Visiting buffalo

[BillsFan4]

47 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

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. 

 

Laguardia is a nightmare. I only fly into LGA when I have no other choice. I always fly into JFK if at all possible (sometimes it’s not as close as LGA to where I need to go but it’s very easy to get anywhere in NYC from JFK). 

 

I am usually flying on a very tight schedule myself. 

 

I usually have to be headed into the city by about 11am and take a flight that is scheduled to land at JFK somewhere between 8:30 to 10am. I’d say roughly 80+% of the time I have no issues being on time. 

 

There are definitely the odd times that the plane runs late. I find it’s best, if possible, to take one of the first 2 flights of the day. Much less chance they are running behind at that point. 

 

 

Also, If your wife is a frequent flyer and doesn’t already have it, I would highly recommend applying for TSA pre-screening. It’s something like an $85 fee for 5 years. Speeds things up a lot. You don’t have to take off your shoes, coat, belt etc. and you get to skip the main security line to go through a much much shorter line (there’s usually a handful of people in line, at most). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Augie]

3 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

 

Laguardia is a nightmare. I only fly into LGA when I have no other choice. I always fly into JFK if at all possible (sometimes it’s not as close as LGA to where I need to go but it’s very easy to get anywhere in NYC from JFK). 

 

I am usually flying on a very tight schedule myself. 

 

I usually have to be headed into the city by about 11am and take a flight that is scheduled to land at JFK somewhere between 8:30 to 10am. I’d say roughly 80+% of the time I have no issues being on time. 

 

There are definitely the odd times that the plane runs late. I find it’s best, if possible, to take one of the first 2 flights of the day. Much less chance they are running behind at that point. 

 

 

Also, If your wife is a frequent flyer and doesn’t already have it, I would highly recommend applying for TSA pre-screening. It’s something like an $85 fee for 5 years. Speeds things up a lot. You don’t have to take off your shoes, coat, belt etc. and you get to skip the main security line to go through a much much shorter line (there’s usually a handful of people in line, at most). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She does LGA while her former boss likes JFK from ATL. They go back and forth on that. She’s a Delta flier as we are in Atlanta. She goes to at least one city 3 weeks/month. Pre-check, Global Entry, etc is old news to her. She feels like the Sky Club is her second or third office. She gets pissed when stuck in a city that’s not a Delta hub with a Sky Club! She will land and go there for vegetable soup before leaving for the hotel. For only $500/year, it’s a steal as much as she travels. When I go with her, the free wine and drinks alone will cover it in a few trips! 

[ExiledInIllinois]

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

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.

NOT sure why this is popping into my wet noodle, but it is:

 

 

[Buffalo716]

I can personally vouge that they sell some of the best crack east of the Mississippi on Goodyear on the east side

[ExiledInIllinois]

Take a Miss Buffalo Boat Cruise.  Pick it up at Naval Park just outside Erie Basin Marina... Go thru the Black Rock Lock... See where it all sparked joy for me.  LoL... The technology that created Buffalo.  The birth of a city. LoL...

 

 

 

Cross over this bridge (Ferry Street, bascule bridge I believe?) by foot or car and take a walk out into Lake Erie:

 

 

Onto Bird Island Pier, walk under Peace Bridge... Hike out the head of the Niagara River, mouth of the Lake:

 

Edited July 29, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[Augie]

7 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

 

 

 

 

Only the mightiest of carp can jump that span! 

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

Only the mightiest of carp can jump that span! 

The two elevations are basically the same.  That just creates a calm Black Rock Channel and separates the upper rapids where the Lake rushes into head of river at mouth.  The Asian carp wouldn't need to jump.  Just stay right/starboard side when going downbound into river.  It's like going down a funnel rapids to left, calm right

 

The Black Rock Channel is controlled by the Black Rock Lock.  Its so calm there that the rowing crews practice and race.  The current is almost 0mph.  Other side of that wall... The water is rushing North down the Niagara river at 5mph.  So to make 1 mile per hour up river towards Lake, a boat will have to go 6mph to get out to the Lake from the Upper Niagara.  To get out to Lake via Black Rock Lock & Channel, there is no compensation needed for current and depth.

 

Why you see (or did at one time) the sunken scow under Peace Bridge... Because the Captain took the wrong turn from the Lake.  Hung Left, not right!

 

Also: PSA... Why one should NEVER stern (rear) anchor under Peace Bridge (River side)!  The vessel will flip around in swift current, weigh down and water will rush in over the stern/transom.  The boat will swamp and sink.  ALWAYS bow anchor under the Peace Bridge/Upper Rapids!!!!

Edited July 29, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[Mark80]

If I'm here for only one day or so from far away, there's only one must do and it's Niagara Falls.  Do the maid of the mist.  It's something that you can't really do anywhere else in the entire world.  It's amazing.  And as locals we take it for granted way too much.  Everything else mentioned is just filler.

