2-Night Buffalo Weekend Getaway in Summer

Planning a Buffalo weekend getaway is easy! There are many places to visit in Buffalo and today we are sharing our summer Buffalo NY itinerary and things to see and do when you visit the city.

Chicken Wings? Buffalo Bills? Niagara Falls? These are some of the things that come to mind when visiting Buffalo.

They should definitely be on your list for things to do around Buffalo NY…but there is so much more!

I grew up in the suburbs of Buffalo and am quick to tell everyone what an amazing city it is. There are so many different things to see and do.

From historic sites and museums with interactive exhibits, to outdoor live events, sporting events, and day trips a short drive away, you will have the best time visiting Buffalo, NY.

In this article I want to share what we did on a Buffalo weekend getaway as well as ideas to help you plan your visit to Buffalo, New York.

2- Night Buffalo Weekend Getaway

Why visit Buffalo, New York?

Buffalo is great because it has all the offerings of a big city with a small city feel. It is affordable and easy to navigate. Let’s dive into our itinerary for our Buffalo trip.

Day 1: Arrival and Dinner

We started our weekend with a Friday night arrival, check-in and dinner.

After we checked in at the Embassy Suites Downtown and appreciated the amazing skyline views, we walked to dinner at Big Ditch Brewing Company.

This brewery was kid friendly, offered a kids menu, and had some of our favorite Buffalo food: Wings!

If you want to sound like a local, order wings, not Buffalo Wings! We also ordered the hand-cut fries and they were delicious.

After dinner we headed back to our room at the Embassy Suites. We had a full day of activities planned for Saturday and were ready for a good nights sleep.

Where to Stay in Buffalo: The Embassy Suites is a great home base for your stay. It is located within the downtown area and you can walk to restaurants and coffee shops. Check out the best prices for Embassy Suite.

Day 2: Canalside, Facing Our Fears, and Family

Saturday morning we enjoyed the complimentary breakfast at the Embassy Suites and headed over to Canalside for our morning.

We knew there were a lot of things we wanted to see in Buffalo NY today so we started early!

Canalside is an entertainment district along Lake Erie. It has special events, a children’s museum, restaurants, and other activities to enjoy.

It is really amazing what they have done to this area. It has grown and become a destination in itself for locals and visitors.

Our first stop was the newly opened Explore & More Museum. This museum is full of hands-on fun. We loved exploring all of it.

From the water play area, to the construction and building sites. There are so many activities and fun play areas at this museum.

My kids all loved the imaginative play and fun activities at the museum. I think kids ages 3-10 would like this museum the most.

We spent about an hour exploring but could have spent more time depending on how long you play at each exhibit and how busy they museum is.

Family Travel Tip: Arrive 5-10 minutes before the museum opens. You will be among the first to enter and stay ahead of the crowds all day.

After the museum we walked across the street to tour the Naval Park. The Naval Park has 2 huge naval ships, a submarine, and a small museum to tour.

We started with the museum that is located on the second floor of the gift shop, then worked our way to the ships.

These are actual navy ships that have been stationary at the harbor for years. I can remember attending a field trip in elementary school.

The tours are self-guided but you follow along a path on the ground of the ship. You will be climbing stairs and weaving in and out of the ships rooms.

If you are prone to claustrophobia or don’t like small places you may want to stick to the outside areas.

My daughter and I skipped a few of the paths because of this but it was still a fun place to visit and explore. My husband and son loved it!

After the morning of museums we headed to Ted’s Hot Dogs for lunch. There are multiple locations throughout the city but we visited the Chippewa location.

We took our time with lunch and then headed over to Buffalo Riverworks.

Buffalo Riverworks is an adventure park with restaurants and entertainment. It is located where the old Silo grain elevators are and was a really cool way to celebrate the culture and history of Buffalo.

There is a zip line that flies over the parking lot from silo to silo. This is not for the faint of heart and you have to be over at least 7 to try this.

We decided to skip it because it was a bit too adventurous for us and did the ropes course instead.

They have two ropes courses: a beginner and advanced. You must complete the beginners first before moving on to the advanced.

We barely made it through the beginners but we celebrated with ice cream after and then drove out to my parents for dinner.

