Visiting buffalo

[ukbuffalo]

Hi ,

 

I am a UK born buffalo fan. I am travelling over to New York City for a week ( my first trip to USA ) at the beginning of September and have managed to get tickets for the season opener against New York Jets 

 

I have just managed to convince my friend I am going with to fly to buffalo for a day trip on the Friday before the game. I am deffo gonna organise a stadium tour but is there anything else people would recommend doing while we are there ??

 

Cheers 

[HOUSE]

Timmy Horton's

 

 

Edited July 28, 2019 by HOUSE

[Buffalo716]

As a resident all my life I have some ideas.

 

Buffalo zoo is the 3rd oldest zoo in the country and fantastic

 

Niagara falls is always a must for tourist's

 

Maybe go downtown to Shea's district and catch a play or concert

 

Bisons baseball game downtown

 

Try pizza and wings from a local mom and pop joint

 

We have more museum's per person than most cities. Albright Knox is probably most well known and world famous

 

If you are open to driving around a bit go to Knox Farms. It's a beautiful estate with hundreds of acres of beautiful scenery.. habitats, wildlife , hiking trails 

Edited July 28, 2019 by Buffalo716

[Chandler#81]

Welcome! 

Cant head to Western New York and NOT see Niagara Falls. Gotta try the chicken wings and Beef on Weck. Enjoy!

[Helpmenow]

11 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

As a resident all my life I have some ideas.

 

Buffalo zoo is the 3rd oldest zoo in the country and fantastic

 

Niagara falls is always a must for tourist's

 

Maybe go downtown to Shea's district and catch a play or concert

 

Bisons baseball game downtown

 

Try pizza and wings from a local mom and pop joint

Buffalo zoo is average. San Diego’s is fantastic 

[Ittakestime]

Since it is a day trip in fall, you are better off just walking around the different areas of downtown. In the afternoon hit up elmwood area.  Hit up the Delaware park casino area by Albright Knox. You can rent canoes over there to see the Japanese gardens. Hit up canal side and take the water taxi to outer harbor. 

 

I would avoid being stuck somewhere for hours. It’s a waste if you only have a short amount of time

[Buffalo716]

11 minutes ago, Helpmenow said:

Buffalo zoo is average. San Diego’s is fantastic 

Have you been to an average zoo? It's certainly not average

 

Your comparing it to like the Picasso of Zoos.

 

The Buffalo zoo is definitely a good attraction.

 

They don't have 50,000 animals because there mission statement is to help reproduce dwindling animal populations

[Buffalo_Gal]

I hate the San Diego Zoo... walk all day in between exhibits to see some sleeping animal. Saying that, I was at the Buffalo Zoo two weeks ago - not a place I'd recommend without children under 10, and not if I only have one day in the area.

Definitely hit Niagara Falls. You will be glad you did. If you spend all day up there Maid of the Mist, the Cave of Winds, and a walk down goat island for the rapids.

If you are artsy, Buffalo has a decent amount of art museums, is known for its architecture (take a preservationist tour!), some time at the canalside/waterfront (it is lovely and you can go to the naval park),  the Olmstead Park system is beautiful,  if you like flowers the botanical garden is lovely,  if you just want to drink hit riverworks while people watching, if you are a firefighter the E. M. Cotter is the oldest fire boat in the world,  there is a museum for everything from manuscripts to disabilities to Pierce Arrow cars...

What do you like to do? It can help narrow things down.
 

[ExiledInIllinois]

You're there for a week.  Why not drive to BFLo from NYC?

 

NYS is one of the most beautiful and geographically splendid states.

 

6 days in NYC is a waste.  I rather spend one there at the game and the other days in the rest of the state.

 

Flying in for one day will be tough.  Tight. So much to do.

Edited July 28, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[ukbuffalo]

Just now, ExiledInIllinois said:

You're there for a week.  Why not drive to BFLo from NYC?

 

NYS is one of the most beautiful and geographically spledid states.

 

6 days in NYC is a waste.  I rather spend one there at the game and the other days in the rest of the state.

 

Flying in for one day will be tough.  Tight. So much to do.