[ExiledInIllinois]

3 hours ago, Mark80 said:

If I'm here for only one day or so from far away, there's only one must do and it's Niagara Falls.  Do the maid of the mist.  It's something that you can't really do anywhere else in the entire world.  It's amazing.  And as locals we take it for granted way too much.  Everything else mentioned is just filler.

The Canadian Side boat is the:

 

"Hornblower"

 

"Cave of the Winds" on the American Side is another Falls activity.

Edited July 29, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[BritBill]

In regards to getting to the falls from Buffalo, we intend on getting the number 40 NFTA from downtown.

 

Is the the best/easiest/cheapest was of doing it?

 

Thanks.

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 minute ago, BritBill said:

In regards to getting to the falls from Buffalo, we intend on getting the number 40 NFTA from downtown.

 

Is the the best/easiest/cheapest was of doing it?

 

Thanks.

It's 20 miles.  What would Uber cost?

[BritBill]

Just now, ExiledInIllinois said:

It's 20 miles.  What would Uber cost?

 

Don't know, never used one.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Just now, BritBill said:

 

Don't know, never used one.

Same here.  Wonder what a trip like that costs? 

[BuffaloBud]

Go to the top of Buffalo City Hall.  If you hit the weather right, you'll have an awesome view of the city, waterfront, WNY!

[Ittakestime]

1 hour ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

It's 20 miles.  What would Uber cost?

 

Lots of factors in that.

 

Non uberxl, not during peak hours on Sat, you are probably looking around 40 dollars.  From the train station in depew to niagara falls, it cost a little over 50, but that was uberxl.

[Gordio]

13 hours ago, bbb said:

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

 

 

 

Just took my 10 year old daughter & her friend to the maid of the mist last week.  It is simply breathtaking the views.  I haven't done that since I was a kid.  Funny but the falls is almost an after thought to people that live around here but it is truly one of the wonders of this country.  

[BritBill]

1 hour ago, Ittakestime said:

 

Lots of factors in that.

 

Non uberxl, not during peak hours on Sat, you are probably looking around 40 dollars.  From the train station in depew to niagara falls, it cost a little over 50, but that was uberxl.

 

Cheers.

 

A couple of dollars on the 40 remains the choice at this time.

[ExiledInIllinois]

1 hour ago, BritBill said:

 

Cheers.

 

A couple of dollars on the 40 remains the choice at this time.

I'd rent a car.  One of Winston Churchill's favorite drives was on the Canadian side from Fort Erie (opposite BFLo) to Niagara Falls via the Niagara Parkway.  You'll have your passports, so do the loop around.  Go American Side, take in American Falls.  Cross @ Rainbow Bridge in Falls and take in Horseshoe Falls on Canadian Side.  Drive the Niagara Parkway back south to Fort Erie, cross the Peace Bridge @ BFLo... One of my favorite drives.

 

Good luck... So many choices!!!

Edited July 29, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[Seasons1992]

18 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

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!  ?

 

I did see some marks like those........

 

And a very large ocean freighter was being filled with grain, and it had your avatar on the side of it........or something like it, perhaps altered. Always wondered what that was.

[Marv's Neighbor]

Last year we wanted to see the Falls with the new LED lights.  We got there, and the parking was $9. just to park on the Canada side/.  We did a respectful, slow, drive by and left. 

[bbb]

1 hour ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

I'd rent a car.  One of Winston Churchill's favorite drives was on the Canadian side from Fort Erie (opposite BFLo) to Niagara Falls via the Niagara Parkway.  You'll have your passports, so do the loop around.  Go American Side, take in American Falls.  Cross @ Rainbow Bridge in Falls and take in Horseshoe Falls on Canadian Side.  Drive the Niagara Parkway back south to Fort Erie, cross the Peace Bridge @ BFLo... One of my favorite drives.

 

Good luck... So many choices!!!

 

When did Winston Churchill do this drive?  

[ExiledInIllinois]

18 minutes ago, Seasons1992 said:

 

I did see some marks like those........

 

And a very large ocean freighter was being filled with grain, and it had your avatar on the side of it........or something like it, perhaps altered. Always wondered what that was.

That's a Plimsoll Line.  They are different load marks for various water temps, conditions, etc... It's so they don't overload and the insurance companies lose their shirts.  The AB Mark is so it can be loaded evenly bow to stern.  They keep that parallel/level to the waterline.

 

...It keeps my load even when I am navigating treacherous waters like the North Atlantic ie: @BringBackFergy ,Tropical Freshwater ie: @Gugny or Winter North Atantic ie: @Cripple Creek...YOU DOOO NOT want to deal with Winter North Atlantic and have a full load. CC is brutal.

8 minutes ago, bbb said:

 

When did Winston Churchill do this drive?  

I am not sure.  Will look it up.  Remember reading it.  I am thinking after war?

