Getting Out of Buffalo
(Original Author Unknown. Edited by A.A., 2009, and S.Y. 2009)
In case the cultural mecca known as Buffalo doesn’t suit your fancy, there are a few places that take less than four hours of travel time to reach, and are decent for a weekend getaway. Remember, all driving times are approximate: not everyone drives ninety in a sixty-five.
Canada
Our friendly neighbors to the north (if you really want to be specific, they’re actually to our west) offer a plethora of different activities for us. Canadian beer towers over its watery American counterpart, so bar-hopping is always an option. Just remember that bars close at 2:00 (not at 4:00, like in Buffalo).
For those who have never been to Canada before, don’t piss off the guards at customs on your way in or out: since 9/11, the customs agents from either country don’t take ANY crap from anyone. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PASSPORT. If you were not born in this country, be sure to take your passport AND any other papers that you may need to prove that you are in fact a legal resident of this country. Otherwise, you may end up sitting in a small room with no windows for several hours while things get straightened out. Another option is getting an enhanced license, but your best bet is a passport.
Toronto (2 hours away):
In the summer, it’s hot as hell, and in the winter, you will swear that hell froze over, but Toronto is our nearby major metropolitan city with NYC-caliber activities. In the theatre district, you can eat at one of the trendy little restaurants, then catch the latest hit musical—look for weekend packages: sometimes you can find a good deal on a hotel. If you’re looking for some bars and clubs, check out the area around Queen and Richmond Streets. The Distillery District is ideal for lower impact activities: it’s full of quirky sidewalk shops and upscale restaurants. And for those of you who have a predilection for all things Chinese, Toronto’s Chinatown area on Spadina Road will accommodate your every need. North of the city, you’ll find Market Village and Pacific Mall, which together make up the largest Chinese indoor shopping center in North America. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, you’re out of luck, unless you drive to Pearson Airport and hop a plane.
If you look out across Lake Ontario on a clear day, you probably can’t help but notice the world’s largest freestanding structure, the CN Tower (it’s now the fifth tallest as of 2007). If you’re looking for something touristy, head up the tower and walk on the glass floor. Then you can head next door to check out the retractable roof. If you’re a sports fan, you can catch the Blue Jays playing at SkyDome, or the Raptors and Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre a few blocks away. The Royal Ontario Museum is jam-packed with history, science, and art (http://www.rom.on.ca/). Anyway, there’s way too much fun stuff to write about here, so go to http://www.toronto.com/.
Niagara-on-the-Lake (45 minutes away):
If your significant other is coming in from out of town and you want to take a little romantic getaway, check out NOTL. This is a tiny town near the outlet of the Niagara River at Lake Ontario. It’s a nice place for window-shopping and taking it easy. The main street has a great little row of craft shops, and a fudge shop to die for. If the weather's nice, bring your bikes and pedal up and down the Niagara Parkway (where beautiful flower gardens are kept in pristine condition), and have a picnic right next to the river. If it’s winter, or if restaurants are more of your style, there are plenty in town, but they may be a little expensive. Check out Fans Court, a quaint little Chinese restaurant that is located at the end of the main strip of shops: it’s incredible. If you want to go somewhere fancy, try the Oban Inn or the Prince of Wales Hotel.
For live theatre enthusiasts, the Shaw Festival is worth checking out (http://www.shawfest.com/). From March to November, works by Bernard Shaw and many of his contemporaries are staged in an array of cozy theaters for a reasonable fare. NOTL is also wine country, with a plethora of award-winning wineries concentrated in the region. For a complete listing of wineries and other information about NOTL, take a peek at http://www.niagaraonthelake.com/.
Port Dalhousie (45 minutes away):
Port Dalhousie is a small entertainment area right on Lake Ontario, at the outskirts of St. Catharines. It’s more fun in the summer. Go early for dinner, check out the cute shops, or catch a show at the Port Mansion Theatre (http://www.portmansion.com/). Be sure to hang around after the sun goes down: the bars draw a big crowd.