 

Its my mates birthday and he has organised the full thing. My only two demands  was the visit to buffalo and to be at the opener 

[ExiledInIllinois]

Just now, ukbuffalo said:

 

Its my mates birthday and he has organised the full thing. My only two demands  was the visit to buffalo and to be at the opener 

Fair enough.  BFLo is almost 400 miles away.

[ukbuffalo]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

I hate the San Diego Zoo... walk all day in between exhibits to see some sleeping animal. Saying that, I was at the Buffalo Zoo two weeks ago - not a place I'd recommend without children under 10, and not if I only have one day in the area.

Definitely hit Niagara Falls. You will be glad you did. If you spend all day up there Maid of the Mist, the Cave of Winds, and a walk down goat island for the rapids.

If you are artsy, Buffalo has a decent amount of art museums, is known for its architecture (take a preservationist tour!), some time at the canalside/waterfront (it is lovely and you can go to the naval park),  the Olmstead Park system is beautiful,  if you like flowers the botanical garden is lovely,  if you just want to drink hit riverworks while people watching, if you are a firefighter the E. M. Cotter is the oldest fire boat in the world,  there is a museum for everything from manuscripts to disabilities to Pierce Arrow cars...

What do you like to do? It can help narrow things down.
 

To be honest I like a lot of things and just want to take in as much as I can. While I hope I will be able to come back for longer in the future you never know so wanna make the most of it 

Just now, ExiledInIllinois said:

Fair enough.  BFLo is almost 400 miles away.

 

Yeah we are looking at flights or the greyhound

[Buffalo_Gal]

Check trains from NYC to Buffalo. If you get on the 7:15 train, you will be downtown by 3:15 and still get to view NYS as you cross it. @ExiledInIllinois is correct, NYS is absolutely beautiful (I also agree 6 days in NYC is a waste). 

[PromoTheRobot]

48 minutes ago, ukbuffalo said:

Hi ,

 

I am a UK born buffalo fan. I am travelling over to New York City for a week ( my first trip to USA ) at the beginning of September and have managed to get tickets for the season opener against New York Jets 

 

I have just managed to convince my friend I am going with to fly to buffalo for a day trip on the Friday before the game. I am deffo gonna organise a stadium tour but is there anything else people would recommend doing while we are there ??

 

Cheers 

 

Spend some time downtown at Canalside.

 

If you like old cars very the Piece Arrow Museum downtown. There's a great view of the city from the top of City Hall. Rent kayaks and paddle the Buffalo River through Silo City. Or rent bicycles (there is a civic bike share around town) and ride along the Niagara River on Squaw Island. The land on the other side of the river is Canada.

 

Getting chicken wings is a must. (Buffalo wing sauce with Bleu cheese only, no ranch!) Anchor Bar is the place the dish was invented, but better wings can be found elsewhere, like Swannie House, Gabriel's Gate or Gene McCarthy's.

 

Speaking of Gene McCarthy's, they brew their own beer. There are a number of small brewpubs like Flying Bison, Big Ditch, Belt Line, Resurgence, Lafayette Hotel, and many others.

Edited July 28, 2019 by PromoTheRobot

[Buffalo_Gal]

Here's the link to Amtrak

[PromoTheRobot]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

Check trains from NYC to Buffalo. If you get on the 7:15 train, you will be downtown by 3:15 and still get to view NYS as you cross it. @ExiledInIllinois is correct, NYS is absolutely beautiful (I also agree 6 days in NYC is a waste). 

 

Train? That's 8-10 hours of your life you'll never get back. Why would anyone take a train when you can fly in an hour?

Edited July 28, 2019 by PromoTheRobot

[ExiledInIllinois]

3 minutes ago, ukbuffalo said:

To be honest I like a lot of things and just want to take in as much as I can. While I hope I will be able to come back for longer in the future you never know so wanna make the most of it 

 

Yeah we are looking at flights or the greyhound

What about car rental? You'll be there in 6 hours... AND can stop... So many sights along the way.  Get to BFLo early if you leave early.  Spend the night, next day take in area... Then that late afternoon drive back.  I'd throw 3 full days.... But understand time is limited.  2 travel days, I layover day in Buffalo/upstate NY.

