 1964, Dominic Bellissimo was tending bar at the now famous Anchor Bar Restaurant in Buffalo, NY. Late that evening, a group of Dominic’s friends arrived at the bar with ravenous appetites. Dominic asked his mother, Teressa, to prepare something for his friends to eat. They looked like chicken wings, a part of the chicken that usually went into the stock pot for soup. Teressa had deep fried the wings and flavored them with a secret sauce. The wings were an instant hit and it didn’t take long for people to flock to the bar to experience this new taste sensation. From that evening on, Buffalo Wings became a regular part of the menu at the Anchor Bar.”
Well, needless to say, the wings were delicious!
STAY
Buffalo Grand Hotel
I chose the Buffalo Grand Hotel (formerly the Adam’s Mark Hotel and Event Center) for my stay because of its affordability. Being that I planned to be out exploring, it wasn’t overly important to me what my room was like. My room at the Buffalo Grand was simple, clean and cozy. And I did end up utilizing the hotel pool, which was heated and ultimately quite pleasant indeed.
In conclusion, Niagara Falls is a truly incredible and awe inspiring place to visit, and Buffalo was a blast. I would DEFINITELY make this trip again. 🙂