On the US side of Niagara Falls, which is better btw b/c you can get much closer to the water, it's free to walk right up the edge of both falls .
Lots of great photo ops. Also free, walk down into the gorge near the Niagara Aquarium and hike the trail along the rapids. Extremely scenic and
exciting. Keep the kids away from the water though, accidental deaths are all too common when people fall in every summer, usually during photo-op
or trying to dip their feet in the rushing water. The aquarium is fun too and not much money.
I would do the Cave of the Winds on a hot day over the Maid of the Mist. It's better and cheaper.
There's lots of history around here too, like the underground railroad, Niagara was the northern end of this as escaped slaves headed into Canada.
There's Ft Niagara which was involved in the War of 1812. Arts Festivals, Jazz festival, etc, depends on when you are here. There's always a
festival happening pretty much every weekend in Buffalo, any excuse to have a large gathering of people outside, usually with a beer tent and bands.
You might even want to drive them through or get out and walk around the Love Canal site, it's not in any published tour guide but worth visiting if
you are interested in history or if you want to teach the kiddos something.
Just outside Niagara Falls is 4 mile Creek state park, inexpensive camping right on Lake Ontario. I have it first hand that it's very nice according
to friends that have camped there.
There's also a Children's Explore and More that just opened in Buffalo. And a great zoo.
Just outside Buffalo is the Eternal Flame at Chestnut Ridge Park. Free hike, easy trail, with cool waterfall and flame at the end.
Niagara County has a great wine trail, along with a cidery, meadery, brewery/restaurant, and one excellent distillery (mine)
that's worth visiting
on Saturdays and Sundays. See how to make whiskey on Saturdays.
Also very cheap and fun, if you are on I90 going through Utica, stop by and do the brewery tour at FX Matts Brewery. Call ahead for the times. Kids
love it, after the tour there's delicious Shirley Temple and Root Beer in a 1920's speak-easy. Beer for the adults is included in the price of the
tour, which is just a few bucks.
There's so much to do in the Buffalo/Niagara area that I'm not even scratching the surface.
--
Todd Snyder, Buffalo NY
1976 Eleganza II
