Buffalo (New York)
From World travel guide
Buffalo is a city in the state of New York in the United States of America. It gets a lot of snow, but could hardly be called the snow capital of the world--if any city in New York could it would be a lot closer to Syracuse (well about an hour north of Syracuse). This is due to lake effect snow. During winter, water evaporating from the Great Lakes freezes in the cold air, forming snow clouds and about the first place it falls is in Buffalo.
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Understand
Note: This city is by far the most well known city called Buffalo, but there are others.
Get in
The Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is the the primary airport. While it is an international airport, it earns the designation mostly from a few flights to Toronto and has few other flight to distant urban centers. The Thruway (I-90) runs east to west and connects Buffalo to other major cities in New York like Erie PA (90 West), Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and New York. I-190 runs north to south and connects Niagara Falls and Buffalo. The I-290 negotiates to various suburban areas in the immediate Buffalo vicinity.
By car Buffalo is about two hours from Toronto, one hour from Rochester, two hours from Syracuse, and 7 hours from New York City.
If you come by car from Canada, the US security can be a hassle. It is not uncommon to wait for hours, usually caused by a computer breakdown. This is especially bad during holiday periods (4th of July, Memorial Day, and ANY Canadian holiday).
Get around
The easiest way to get around is by car. Buffalo has several expressways leading in and out of the city, but like many other cities, they lack capacity during rush hour. There is limted taxi service in urban areas. Do not expect to be able to hail a cab except outside the airport. However, good dispatch is available. There is a fairly extensive bus service operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), which serves the city and outlying suburbs. There is one subway line that runs from the University of Buffalo South campus into Downtown Buffalo, and is used quite a bit by workers who commute into Downtown each day.
See
Most people visit Buffalo to stay in a cheap hotels before they visit Niagara Falls. There are a limted number of other attractions including an amusement park and an art gallery. Albright-Knox is an amazing art gallery located on Elmwood Ave (and it's free on Friday nights). There are two amusement parks (each a bit of a trip from Buffalo). One is Martin's Fantasy Island on Grand Island (halfway to the Falls) and is a small amusement park reminiscent of the originals. There is not a ton of stuff to do there but it is good for a cheap day out with small kids. Larger kids and adults alike will enjoy Darien Lake (now owned by Six Flags), which is a short drive east on the New York State Thruway (I-90, toll road). They have a lot of roller coasters, other smaller-thrill rides, and a pretty good water park. Check into Six Flags season passes as you can usually get one of those for the price of about two admissions to a park (this is usually a pre-season special).
Architecture is a wide attraction in Buffalo, with buildings from almost every decade of the city's existence still preserved. Especially prominent is the historic Allentown District, located downtown, various Victorian mansions and other large, old mansions located on Delaware Avenue and the neighborhoods adjacent to its southern edge. There also is the Darwin Martin house, designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 20th century.
Delaware Park, part of the extended Olmsted Park system, is large, with breathtaking views throughout the spring and fall.
Do
In downtown Buffalo, there is an established nightlife scene among Chippewa Street. Bars and nightclub line the street, which is busiest during Fridays and weekends. Most bars and nightclubs are allowed to remain open until 4 A.M. providing a long experience.
During the late spring, and summer, Buffalo Bisons (AAA-Minor League team) games are a pastime by many locals. Seats are usually available and cheap, and provide a great view of downtown.
Buy
There are almost no stores aimed a tourists in down town Buffalo. In the suburbs, there are a few strip malls, although there are many thriving shopping districts that sell various things. Among these are the established Elmwood district, located along the southern portion of Elmwood Avenue, and the up-and-coming Hertel Avenue district, which has a wide variety of returaunts located on it.
Eat
- Duff's Sheridan Plaza, Sheridan Drive, Amherst. Anchor Bar invented them, Duff's perfected them. The best place to eat wings in Buffalo.
- Frank and Teressa's Anchor Bar, Main st 1046, [1]. Birthplace of the original buffalo wings. Still has good wings, salads, etc.
- Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, 76 Pearl Street, tel:716-856-2337, [2]. A restaurant that brews its own beer and has a menu with lots of interesting food, much of it with beer as an ingredient. Check out building, i.e., the belt-driven ceiling fans. Free wireless internet.
Drink
The Buffalo Tap Room on Sheridan and Eggert (in Tonawanda) brews their own beer, and it is very good. Averages about $4 a draft. Decent Food.
Sleep
The Mansion on Delaware is a great place for a romantic getaway, but it tends to be pricey.
There are a lot of hotel chains (Marriott, Microtel, Days Inn, etc), and a new hotel called Homewood Suites opening soon.
Get out
External links
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