From Canalside to the Outer Harbor and Riverworks to Silo City, there are a dozen excellent day trips from Rochester to Buffalo’s Waterfront. Canalside features a boardwalk that connects the solar-powered Heritage Carousel to the Naval & Military Park, with the Explore & More Children’s Museum and plenty of green spaces between them. Bring your bike for a car-free day of exploring. You may wonder why there’s a scent of cereal in the air. Buffalo is home to a General Mills plant that produces Lucky Charms and Cheerios, among other brands, filling the air with the sweet smell of toasted oats.
You may also enjoy our guide to exploring the Queen City at Buffalo’s Delaware Park.
Plan Your Day Trip to Buffalo
Breakfast
Enjoy a delicious meal at the Swan Street Diner, Lake Effect Diner, or Betty’s.
Morning
Park in the free Marina Drive parking lot. Enjoy a 600-foot voyage across the Buffalo River on the Queen City Bike Ferry. This round-trip journey offers a unique way to enjoy the waterfront ($2 fee). The ferry service is available on weekends starting at 8 a.m. but not until noon on weekdays. At the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, beginning at 10 a.m., explore the museum and four decommissioned naval vessels. Alternatively, you can take a 90-minute narrated Buffalo River History Tours cruise that departs at 10:30 a.m. or sail Lake Erie on a catamaran with moondanceCat or the Spirit of Buffalo tall ship.
Fun fact: The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is the largest inland Naval Park in the United States.
Lunch
Enjoy Canalside’s seasonal dining options, like Liberty Hound, or walk to Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, Southern Tier Brewing, or Panorama On Seven. Alternatively, you can head over to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor to enjoy waterfront seating at Charlie’s Boat Yard.
Afternoon
Head to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, starting with a drive on Fuhrmann Boulevard to Buffalo Harbour State Park, Wilkeson Pointe, and Buffalo Lighthouse Park. Check out Lakeside Bike Park’s mountain bike tracks, pump track, and tot track, with bike rentals offered on weekend afternoons. Visit the Tifft Nature Preserve and follow boardwalks along five miles of trails to explore the wetlands. Or, check out everything Buffalo RiverWorks has to offer—you’ll find ice hockey and roller rinks, a high ropes course, wall climbing, ax throwing, ziplines, kayak rentals, and the Buffal-O Ferris Wheel, which sits atop Stonehenge-like megaliths.
Dinner
Enjoy a casual dinner at The Ward, offering indoor and outdoor seating with a spectacular view of RiverWorks Brewing’s iconic Labatt Blue six-pack grain silos.
Evening
Consider planning your trip around a show at Shea’s Theater, a Bisons baseball game at Sahlen Field, or a Sabres hockey game or concert at Key Bank Center. You could also try your luck at Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino or enjoy the sunset over Lake Erie from Wilkeson Pointe or Canalside’s colorful sunset chairs.
Signature Events
Dyngus Day
April
Buffalo transforms into America’s Dyngus Day capital on the Monday following Easter. The Polish American community invites everyone to join in the fun and celebrate the end of Lent, the joy of Easter, and spring’s arrival. Festivities include parades, Polka music, pierogi, and playful pussy willows. Broadway between Memorial Drive and Fillmore Avenue
Cherry Blossom Festival
late May
The Buffalo History Museum and Japanese Garden at Delaware Park host one of the most beautiful spring festivals in Western New York. This event is a perfect way to celebrate spring, featuring stunning cherry blossoms and a picturesque location on Mirror Lake.
Allentown Arts Festival
mid-June
Wander with the crowds along historic Allen Street and enjoy live music, delicious food, and the opportunity to purchase unique pieces from local and regional artisans. This festival is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Buffalo’s culture and creativity. Allentown Historic Preservation District
Taste of Buffalo
early-July
Recently awarded the top spot in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best City Food Festival, the nation’s largest two-day food festival takes place downtown along Delaware Avenue. It features more than 40 restaurants and food trucks from Buffalo and Western New York and several wineries. Admission to the festival is free; purchase tickets for tastings.
Garden Walk Buffalo
late July
With over 300 private and public gardens in Buffalo’s Elmwood Village and Parkside neighborhoods on display, Garden Walk Buffalo is the most extensive self-guided garden tour in the United States.
Erie County Fair
mid-August
Established in 1819, the Erie County Agricultural Society organizes the annual 12-day fair in Hamburg, which features the World’s Largest Demolition Derby. The creation of the hamburger can be traced back to the 1885 Erie County Fair.
National Buffalo Wing Festival
Labor Day weekend
At Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, the home of the Buffalo Bills, enjoy this two-day festival celebrating Buffalo’s most famous invention and America’s favorite appetizer. Wingfest features dozens of local, regional, national, and international eateries serving captivating combinations of flavor and heat. You’ll find live music, chicken wing eating competitions, a celebrity sauce competition, bobbing for wings, and the United States Buffalo Wing Eating Championship.
Google Map of Locations
Explore More
Explore Buffalo’s Delaware Park
Delaware Park combines Buffalo’s cultural and recreational offerings along a two-mile path that winds around lakes, gardens, and meadows.
From Vidler’s to the Aurora Theatre to the Roycroft Arts & Crafts movement, the early 1900s are alive and well on Main Street in East Aurora.
Visitors travel far and wide to see Niagara Falls State Park, America’s first state park, and we are fortunate to drive there in 90 minutes.
Ranked as one of the “Top Ten Small Towns,” spend a day in Lewiston, with its excellent shops, restaurants, and Niagara River views.
Ellicottville offers the perfect combination of outdoor adventures, boutique shopping, craft beverages, and delicious dining.
24 Hidden Places Around Rochester
From secret gardens to enchanting waterfalls, exploring hidden places around the Rochester area is the ultimate way to add some spice to your travel experiences.
These day trips are filled with carefully chosen options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as memorable experiences and events.
🍦The Best Ice Cream Shops Around Rochester
These top ice cream and frozen dessert shops in charming villages and city neighborhoods turn a simple scoop into an artisanal delight.
132 Things to Do Around Rochester
We’ve pulled together a list of fun and unique things to do around Rochester, NY, within two hours of home—perfect for quick getaways.
Where are your favorite places to visit in Buffalo?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
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Enjoy the Journey Together!