2 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

Check trains from NYC to Buffalo. If you get on the 7:15 train, you will be downtown by 3:15 and still get to view NYS as you cross it. @ExiledInIllinois is correct, NYS is absolutely beautiful (I also agree 6 days in NYC is a waste). 

Yeah... They can hit Letchworth "Grand Cayon of the East" in September on way through, etc... 

 

At very least 3 full days if from NYC.  4 days in NYC is still too much!

[Another Fan]

If you like Frank Lloyd Wright there's a few of his buildings around town 

[albanyfan]

The nickel tour....From the airport..drive expressways to the zoo, swing around and down Nottingham road to elmwood Ave, then behind the Albright Knox, Lincoln parkway, Chapin parkway to Delaware Ave to downtown. Canal place, etc...skyway to milestrip to the stadium...then back to the airport?

[Buffalo_Gal]

15 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Train? That's 8-10 hours of your life you'll never get back. Why would anyone take a train when you can fly in an hour?

The flight time between NYC (JFK, LGA, or EWR) is scheduled between 60 and 90 minutes (direction + time of day). The flight time itself is, of course, very short.  Depending on what time of day you fly, actual time getting to the airport, security, on the tarmac, in flight, then driving home can add up to a whole lot more than 4 hours door-to-door.  When my cross-state commute started to grow to 6 or 7 hours via plane, I started driving cross-state (because I dropped down 81 to cut over to Jersey and then cut over). It got to be about the same amount of time to drive as to fly. If you go at 6am, flying is definitely a viable option. IF everything goes as planned, it can also be viable during the day. If it is anytime after 5pm... ummm not-so-much.
 

Edited July 28, 2019 by Buffalo_Gal

[PromoTheRobot]

5 minutes ago, Buffalo_Gal said:

The flight time between NYC (JFK, LGA, or EWR) is scheduled between 60 and 90 minutes (direction + time of day). The flight time itself is, of course, very short.  Depending on what time of day you fly, actual time getting to the airport, security, on the tarmac, in flight, then driving home can add up to a whole lot more than 4 hours door-to-door.  When my cross-state commute started to grow to 6 or 7 hours via plane, I started driving cross-state (because I dropped down 81 to Jersey and then cut over). It got to be about the same amount of time to drive as to fly. If you go at 6am, flying is definitely a viable option. IF everything goes as planned, it can also be viable during the day. If it is anytime after 5pm... ummm not-so-much.
 

 

I took the train from Boston to Buffalo once....once! There little to see, there is zero cell service because all the cell towers are on highways, not rail lines. And it took 2 hours to change trains in Albany. I would rather fly, drive or take a bus before I'd ride on a train to Buffalo.

 

P.S....skip the zoo, too.

Edited July 28, 2019 by PromoTheRobot

[Buffalo_Gal]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

I took the train from Boston to Buffalo once....once! There little to see, there is zero cell service because all the cell towers are on highways, not rail lines. And it took 2 hours to change trains in Albany. I would rather fly, drive or take a bus before I'd ride on a train to Buffalo.

 

P.S....skip the zoo, too.

It is different now... and they have a business class section too. ?

[Rocket94]

If you do go to Niagara Falls, look for VioIa's Submarines! 

[Augie]

33 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Train? That's 8-10 hours of your life you'll never get back. Why would anyone take a train when you can fly in an hour?

 

While I generally agree with that, that is something I’ve long wanted to do, just for the heck of it. I have no idea if this is the scenic type of trip I imagine, so maybe somewhere more interesting would be better.

 

There is a point where you have to balance flying vs driving. A bunch of variables there to consider. Came to Atlanta from Florida for an event years ago with the family. Airfare and car rental was around $1,500, and I figured I saved less than 2 hours when it was all said and done. Depending on the situation, I now decide on the case by case details. 

 

Didn’t @plenzmd1 come up with some extremely detailed visitors guide info? Was that more game day stuff? It might actually be too much information, but it might also be very helpful. 