Niagara Falls (20 minutes away):
Well, half of it falls in Canada [pun intended?]. Whether or not you want to go to the Canadian side depends on what you want to see. If you’re just going to look at the big waterfalls, stay on the American side. You can practically stand in the upper rapids on Goat Island, and then you can walk right up to the Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil Falls (yes, there are three distinct waterfalls). There are some very lovely nature trails as well that you can casually stroll through. From the Canadian side, you can only walk up to the Horseshoe Falls (that’s the big Kahuna). If it’s winter, go to the Canadian side to see the Falls: you won’t be able to walk up to the water on the American side due to the immense amount of ice that forms (the ice that builds up on the trees and the spindly wrought iron railing on the Canadian side is a sight in and of itself).
Sadly, Niagara Falls, USA has been in an economic slump for the last twenty years, and the city certainly shows it. The convention center was recently converted into the huge Seneca Niagara Casino, so hopefully with the advent of gambling, the city will slowly begin to turn around. Gambling helped the economy on the Canadian side: the Canadians built Casino Niagara a few years ago. As you drive down Clifton Hill and Lundy’s Lane on the Canadian side of the Falls, you might ask yourself if you made a wrong turn and ended up in Vegas. It’s fun to wander up and down these streets and check out the flashing lights of the Haunted Houses, wax museums, arcades, and other tourist traps.
If you’re looking to escape the ordered chaos around the Falls during the summer, take a ten minute drive west along the river to the Whirlpool Aero Car. This cable car ride takes you across the Niagara River over a naturally occurring whirlpool. If nature calls (not the way you’re thinking), the botanical gardens and butterfly conservatory provide a peaceful recluse. For more information, go to http://www.infoniagara.com/attractions/
In America
The Finger Lakes (1.5 - 4 hours away):
The Finger Lakes wine region has over eighty different wineries that are amongst the best in New York. It’s a fun weekend trip during the early fall and spring when the weather and scenery are magnificent. There are four different wine trails that you can experience along with lots of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, golf, and the Corning Museum of Glass!
Rochester (1 hour away):
Rochester is just a stone’s throw east of Buffalo. If you are looking for cultural activities, Rochester is home to the George Eastman House of Photography, Eastman Theater, and BCBS Arena (where many big name bands pass through). Also check out Water Street Music Hall for some other excellent, if smaller, bands and acts. If you ever find yourself in Ra-cha-cha, make sure to stop by Nick Tahou’s for a garbage plate. Also, don’t leave town until you’ve stopped at Dinosaur BBQ, perhaps the best BBQ in the Northeast.
Darien Lake Theme Park and Resort (<1 hour away):
The park is halfway between Rochester and Buffalo. The Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
hosts a number of concerts every summer, including Warped Tour, Ozzfest, and Dave Matthews Band, just
to name a few. Oh yeah: there are also rollercoasters. http://www.godarienlake.com/.
Marvin Sands - Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center (MAC) (2.5 hours away):
Formerly known as the “Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center,” the MAC attracts a different crowd than Darien Lake. Lawn seating on the hill is pretty neat. Parking sucks, especially if it’s a decent show. Expect the two-and-a-half hours to be more like four if you get there at the wrong time. http://www.fingerlakes.edu/flpac/.
Chautauqua County (1.5 hours away):
Chautauqua County has lakes, wineries, picturesque Victorian villages, scenic trails, and some of the best fishing in the northeast. Come out and visit Chautauqua Institution, Lily Dale Assembly, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center, and the largest Concord grape growing region in the world.
The Watkins Glen (< 3 hours away):
If you’re into car racing, concerts and/or camping, the Watkins Glen, or just “the Glen,” is the perfect weekend getaway. Located at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, it is one of only two stops on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule where the drivers have to turn right. Check out www.theglen.com for more information.