Ranked as one of the “Top Ten Small Towns in America,” you’ll love the shops and restaurants along Lewiston’s Center Street and scenic activities along the Niagara River—perfect for a great Lewiston getaway.
Suggested Itinerary for Your Lewiston Getaway
Take a look at these day-by-day ideas for your three-day Lewiston getaway, with plenty of other options below. You could take this plan and use it as your own, or let it serve as inspiration.
Jump to Section
Day One
Plan to arrive by noon so you can check in to your lodging and enjoy a relaxing lunch before seeing the sights.
Lunch
Start in Historic Lewiston on Center Street at Apple Granny.
Afternoon
Take an wild ride on the Niagara River with Whirlpool Jet Boat Adventures. You will get soaked!
Or if you’re looking for something less adventurous, you can watch the jet boats from the Niagara Gorge Trail through Devil’s Hole State Park and Whirlpool State Park.
Dinner
Continue your enjoyment of the Niagara River with dinner at The Silo. With a beautiful location right on the river, this summertime favorite has been featured on Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food and has a fascinating history and environment.
Evening
Stroll down to Water Street Landing for a cocktail on the patio & sunset over the river gorge.
Day Two
Here are some ideas to fill your day with memory-making adventures!
Breakfast
Enjoy a great sit-down breakfast at Syros Family Restaurant. Or grab a cuppa from Orange Cat Coffee Co. and a breakfast sammie from Village Bake Shoppe.
Morning
Take a walk around Artpark—the only state park dedicated to visual and performing arts. Hike along the upper and lower trails and explore art installations throughout the park.
Or, spend the morning fishing on Lake Ontario with 1st Choice Fishing Charters. You could also take a guided hike, bike, or paddle with Niagara Outfitters.
Lunch
Head toward Niagara Falls to enjoy lunch at Savor at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, Top of The Falls, or the Hard Rock Cafe.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon exploring Niagara Falls, USA. Head straight to Goat Island where an easy walkway connects Horseshoe Falls and American Falls. Or get a view from below of the falls from Cave of the Winds or aboard the Maid of the Mist.
Or, take a self-guided tour of Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. After, discover unique regional treasures in the various shops and boutiques along Lewiston’s Center Street.
Dinner
Enjoy a delicious Italian meal at Casa Antica or Carmelo’s Coat of Arms, or check out Tin Pan Alley or Griffon House, the village pubs.
Evening
Treat yourself to ice cream at Hibbard’s Custard. Afterward, grab a regional bottle of wine from Hibbard’s Old Portage Shop right next door.
Day Three
Make the most of your time here this morning! Plan on seeing a few sites, and enjoying a great lunch either here or on the way home.
Breakfast
Drive up to Youngstown for breakfast at Youngstown Village Diner.
Morning
Head up to Old Fort Niagara and tour the oldest standing structure on any of the Great Lakes. There’s also a great swimming pool and nature center at Fort Niagara State Park.
Or, spend a few hours at Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, USA.
Lunch
Take NY-18 back to Rochester and stop by Wilson Boat House Restaurant for a meal with a Lake Ontario view. Then head over to Olcott for ice cream at the Lakeview Village Shoppes.
Afternoon
Make your way home along the Niagara Wine Trail, stopping at vineyards between Lewiston and Rochester. For wine and other farm-fresh produce, make sure to include Becker Farms in Gasport.
Attractions
These are some of the top things to do around Lewiston.
Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
Enjoy a self-guided tour of 15 acres of gardens surrounding the glass Dome Basilica. You can climb the steps to the top and stand next to a 13-foot statue of Our Lady of Fatima. There are 100+ life-size statues encircling the heart-shaped Rosary Pool.
During the Christmas season, the shrine is aglow in festive lights.
No fee.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
There are two companies that offer jet boat experiences on the Niagara River’s class 5 whitewater rapids. Class 5 rapids are defined as “approaching the limits of navigability, should only be attempted by whitewater experts after taking every available precaution.”
Whirlpool Jet Boat Adventures is right in Lewiston. Niagara Jet Adventures is up the road in Youngstown. It’s great to have options on a hot day, but book your trip in advance all the same.
Artpark
Artpark is the only state park dedicated to visual and performing arts. Artpark delivers 150+ events on 150+ acres of land overlooking the Niagara River Gorge. Visit artpark.net to view the entertainment calendar and current art installations.
All year round, visitors enjoy scenic hiking trails and various picnic spots throughout Artpark.
To access the Upper Trails, enter Artpark at Portage Road. When you reach Parking Lot B, take the gravel road down to the small parking area—both upper trails start here.
To access Lower Trails, use the 4th Street entrance and park in Lot D. The entrance to The Woods trail is immediately following the toll booth. The River Trail starts behind the Art Gallery, which is adjacent to the Mainstage Theater. The Lower Landing Archaeological District is a key point in the Colonial Niagara Historic District. View Park Map
Please note, both the Empire Pass and Golden Park Pass are not accepted at this location.