[Just Jack]

Don’t take Greyhound or Amtrak, you’ll spend too much time traveling. You’d probably have to turn right around and head back when you arrive. Car, same thing, you might get a few hours. Plane is the way to go, you can get The first Jet Blue flight from NYC and the last Jet Blue from Buffalo. Even with checking in for your return, you’ll get about 10-12 hours in Buffalo. Download Uber or Lyft to get around once you arrive so you don’t have to deal with rentals. 

 

 

Edited July 28, 2019 by Just Jack

[Augie]

8 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

Don’t take Greyhound or Amtrak, you’ll spend too much time traveling. You’d probably have to turn right around and head back when you arrive. Car, same thing, you might get a few hours. Plane is the way to go, you can get The first Jet Blue flight from NYC and the last Jet Blue from Buffalo. Even with checking in for your return, you’ll get about 10-12 hours in Buffalo. Download Uber or Lyft to get around once you arrive so you don’t have to deal with rentals. 

 

 

 

This is a great point. It’s changed my world. I use it a TON, both for convenience and allowing a few pops along the way. Cheaper than a rental, often cheaper than just parking! In a city like Buffalo you won’t have any rides too expensive. Even getting to the Falls can’t be TOO bad. 

[BillsFan4]

 

14 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

Don’t take Greyhound or Amtrak, you’ll spend too much time traveling. You’d probably have to turn right around and head back when you arrive. Car, same thing, you might get a few hours. Plane is the way to go, you can get The first Jet Blue flight from NYC and the last Jet Blue from Buffalo. Even with checking in for your return, you’ll get about 10-12 hours in Buffalo. Download Uber or Lyft to get around once you arrive so you don’t have to deal with rentals. 

 

 

Good suggestion. I was just going to suggest JetBlue too. I fly to NYC often and always use JB. 

 

They have flights for as cheap as $55-60 each way (depending on the day of the week and time of year, etc). 

 

Its only a quick 45 minute flight if you’re strapped for time. 

 

Amtrak is great if you have more time. 

[SinceThe70s]

18 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

While I generally agree with that, that is something I’ve long wanted to do, just for the heck of it. I have no idea if this is the scenic type of trip I imagine, so maybe somewhere more interesting would be better.

 

There is a point where you have to balance flying vs driving. A bunch of variables there to consider. Came to Atlanta from Florida for an event years ago with the family. Airfare and car rental was around $1,500, and I figured I saved less than 2 hours when it was all said and done. Depending on the situation, I now decide on the case by case details. 

 

Didn’t @plenzmd1 come up with some extremely detailed visitors guide info? Was that more game day stuff? It might actually be too much information, but it might also be very helpful. 

 

Here's a link to the @plenzmd1 google doc. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F9yhWkCZkeTFX_6yagiiwCPu-JUnhBAxuPILxW8U438/edit

 

My two cents is you should visit Niagara Falls. A lot of people say that the Canadian side is better. That may or may not be true, but it requires crossing the border and there's plenty to do and see on the American side.

[Misterbluesky]

2 hours ago, ukbuffalo said:

Hi ,

 

I am a UK born buffalo fan. I am travelling over to New York City for a week ( my first trip to USA ) at the beginning of September and have managed to get tickets for the season opener against New York Jets 

 

I have just managed to convince my friend I am going with to fly to buffalo for a day trip on the Friday before the game. I am deffo gonna organise a stadium tour but is there anything else people would recommend doing while we are there ??

 

Cheers 

Tee Hee

[Seasons1992]

I went on a kayak voyage on the Buffalo River yesterday between all the grain elevators. It was amazing, and only $28 for 2 hours. I highly recommend it.

I heard that @ExiledInIllinois will be leading a narrated, 8-hour guided tour soon, explaining all the boats, all the sights, and how water was originally invented..............

Edited July 28, 2019 by Seasons1992

[stony]

The Amtrak ride from NYC to Albany is nice through the Hudson Valley.  

 

Albany to Buffalo is flat and boring.  I'd take the plane.

Edited July 28, 2019 by stony

[ExiledInIllinois]

56 minutes ago, Seasons1992 said:

I went on a kayak voyage on the Buffalo River yesterday between all the grain elevators. It was amazing, and only $28 for 2 hours. I highly recommend it.

