When we first visited this site, we thought it was simply the remains of an old power plant. We…read morewere attracted to it by a call of a peregrine falcon. He was next to the building, past a fenced area, calling to other peregrines. We looked around and left. The next day we returned to look around more, and we saw a group of fishermen disappear inside. Intriguing! We followed them in. Inside was an elevator - with directions - that took us down to a shoreline. The fishermen who rode down with us told us they would walk along it to find a spot to fish. But they weren't going to keep the fish. Said they weren't good for eating. They would release whatever they caught. We saw along the wall of the base of the power plant huge panels of information about it. We also saw part of the American Falls when we walked down to the water. When we went back up, we saw a plaque in front of the building, praising those whose efforts led to hydro-electric power. Glad we stopped both days.

This is a historic site often barely mentioned in passing in guidebooks and brochures for Niagara…read moreFalls, and apparently off the beaten path but not entirely hidden, it's well worth a visit (and free of charge!). Parking is not a concern since the power plant site is adjacent to the Niagara Gorge Discovery Centre/Niagara Gorge Trailhead Building and the parking lot for it. Entering the stone structure, there's a big lift ahead, which will take you right down to the ground level where you're free to explore whatever is left of the once-active power station. Walk a little further down and you'll also get a wide angle view of the Rainbow Bridge and, of course, the grand Niagara River. There are brochures, maps, coupons, and guidebooks for nearby attractions and businesses once you're back up on the upper ground level where you took the lift, and the booklet with black and white pictures about the history of the site and the disaster in 1956 is another treat.

In Buffalo and the entire Western New York region, everyone ought to know Charles E. Burchfield. I…read moream certain that those interested in art have heard of him as well. He's recognized as one of the most distinguished American painters. Charles Rand Penney was a Buffalo native who donated his collection of Western New York Art, including 183 works by Charles E. Burchfield. The Burchfield Penney Art Center is dedicated to works by Burchfield and by regional artists. You'll see those active in the previous and the contemporary century. The Burchfield Penney functions as a gallery and a museum, serving as an institution affiliated with the Buffalo State University. For this reason, many events are related to education and personal development. It is worth checking what is happening and which events align with your individual needs and interests. Either way, it is definitely a place worth visiting. It's New York's first green museum certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's (LEED) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. It's a two-story open and bright space, pretty great to be honest :). On the second Friday of every month, admission is free. "Be ready for special events, music, workshops, happy hours and more!" It's also free for Burchfield Penney members, Buffalo State University Students, Faculty & Staff, United States and Canada Active Military and their families, United States Military Veterans, ASI Arts Access Pass holders, and children and teens under 18 years old.

A large, bright, two-story museum with several galleries on both floors…read more Unlike many museums which have no art created after 1870? This one will be displaying artwork solicited last year from local artists. Check their website for listings of rotating exhibits and openings.hh

I absolutely loved the Erie Canal Lock Cruise! Not because it was flashy or over-the-top, but…read morebecause it was such an incredible experience. Watching the locks open and close from inside the canal, then feeling the boat rise and descend through the lock system, was fascinating. Hearing the history behind the Erie Canal while seeing and experiencing the engineering firsthand made it all come alive. As a wheelchair user, I was also thrilled that the boat was fully accessible. I rolled right down the ramp with no issues. The crew was fabulous, knowledgeable, and genuinely happy to assist. An unforgettable experience! #ErieCanalLockCruise #TysAdventures26 #Lockport #NiagaraRegion

We did the lock tour . Unable to understand captain . Supposedly it was the 84 year old owner . It…read morewas a mumble jumble . Did not learn anything about the history about the Eerie canal . Instead blasting patriotic songs over the speaker system on repeat . Definitely not worth $ 26 Tour started 15 min late and ended 15 min early . Very disappointing.

This is a must stop winery for anyone interested in haunted paranormal activities. They were…read morevisited by Ghost Hunters & featured on Most Terrifying Places in America. Believe these things or not, it's fun to hear the stories. When there we heard one about things happening on Thursdays at 3:00 and yes, that's when we were there! Seeing the name of their wifi was 'Thursdayatthree' made me realize the story wasn't just because that was when we were there. I'm not a huge fan of their wines. A bit to sweet for my taste but that's personal preference. And their tastings are a bit small but still worth the experience. 2025-90

Typical winery that charges for tasting samples. Main problem was that the samples were so small…read morethat you really couldn't taste the wine. The story about the haunted mansion was not very believable and corny. Bottom line, not worth the time and money.

This building is absolutely gorgeous. I attended the Queen City Market event here and it was…read moreamazing. Lots of one of a kind gifts and merchandise. The building was the perfect venue for this event. The ceiling and windows are beautiful.

Oh, you know, just one of about a billion cool Buffalo gems…read more I've been here for two events now: the Queen City Market, and the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair. And for an indie craft fair venue, you could do much worse than the Karpeles. (Especially since it's free to use for certain nonprofits!) Both times, I've enjoyed being able to find a street parking space fairly close to the library -- then grabbing some food truck fare outside (as there are no open kitchens nearby to preclude them from joining the party). Once you're inside, the space opens up, with a big organ on one side and large, ornate windows on the other. On the main floor, it's possible to pack in dozens of vendors with tables. It's nice to feel downright cozy with everyone there (as the space is a bit drafty). There's also an upstairs space where it's possible to hold breakout sessions, readings, lectures and the like. I myself have tabled in this space for Yelp, and I have no complaints, save the draft -- and the lighting, as it's a bit dim in there. But again, for a (potentially free) space -- it's gorgeous, and lends itself well to events that, like the library, highlight the pursuit of knowledge and the building of community. If you're ever on the fence about going to an event here (or being a vendor), go for it -- it's awesome!

