Buffalo/Niagara Region

Outdoor Activities


Maid of the Mist, Niagara Falls Adventure

The Maid of the Mist - Niagara Falls

Over 6 million cubic feet of water passes over Niagara Falls every minute falling 160 feet as it does so. That makes for a lot of mist that floats through the air 24x7x365. Since 1848 people have been boarding the Maid of the Mist to travel close enough to the magnificent falls to get a really good shower. It is a fun ride on a hot summer day to see how crazily powerful and big Niagara Falls is!


The Buffalo Waterfront - Buffalo

Change is something that cannot be stopped. For cities, sometimes change is good, and sometimes the opposite. In the late 1800’s Buffalo’s water access to the midwest and cheap power from Niagara Falls made it the primary processing location for most of the grain in the east. By the 1990’s, most of that had changed. Many grain silos that were 15ft thick poured concrete were abandoned and had no new use. That all changed with the revitalization of Buffalo’s waterfront in 2017 and now it is a great destination year round. Wanna see the river with 7 friends on a fully stocked floating tiki bar complete with the bartender? No problem! Zip lining, kayaking, a Children’s Museum, a Naval Park, a historical boat tour of the area, concerts, festivals, and numerous restaurants and entertainment options await you at Canalside - Buffalo’s best waterfront fun spot.


whirlpool jet boat, niagara river ride

Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours - Niagara Falls

Imagine a 1500 horse engine screaming up a river that has rocks, rapids, and a lot of speed. You may get bounced around quite a bit, but it is safe for a 10 year-old and an 80 year-old! They even have a boat that has a plastic roof so that you don’t get wet. We highly recommend that you include this in your Niagara Falls visit because it is a lot of fun and gives you a great perspective of the falls and the incredible power of the Niagara River.


Buffalo River History Tour - Buffalo

This is one of the great things to do on the Buffalo Waterfront. You will see many concrete grain silos which are reminiscent of the days when Buffalo was the largest grain port in the world. Some have been repurposed, but this 90 minute boat tour shows you the history of the area up close and personal. You can also opt to go on a Sunset Harbor or Caribbean Cruise that allows you to experience the beautiful views of the Buffalo River with more of a party atmosphere.


Cave of the Winds - Niagara Falls

There are numerous ways to see Niagara Falls, but the best is the Cave of the Winds Tour. Well, that is if you don’t mind getting up close and personal with a lot of water. They give you water shoes to use, but you can bring your own if you prefer. After you take the elevator 175 feet down to the bottom of the Bridal Veil falls, you walk your way back up the numerous stairs and look out areas to see the power and magnitude of the falls.


Griffis Sculplture Park, Hike Buffalo Niagara

Griffis Sculpture Park - East Otto

The Ellicottville area south of Buffalo is noted for its skiing options in the winter, but a few miles away there is a 450 acre park with over 250 sculptures that is worth the trip. We could have put this in the Hikes and Bikes section because the hilly terrain in the area does make for a good hike through the park, but we will leave it here because looking at the sculptures and learning about the artistic creations is the main activity here. The hiking is just an added bonus!


Lockport Locks Canal Cruises - Lockport

When the Erie Canal first reached the area in 1825, the engineers had to figure out how to navigate a 60 foot drop in elevation in the area. The solution was to build a flight of five locks that were each 12 feet high. And that is how Lockport was born! Today, there are only two locks that fill with over 3 million gallons of water to allow boats to pass through. The 2 hour long Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruise takes you through those locks and teaches you a lot about the history of the canal while the boat cruises on the canal just as people have been doing for almost 200 years. It is a fun and informative tour that is enjoyable whether you are 8 or 80!


Six Flags Darien Lake Amusement Park - Darien Lake

Thrill seekers of all ages love the 11 roller coasters at the park, but many adults come for the Performing Arts Center where you and 21,599 of your soon to be closest friends watch big name musicians and bands. There are also a bunch of water slides, rides, and typical amusement park activities that have something for everyone in the family. It is a great summertime thing for the family or people of all ages.


Buffalo Zoo - Buffalo

The seventh oldest zoo in the U.S. still has a lot going for it 150 years later. With over 23 acres of land and 320 different animal species, the zoo is a fun experiences for kids and adults all year round.


Sunrise II Sportfishing - Kent

Imagine catching a 20 pound Salmon in the morning and having it for dinner that evening. The Lake Ontario fishing charter business is booming and tens of thousands of visitors to the area experience the exhilaration of reeling in a whopper! Captain Bob Stevens has been a licensed Charter Boat Fisherman for 30 years and he knows the how, when, and where to help you bring home a trophy fish for your wall, or dinner for 10! With his expertise, you can be a newbie to the fishing scene, but still catch big fish and have an experience that you will remember the rest of your life.


Holiday Valley - Ellicottville

Even though it is a year round resort with an aerial park, golf, and mountain biking, winter time is still king here with over 40 trails and abundant snow due to their proximity to Lake Erie and the snow that it brings. With over 40 skiing trails, snow tubing, and a Mountain Roller Coaster, there is fun to be had here for a couple’s weekend getaway, a family vacation, or just a Guys/Gals Weekend. Ellicottville is a great ski town with plenty of apres ski activities as well.