Sorta Random Sunday: Top 10 Things To Do in Buffalo, NY

Now you probably know by now from reading the blog that I am from Buffalo, NY. It’s also where I live now after being away for 15 years for college, medical school, residency, and fellowship.

During my training, everyone would make fun of me because I would always just go back home to Buffalo during my vacations. We actually took very few trips elsewhere with the main alternative destination being Miami to visit my wife’s family. And people outside of Buffalo are always dogging it for the snow and cold weather.

But like all true Buffalonians, I have an immense amount of pride in my city and think it’s a pretty cool place. So, in this post, I want to rip off 10 of the top cool things that Buffalo has to offer. And hey, if you decide to visit, look me up!

Top 10 things to do in Buffalo, NY

These are in no particular order

1. Get your sports on

I love sports and Buffalo is nothing if not a haven for sports fanatics.

I have to put this out right at the jump though, despite being from Buffalo, I am decidedly NOT a Buffalo Bills fan. NY Jets all the way…since birth. But, with that being said, going to Bills games is a fun experience if nothing else for the tailgating.

We also have professional hockey (Buffalo Sabres), a AAA baseball team (Buffalo Bisons), and multiple Division I college teams (Univ. at Buffalo, Canisius College, Niagara University).

2. Just go eat anywhere

This could be a whole post in itself but the food in Buffalo is unreal. It ranges from late night dives to fine dining. And there are a ton of awesome local breweries (Big Ditch is my favorite).

Of course, Buffalo is known for its wings. So you have to get some. My favorites: Duff’s hot wings and La Nova charbroiled BBQ wings.

3. Canalside

This is new since I moved back to Buffalo. When I was growing up here, the big gripe was that the city didn’t develop its waterfront on Lake Erie enough. So they finally did.

They do a better job describing it than I could:

“Canalside is at the heart of downtown Buffalo’s waterfront revitalization. Located at the 1825 terminus of the Erie Canal, the site’s storied history is just as exciting as its future! Canalside hosts hundreds of events throughout the year, many of which are free or low cost to the public. You’ll find concerts and festivals, summer fitness classes and ice skating, children’s programming, history tours, and outdoor winter activities.”

4. Travel downhill in the snow

It snows in Buffalo during the winter, ok? I’m not gonna beat around the bush. It’s called seasons people.

And we make the best of the snow and I actually love it.

Once of the main reasons is that I love snowboarding. No one is ever gonna confuse the slopes in Buffalo for out West but there is legit skiing and snowboarding here. Try them out.

5. Niagara Falls

I’ll be honest. I take Niagara Falls for granted because I live so close. But they’re really pretty cool. I’m pretty sure they are some kind of wonder of the world or something. Take the Maid of the Mist to ride right up to them or check them out in the winter when they freeze over.

Kinda a necessary stop if you’re visiting…

6. Be cultured

Go to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Again, it’s legit. Like a really cool art museum and yes, those words just came out of my mouth. We’re lucky to have access to such amazing pieces. And it’s so much easier to enjoy than what I was used to in NYC (although those museums obviously rock).

7. Polar bears

I love the zoo. I’ve always love animals and going to the zoo since I was a kid. The Buffalo Zoo is not immense but it’s big and has a lot of cool animals. It’s also like $150 for a yearly family pass so I take my kids like every other weekend.

They have some big attractions like polar bears, snow leopards, rhinos, giraffes etc.

My favorite is seeing the tigers and lions roaming around in the snow.

Also, it is super manageable even with kids.

8. Delaware Park

In the middle of Buffalo is Delaware Park. It was designed in 1868 and is really a great park. It’s like the Central Park of Buffalo. Beautiful lakes, the Buffalo Mansion hotel, Marcy’s Casino, golf course, summer concerts and plays. Lots to do.

9. Allentown

An awesome neighborhood. In their own words…

“If Elmwood is the movie star of Buffalo neighborhoods, then Allentown is the artist. Wall-size murals flank the district’s many live music bars, neighborhood galleries, restaurants and shops. Beautiful brick buildings and characters like the “bubble man,” who blows bubbles out of his apartment window at the corner of Allen Street and Elmwood Avenue, give the neighborhood a creative energy unlike anywhere else in the city.”

10. Brewery tour

I mentioned the breweries before but I have to again because there are just so many good ones. And you can take a bike tour of all of them. Haven’t done it yet but definitely going to.

Again, in their words…

“Buffalo’s rich industrial past is soaked in beer. In 1919, on the eve of Prohibition, Buffalo, NY was home to twenty-nine breweries and featured more than 8,000 drinking establishments. But it wasn’t until the end of the 20th century that brewing returned to the city with the opening of Flying Bison Brewing Company and Pearl Street Grill & Brewery. Today, the Buffalo area has more than 35 craft breweries and five distilleries, including Community Beer Works, Hamburg Brewing Company, Resurgence Brewing Company, Big Ditch Brewing, 42 North Brewing, Lakeward Spirits and Tommyrotter Distillery.”

Well, I said I would only do 10 so I’m gonna stop here but there is even more amazing stuff to do like the Buffalo Science Museum, Outer Harbor, Elmwood neighborhood, sailing on Lake Erie, and on and on.

So, maybe give Buffalo, NY a try!

In the meantime, here are some finance-related posts for you to enjoy as well!

• How Much Is Enough Retirement Savings?
• Physician Side Gigs to Make You Passive Money
• 7 Things To Do When Index Funds Get Boring

What do you think? Have you ever been to Buffalo, NY? What are your favorite things to do in your hometown? Let me know in the comments below!