Buffalo Myanmar Thingyan Festival (Water Festival), the Burmese Lunar New Year. Traditionally…read morecelebrated in April, but because of Buffalo's weather, it was moved to early summer, so everyone can be soaked in water without harm :). "People spray each other with water /originally soaked in Pattra leaves/ during the celebration to chase away any evil spirits and ill luck, as well as to express good wishes and expectations for the New Year." It is an authentic event, full of life and a joyful atmosphere. Everyone was welcomed and invited. There was plenty of fun, tasty food, and non-alcoholic drinks. People performed on the large stage accompanied by a live band. We weren't there from the very beginning, but at one point it felt like a karaoke party, though I assume everything was well planned in advance. Later, the DJ took charge of the entertainment. Throughout the festival, mostly kids and young adults were dousing each other with water. It reminded me of a real 'Śmigus Dyngus' in Poland. It was wild. Garden hoses were set up right next to the stage, and the people dancing to the music were liberally sprayed with them :). For food, we had deep fried chicken drumsticks, which were very popular among the crowd. Also, we tried Chè Thái, a colorful coconut milk drink. It was more like a desert, loaded with sweet jellies and lychees. It was a pleasant surprise to be offered camping chairs by someone connected to the vendor. We appreciated the rest from standing and could enjoy our drink more comfortably. It was a wonderful gesture of hospitality. This has never happened at any street festival I've been to before. Next time, we should get there a bit earlier to make sure we don't miss anything.

This is exactly what a festival should be. Live music, food, and kids having fun. Everyone was so…read morehappy and alive. I learned this festival was happening while at the Taste of Diversity. We were told there was a Burmese festival down the street with free food. We walked down and it was so much more. It was an even better festival than the Taste of Diversity. The first two or three blocks of Grant were blocked off with a giant stage on one end and a water splashing area on the other. We approached from the north, so the water area was what we saw first. There were kids everywhere, all soaking wait, running with water guns and water shooters and hoses. Anyone who walked by risked getting wet, and there were warning signs. Everyone we could see was a good sport about getting wet - the water is part of the celebration. An old man came up to us and whipped colored baby powder on our faces and explained that the new year is when everything gets washed away, Adolescents carrying a bucket walked up to someone they knew and slowly poured a cup of water down the back of his shirt. He didn't try to run or yell, he laughed and then thanked them. Sun Restaurant was there as well as a Thai Restaurant from the suburbs.There were also bowls of warm tapioca...soup I guess. Each had one piece of white sweet potato. It was interesting. All the food was vegetarian. We got some black sushi rolls and thoat from Sun and some samosa looking thing from an unknown vendor. The best part of the whole festival was the music. The music was wonderful and we just sat and listened to it. It was all young Myanmar Americans singing, playing electric guitars, drums. All the performers were great and most had this wholesome 60s rock sound that sounded really familiar but none of it was in English and I couldn't quite put my finger on the sound. Singer after singer came up, performed, had leis draped around his or her neck while singing, and put on a really excellent show. Apparently this isn't the first time this festival has taken place but I've never heard of it before. Perhaps the new West Side Bazaar has made it a more formal event. Regardless, I plan on never missing it in the future.

This unique site is part of the National Parks Service. To visit/tour you need to book your tour…read moreand they are typically only offered on the hour. This is one of the few sites where a president was inaugurated outside of Washington DC. During the tour, you can visit the library room where Roosevelt took the oath of office. It is interesting to have this bit of unique history in Buffalo! There is an on site parking lot located in the back of the building. There is also street parking (but there are typically ample spots in the lot). Your tour guide will bring you through a display about the Pan AM and give you a sense of the time period. You also learn about Teddy Roosevelt and his presidency in a video presentation. Additionally, you can sit in a replica of Roosevelt's desk and enjoy an interactive photo opp. The down side for me is that there are several interactive exhibits and lots of panels to read when you enter the museum portion, but you really don't have any time to read and enjoy them because you are forced to move on with the tour. Worth a visit to learn more about this unique piece of Buffalo history, but also learn more about Teddy Roosevelt as well.

This is the site that brought Roosevelt into office and forever changed our nation. A docent gives…read moretours of the small museum with facts on Roosevelt. There is a small gift store with many memorabilia celebrating one of the US Presidents.

My husband are from Eastern KY and I visited Niagara Falls in early September. It was our first…read morevisit, so we weren't familiar with the area. We booked a tour through Niagara Falls Tour Company, which included a ride on the Maid of the Mist. We were so happy with our tour. We were taken to several areas of the Falls as well as the local area. Our tour guide, Bob, was so nice, funny and informative. Without taking this tour, we would have missed many beautiful areas. I highly recommend!

I had a great time. However I don't feel they added enough value for the cost of the tickets. If I…read morewas to do it over I would just do it without the tour. And putting up a sign to guilt people into a 20% tip is wrong when you're paying double the ticket price and I am sure you buy the tickets at a discounted rate. $160 for a $50 experience and then you want us to tip the driver over $25 is crazy.