Located an hour and a half west of Rochester, Lewiston offers the charm of its Center Street shops and restaurants and the beauty of the Niagara River. The village, known for its vibrant arts community, hosts events such as the Lewiston Art Festival and Lewiston Jazz Festival, attracting thousands of international visitors.
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Plan Your Day Trip to Lewiston
Breakfast
Stop for a hearty meal at Syros Restaurant or grab a coffee from Orange Cat Coffee Co. and a breakfast sandwich from Village Bake Shoppe.
Morning
Enjoy a walk through Artpark, the only state park focused on visual and performing arts. The park offers scenic hiking trails and art installations to explore.
Next, drive to Our Lady of Fatima Shrine. The glass-domed basilica is surrounded by 15 acres of gardens featuring over 100 life-sized statues and the heart-shaped Rosary Pool. Climb the steps to the top to stand beside the 13-foot statue of Our Lady of Fatima. A self-guided tour brochure is available on the shrine’s website.
Lunch
Stop into Apple Granny, The Spicey Pickle, Favorites Pizza & Wings, or Cask + Cow for a delicious lunch.
Afternoon
Experience an exciting adventure on the Niagara River with Whirlpool Jet Boat Adventures. If you prefer a more relaxed outing, you can view the jet boats from the Niagara Gorge Trail at Devil’s Hole State Park and Whirlpool State Park. Both locations offer stunning river views from the rim trails, with hundreds of stone steps leading to the river’s edge.
Stop into the free Niagara Power Vista on your way back to the village. This state-of-the-art visitor center offers an enjoyable experience for all ages, including a virtual reality theater, hydro-power-themed activities, and a panoramic view of the river gorge below.
Before dinner, check out Lewiston’s Center Street shops, including Rose Hanger Shop, Cheri Amour, and many more.
Dinner
After enjoying the Niagara River, head to The Silo, a summer favorite featured on Man vs. Food.
Alternatively, find a delicious Italian meal in the village center at Casa Antica or Carmelo’s Coat of Arms. For pub fare, visit Tin Pan Alley, Brickyard Pub & BBQ, or Griffon Brewery and Gastropub. Then treat yourself to ice cream at Hibbard’s Custard.
Evening
Plan your day trip to coincide with one of Artpark’s live performances in the outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Niagara River Gorge. Throughout the summer, the park hosts a variety of music, theater, and dance performances.
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Signature Events
Lewiston Art Festival
Mid-August
The juried art show takes place during the second full weekend in August and features crafts, music, and food.
Lewiston Jazz Festival
Late August
On the last weekend in August, the two-day music festival features over 100 performances on five outdoor stages. Local pubs also host after-hours jam sessions and concerts.
Niagara County Peach Festival
Early September
Enjoy four days of old-fashioned fun and entertainment celebrating the peach harvest.
Contact Information
Apple Granny 433 Center St., (716) 754-2028, applegranny.com
Artpark 450 S. 4th St., (716) 754-9000, artpark.net
Brickyard Pub & BBQ 432 Center St., (716) 754-7227, brickyardpub.com
Carmelo’s Coat of Arms 425 Center St., (716) 754-2311, carmeloslewiston.com
Cask + Cow 840 Center St., (716) 405-7063, caskandcow.com
Casa Antica 490 Center St., (716) 754-2581, casaanticarestaurant.com
Cheri Amour 522 Center St., (716) 754-8675, cheriamourgifts.com
Devil’s Hole State Park Niagara Scenic Parkway, (716) 284-5778, parks.ny.gov
Favorites Pizza & Wings 781 Cayuga St., (716) 754-8880, favoritespizza.com
Griffon Brewery and Gastropub 115 S. Water St., (716) 405-7291, griffongastropub.com
Hibbard’s Custard 105 Portage Road, (716) 754-4218, hibbardscustard.com
Niagara Power Vista 5777 Lewiston Road, (716) 286-6661, nypa.gov
Orange Cat Coffee Co. 703 Center St., (716) 754-2888
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine 1023 Swann Road, (716) 754-7489, fatimashrine.com
Rose Hanger Shop 411 Center St., (716) 246-2179, therosehangershop.com
The Silo 115 N. Water St., (716) 754-9680, lewistonsilo.com
The Spicey Pickle 463 Center St., (716) 754-2044, thespiceypickle.net
Syros Restaurant 869 Cayuga St., (716) 754-1900, syrosrestaurant.com
Tin Pan Alley 775 Cayuga St., (716) 754-4330, tinpanalley716.com
Village Bake Shoppe 417 Center St., (716) 754-2300, villagebakeshoppe.com
Whirlpool Jet Boat Adventures 115 S. Water St., (888) 438-4444, whirlpooljet.com
Whirlpool State Park Niagara Scenic Parkway, (716) 284-5778, parks.ny.gov
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Where are your favorite Lewiston day trip destinations?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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