I heard that @ExiledInIllinois will be leading a narrated, 8-hour guided tour soon, explaining all the boats, all the sights, and how water was originally invented..............

Thanks for the shout out!

 

Not sure if they are still there... Especially in the age of GPS sounding... But if you ever see a survey station mark painted on the Black Rock Channel (where they crew/row on the Niagara Section Wall), the outter & inner breakwaters or the Ship Canal (where you were)... I painted those station marks and built that baseline to sound (take depth readings) the Buffalo Harbor area!

 

The stations are usually marked something like: 1+00, 2+00, etc.. etc... That's how we would sound in the pre-GPS days.  Build baseline, then go off each station w/boat to take sounding.  That data would determine how much the area needed to be dredged and to figure out how much it would cost to remove said spoil (the material removed from bottom).

 

Sadly, my artwork is slowly being erased by time & technology,  nobody is updating those station marks anymore because everything is controlled view the heavens/sky!

 

LoL... You knew I wouldn't disappoint!  ?

Edited July 28, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, Augie said:

 

While I generally agree with that, that is something I’ve long wanted to do, just for the heck of it. I have no idea if this is the scenic type of trip I imagine, so maybe somewhere more interesting would be better.

 

There is a point where you have to balance flying vs driving. A bunch of variables there to consider. Came to Atlanta from Florida for an event years ago with the family. Airfare and car rental was around $1,500, and I figured I saved less than 2 hours when it was all said and done. Depending on the situation, I now decide on the case by case details. 

 

Didn’t @plenzmd1 come up with some extremely detailed visitors guide info? Was that more game day stuff? It might actually be too much information, but it might also be very helpful. 

 

I can vouch the line from Albany to Buffalo has one scenic moment along the Mohawk River. The rest of the ride is bupkis. Except the 45 seconds blowing down Main St in Fonda, NY at full speed. That was kind of exciting worrying if we'd hit anyone.

[US Egg]

N.Y. to Buffalo trains and buses are a lot safer way to "move product". 

[Just Joshin']

3 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

I took the train from Boston to Buffalo once....once! There little to see, there is zero cell service because all the cell towers are on highways, not rail lines. And it took 2 hours to change trains in Albany. I would rather fly, drive or take a bus before I'd ride on a train to Buffalo.

 

P.S....skip the zoo, too.

Very little scenery on the train trip.  A bit around the Hudson River but that was it.

[bbb]

If you're only going to do one thing, it's GOT to be the Maid of the Mist.  You can't do that anywhere else

 

[Helpmenow]

5 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Have you been to an average zoo? It's certainly not average

 

Your comparing it to like the Picasso of Zoos.

 

The Buffalo zoo is definitely a good attraction.

 

They don't have 50,000 animals because there mission statement is to help reproduce dwindling animal populations

I lived in San Diego, and buffalo is slightly above average.

Edited July 29, 2019 by Helpmenow

[Augie]

4 hours ago, BillsFan4 said:

 

Good suggestion. I was just going to suggest JetBlue too. I fly to NYC often and always use JB. 

 

They have flights for as cheap as $55-60 each way (depending on the day of the week and time of year, etc). 

 

Its only a quick 45 minute flight if you’re strapped for time. 

 

Amtrak is great if you have more time. 

 

I get what you’re saying, but it’s not quite that simple. My wife flies to NYC almost every week for work. She leaves 2 hours early for the airport. Sometimes (far too often) the flight is delayed. Once in NYC it’s about an hour to get from LaGuardia to the hotel. Then there is the time in the air (admittedly brief from NY to Buffalo, but about 2.5 hours from ATL). Heck, it takes a good 20 minutes just to get off the plane! 

 

But for that cheap flight I’d make the trip a couple times a year. Catch a play, some nice meals, Christmas season, etc. Her boss would like her to move there. That will NEVER happen. It’s for some people, but not for us. 

[US Egg]

6 hours ago, Rocket94 said:

If you do go to Niagara Falls, look for VioIa's Submarines! 

Don't they call them U-boats in England ?

[Rocket94]

5 minutes ago, I am the egg man said:

Don't they call them U-boats in England ?

You know what...I may have heard that before. I wouldn't be surprised.