Greater Niagara & Buffalo, New York State Attractions
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Buffalo and Niagara Falls are within easy driving distance of each other. While the main attraction in the area are of course the falls, there are many other interesting parks and attractions in the vicinity. Many of these can be visited as a day trip from Niagara or Buffalo.
Letchworth State Park, Castile, New York
Letchworth State Park offers camping, hiking, picnicking and an opportunity to view the scenic areas. Three waterfalls of the Genesee River Gorge are of special note.
William Pryor Letchworth Museum
The William Pryor Letchworth Museum houses a collection relating to the Indian and pioneer history of the Genesee Valley as well as archeological and natural history displays. It was built in 1912 by William Pryor Letchworth.
Batavia, New York
Robert Morris bought 3 million acres in western New York from Massachusettes in 1797. At that time, Batavia was the only junction of the Old Genesee Road and Tonawanda Creek Indian trail. Morris sold most of this land to the Dutch Holland Land Company and the town was named for the Netherlands republic that the owners came from.
Holland Land Office Museum
Holland Land Office Museum is the site of the original 1815 Holland Land Company office. Exhibits include the early history of Genesee County, the Holland Purchase, a military collection and a Victorian Parlor complete with furniture, kitchen ware, and clothing.
Cobblestone Society Museum, Childs, New York
Cobblestone Society Museum consists of seven historic buildings including an 1834 church, an 1840 parsonage, and a one-room schoolhouse. These three are made of cobblestone and the other four are frame buildings, which include a blacksmith shop, harness shop, print shop and Farmers Hall. Farmers Hall houses 19th and 20th century farming tools and implements.
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Derby - Graycliff
Graycliff was built between 1926 and 1929 and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Martin family. This scenic 8.4 acre estate features a 6,500 sq ft home that served as the Martins' summer home from 1928 to the mid-1940's. The Heat Hut, Foster House and gardens are other notable features of the Graycliff Estate.
Beaver Meadow Nature Center, North Java, New York
Buffalo Audubon Society oeprates the nature center at Beaver Meadow. Nature trails pass old farmsteads and follow the edge of a Beaver Pond. The trails are dirt or grass with bird watching opportunities.The Beaver Meadow Nature Center has a Children's Discovery Room, Nature Library and art exhibits.
Rich-Twinn Octagon House, Akron, New York
Built in 1849, this home is an example of octagonal homes built in the 1800's. They were believed to be healthier homes to live in, with ample sunshine and good ventilation.
Darien Lake, Darien Center, New York
Darien Lake offers over 100 rides, entertainment and other attractions such as five roller coasters and live shows. The Darien Lake Performing Arts Center seats 20,000 people for feature performances throughout the season.
Le Roy House Museum and Jell-O Gallery, Le Roy, New York
Built in the early 19th C, seven rooms of the house are furnished in the period style. Also located on site is an exhibit about Jell-O, which was invented in Le Roy in 1897.
Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown, New York
Fort Niagara State Park is located at the mouth of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. Day use facilities including two boat launches, play fields, hiking trails, fishing opportunities and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Niagara Falls - Old Fort Niagara
To the north of Youngstown, at the point where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario, is Old Fort Niagara (State Park). The fort was built in 1726 on the site of an earlier French post established in 1679. There are presentations of historic events in authentic uniforms throughout the year.The lovely scenery around the fort combined with the historical significance has made this one of the main attractions in the area.
Arcade, New York
Arcade offers camping and golfing opportunities as well as the Arcade and Attica Railroad, and the Beaver Meadow Audobon Center.
Arcade and Attica Railroad
The Arcade & Attica Railroad operates themed passenger excursions throughout the year. Most of the excursions are powered with a 1920 steam locomotive. The station features displays of the history of railroading in America.
Hamburg - Penn Dixie Paleontological Center
The Hamburg Natural History Society maintains the former Penn Dixie Quarry. This regional fossil park allows the public to study and collect fossils.