Niagara Falls, USA
If you find yourself in the Niagara Region you can’t ignore the magnetic pull of Niagara Falls. While you could spend days exploring Niagara Falls State Park, for this trip, you can make the most of a few hours by either focusing on Goat Island and Luna Island, or by enjoying one or two of the main tourist attractions—Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist.
You can take the free Discover Niagara Shuttle from Lewiston during the summer season or you can drive down to park in the main lot on Goat Island.
Hint: You can borrow an Empire Pass from a Monroe County Library to park for free.
Old Fort Niagara
One visit to Old Fort Niagara and you can see why this spot at the mouth of the Niagara River was strategic gold.
The fort was vital to military success, controlling access to the Great Lakes and resources in frontier. Fort Niagara was occupied by French, British and American forces during its complex 300 year history. Before you go, read up on its history.
Niagara Power Vista
“From a seat-gripping virtual reality ride to hands-on experiments to the power of nature, discover the energy of New York at the Niagara Power Vista.”
There is so much to do and see here and it’s free! While it is very kid-focused (Where science meets the playground!) there are definitely things for adults to enjoy as well. And that view!
No fee.
Whirlpool State Park
A little further south, you can also explore Whirlpool State Park. The street level portion of the park has many scenic overlooks with spectacular views of the Whirlpool and rapids far below. Access the river level by taking the staircase located just downstream from the main park area. The Niagara Gorge Trail connects Niagara Falls, Whirlpool, and Devil’s Hole state parks together.
No fee.
Devil’s Hole State Park
Devil’s Hole State Park overlooks the lower Whirlpool rapids with a beautiful walkway leading down from the park along the turbulent Niagara River 300. So if you didn’t plan on actually taking a jet boat tour, you can watch the action from the trail.
No fee.
Stella Niagara Preserve
With 29-acres and over a quarter-mile of shoreline, Stella Niagara Preserve is the largest privately-owned, undeveloped tract of land along the entire length of the Niagara River. Stella is incredibly scenic, and is one of the region’s most ecologically and historically important places.
No fee.
Dining
Great options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or a snack along the way.
Lodging
Here is a range of the best options for a place to spend the night during your Lewiston getaway.
Hotels & Motels
Inns
Camping
Niagara Falls North / Lewiston KOA
Shopping
Wander up and down Center Street among quite boutiques and antique shops.
Country Doctor Antiques & Gifts
Canterbury Place Timeless Gifts
Brewed And Bottled Craft Beer Shop
Signature Events
These are either great times to visit or dates to avoid when planning your Lewiston getaway depending on your comfort level with crowds.
Niagara USA Uncorked!
Late-July
Enjoy a wide variety of local wines and food at Academy Park.
Lewiston Art Festival
August
The Festival takes place on the second full weekend in August and features more than 175 exceptional artists and fine crafters, with plenty of food vendors and entertainers are on site.
Lewiston Jazz Festival
August
The annual two-day Jazz Festival features free performances by more than 150 artists on five outdoor stages.
Lewiston Peach Fest
September
An old fashioned festival complete with a parade, peach shortcake, food, vendors, carnival rides and 4 days of stage entertainment.
The Scenic Route
There are many ways to get from Point A to Point B. The thruway or expressway is usually the fastest and most direct option. But here are a few ideas to consider to make the most of your trip. It’s about the journey and the destination.
Discover Niagara Shuttle
The Discover Niagara Shuttle takes visitors to 18 destinations along a 13-mile stretch between Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, with several stops throughout Lewiston, free of charge! It runs 7-days a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The round-trip journey takes around 2 hours if you’d like to simply enjoy the ride. Otherwise, you can hop-on and -off at any stop, no ticket required. Just be aware of their schedule!
Lockport Locks
Spend some time walking up, down and around the Flight of Five, take a boat ride through Locks 34 & 35, or embark on one of America’s longest underground boat rides.
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge in New York State at 10,828 acres. This does not include the surrounding Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas, making this a massive 19,000-acre complex worth visiting and preserving.
Sunflowers of Sandborn
If you happen to be planning your Lewiston getaway during August, make this extraordinary sunflower field part of your journey.
More Information for Your Lewiston Getaway
While I would hope this could go without saying, I’d be irresponsible not to mention that water entry is prohibited anywhere along the Niagara Gorge. Due to the currents and fast moving waters, it is actually quite dangerous! So please only partake in water-based activities that are officially sanctioned by highly trained and experienced tour companies.
Visitor Bureau
Niagara Falls National Heritage Area
Plus, check out our Google Map to all of these places!
More Getaways from Rochester
It’s easy to getaway to Letchworth for a few days! We’ll help you pick a few things to do each day and find a great place to sleep!
From Vidler’s to the Aurora Theatre to the Roycroft Arts & Crafts movement, the early 1900’s are alive and well on Main Street East Aurora!
3-Day Getaway Along Routes 5 and 20
Routes 5 and 20 is a beautiful 67-mile stretch of highway where NY-5 and US-20 converge, following an ancient foot trail of New York’s first people.
Spend less time traveling and more time exploring with these fantastic getaways from Rochester. They’re all within a two hour drive from home.
How will you spend your 3-day Lewiston getaway?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!