There is also a ferris wheel, silo climbing, and backyard games.

For dinner we ordered pizza. Buffalo may not be famous for it’s pizza but it should be. The pizza is so good and you can’t go wrong with ordering a pie from a local Buffalo restaurant.

Day 3: Visiting One of the Oldest Zoos in America

We started slow on our last day enjoying the hotel breakfast and packing up to check out. Our last stop for our visit was the Buffalo Zoo and I was looking forward to our visit.

The Buffalo Zoo is among the top ten oldest zoos in the country and it has worked hard to preserve the history and keep up with the times of how animals are housed at zoos. The highlight of the visit was seeing the baby rhino walking around its mother.

We also enjoyed the Rainforest Falls exhibit. The Buffalo Zoo is easy to get around and spend a morning or afternoon exploring. During the summer evenings they offer Zoomagination which is a nightly lantern and lights event.

Our weekend in Buffalo was a really nice getaway. It was low stress but we saw some of the best things in Buffalo. I would love to plan a trip back to see more of the city.

Below is a running list of ideas for fun things to do in Buffalo. You can’t fit them all in one weekend but you can mix and match to what suits your travel needs!

31+ Fun Things to Do in Buffalo NY

This will be an ongoing list of fun activities and attractions in Buffalo and Western New York as I discover them.

If they sound fun for me and my family I want to share them with you. Some may be better suited for young children and other for older kids.

• Erie County Naval & Military park
• Buffalo Zoo
• Buffalo Harbor State Park
• Delaware Park
• Erie County Fair
• Tifft Nature Preserve
• Canalside
• Forest Lawn Cemetery
• Buffalo Harbor State Park
• Niagara Falls
• Shea’s Performing Arts Center
• Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
• Buffalo Heritage Carousel
• Buffalo Museum of Science
• Explore & More- The Ralph C Wilson Jr. Children’s Museum
• Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
• Buffalo AKG Art Museum (Newly Renovated!)
• Buffalo Bills Game
• Buffalo Bisons Minor League Baseball Game
• Buffalo Bandits (Lacrosse)
• Buffalo Sabres
• Spirit of Buffalo (Boat Ride, Pirate Cruises)
• Olcott Beach Carousel Park
• Buffalo Riverworks Zipline
• Buffalo Riverworks Silo Climbing
• Ride the Buffal-O Ferris Wheel
• Arcade and Attica Railroad
• Bflo Harbor Kayak
• Erie Canal Discovery Center
• Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Tour
• Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
• Take a photo with Shark Girl near the Children’s Museum

My Favorite Things to Do in Buffalo NY with Kids

There are many tourist attractions in Buffalo NY that you can plan a weekend away or an entire week. The area is affordable and accessible making it a great destination for families. These are my picks when visiting Buffalo with kids.

• Explore & More Museum
• Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
• Buffalo Museum of Science
• Buffalo Zoo
• Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
• Buffalo Botanical Gardens
• Albright-Knox Art Gallery
• Buffalo City Hall
• The Buffalo History Museum
• Niagara Falls State Park/Maid of the Mist
• Buffalo Bison’s Baseball Game

Best Places to Eat in Buffalo with Kids

• Big Ditch Brewing Company
• Ted’s Hot Dogs
• Anchor Bar
• Gabriel’s Gate
• Participate in the Buffalo Wing Trail
• Charlie the Butcher
• Duffs
• Chef’s Restaurant

Best Family Friendly Hotels in Buffalo, NY

We stayed at the Embassy Suites, and it was incredible, but there are many hotels in Buffalo that have great locations. The Marriott Courtyard is located within walking distance of the Children’s Museum and Naval Park.

If you are looking for more space consider renting a house downtown for easy walks to popular destinations.

Even though I lived in Buffalo for 20+ years and stay with family during most visits, we had an opportunity to stay in downtown Buffalo for a weekend getaway and it was so much fun!

It was a great experience staying along the shores of Lake Erie and soaking in all the best of Buffalo.

A Buffalo weekend getaway may be just what you need for a quick and easy weekend with away.

Read Next: 16 Unforgettable Weekend Getaways from Rochester NY: Escape from the Daily Routine!

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