Step1
Spend part of an afternoon at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, partially the brainchild of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park. The 1899 tri-domed conservatory is a highlight, showcasing themed areas that include a Rainforest Garden, Desert Garden, Tropical Flower Garden and Dinosaur Gardens.
Step2
Enjoy a night out in one of the city’s notable nightlife neighborhoods. West Chippewa Street draws a younger, high-energy crowd to its many busy bars and cool cafés, while Allentown is home to plenty of less boisterous watering holes.
Step3
Root, root, root for the home team at a wide range of pro sports offerings. The NFL’s Buffalo Bills, NHL’s Buffalo Sabers, Triple-A’s Buffalo Bisons and the National Lacrosse League’s Buffalo Bandits provide the fun.
Step4
Savor a night of casual dining centered around a local creation—the Buffalo wing—by dropping in at the Anchor Bar on the corner of Main and North Streets. The finger-food favorite was invented here in 1964, and the bar remains a fabulously fun and funky destination.
Step5
Take a stroll on the "Elmwood Strip"—the offbeat section of Elmwood Avenue between Forest and Virginia Streets. From aromatherapy to independent music to hip clothing, you’ll enjoy a selection of stores that are perfect for casual browsing.
Step6
To appreciate Buffalo’s awesome array of architecture, arrange for a tour of the Darwin D. Martin House on Summit Avenue, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most renowned works. This incredible example of "Prairie House" architecture includes a 10,000-square-foot main home and stunning glass-roofed conservatory. Docent-led tours must be scheduled in advance, but the time and trouble are well worth it to visit to this superb home.
Step7
Designate at least two hours for the Albright-Knox Gallery on Elmwood Avenue, a sprawling structure with old and new wings showcasing a gamut of great artists. Need we say more than Pollock, Warhol, Johns, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Miró and Mondrian?