 

This was before Automobiles:

 

"International Churchill Society Canada. Winston Churchill had a deep affection for Canada, which he referred to as "the linchpin of the English-speaking peoples." The City of Toronto played a special role in this Canadian connection. Churchill first visited Canada in the winter of 1900/1901."

[apuszczalowski]

22 hours 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

 

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 

I think the Bisons season is over by the time the home opener would be

 

My parents used to take us to the Buffalo zoo every year as kids.

[ExiledInIllinois]

http://www.winstonchurchillcanada.ca/ac_TorontoCanada.php

 

Not sure if it's in there... Didn't comb through it.

[GG]

3 hours ago, BritBill said:

 

Cheers.

 

A couple of dollars on the 40 remains the choice at this time.

 

Do you really want to spend over an hour on the bus?

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

I'd rent a car.  One of Winston Churchill's favorite drives was on the Canadian side from Fort Erie (opposite BFLo) to Niagara Falls via the Niagara Parkway.  You'll have your passports, so do the loop around.  Go American Side, take in American Falls.  Cross @ Rainbow Bridge in Falls and take in Horseshoe Falls on Canadian Side.  Drive the Niagara Parkway back south to Fort Erie, cross the Peace Bridge @ BFLo... One of my favorite drives.

 

Good luck... So many choices!!!

 

And if you do drive to the Canadian side of the falls, go another couple miles north to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a lovely (and very British) village where the Niagara River and Lake Ontario meet. 

[Buffalo716]

2 hours ago, apuszczalowski said:

I think the Bisons season is over by the time the home opener would be

 

My parents used to take us to the Buffalo zoo every year as kids.

Ahhhh yea I didn't even think of that

 

Bisons are probably done 

[Misterbluesky]

2 hours ago, apuszczalowski said:

I think the Bisons season is over by the time the home opener would be

 

 

We would have to win the first round..5 games out right now (division)...very much alive for the 4th spot.

[Augie]

45 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

And if you do drive to the Canadian side of the falls, go another couple miles north to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a lovely (and very British) village where the Niagara River and Lake Ontario meet. 

 

I was told how lovely this was by a southern friend who visited. I was embarrassed that I had never been! His partner is British and she really loved it too. 

[PromoTheRobot]

 This article had some good tips for the city.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/28/travel/what-to-do-in-buffalo-ny.html

[ExiledInIllinois]

43 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

I was told how lovely this was by a southern friend who visited. I was embarrassed that I had never been! His partner is British and she really loved it too. 

It is nice... But kinda sterile and cookie cutter.  But quaint in a Bougie way.  Not that's bad.

[BritBill]

13 hours ago, GG said:

 

Do you really want to spend over an hour on the bus?

 

Honesty, just over 60 minutes on a bus wouldn't be a huge piece of turmoil. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

Niagara-On-The-Lake is a beautiful and historic village.

[PromoTheRobot]

5 hours ago, BritBill said:

 

Honesty, just over 60 minutes on a bus wouldn't be a huge piece of turmoil. 

 

The train would be even worse. Definitely fly. Once in Buffalo, how comfy are you driving on the right? Easiest and most efficient way to see the most sites if you drive yourself with a rental car. About $40/day at Buffalo airport.

[BritBill]

29 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

The train would be even worse. Definitely fly. Once in Buffalo, how comfy are you driving on the right? Easiest and most efficient way to see the most sites if you drive yourself with a rental car. About $40/day at Buffalo airport.

 

Thanks. I'm not confident with driving abroad. Especially with having my son with me.

 

The bus is no problem. It means we'll also get to see some places we wouldn't normally if we stuck to the tourist guide.  We intend on setting off in good time on the Saturday morning from downtown.  

[ExiledInIllinois]

57 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

The train would be even worse. Definitely fly. Once in Buffalo, how comfy are you driving on the right? Easiest and most efficient way to see the most sites if you drive yourself with a rental car. About $40/day at Buffalo airport.

Totally rent a car.  Can't do much in expansive US without own car.

 

Funny story @BritBill I worked with a guy who was married to a lady from the London area.  Her family came to visit them in Illinois (Chicagoland area).  They flew into O'Hare/ORD.  Two things they noted:

 

1. Go to Disney World. (Orlando is 1,000 miles from Chicago)...There I would agree, grab a flight.  

 

2. They were amazed by all the trees in the US. 

 

LMAO...

 

NYC is only a 375 mile trip.  That's a nice day trip via car... By the time you get to airport security, etc... It will take longer.  Stay rolling, you'll see so much more and have so much more felxibility and freedom.

 

IMO, you'll be waiting around, doing a lot less if you are waiting for transportation.

 

Just my two shillings.

 

Now... If you want to go to Orlando... Hop a flight!  LoL...?

Edited July 30, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[BritBill]

6 minutes ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Totally rent a car.  Can't do much in expansive US without own car.

 

Funny story @BritBill I worked with a guy who was married to a lady from the London area.  Her family came to visit them in Illinois (Chicagoland area).  They flew into O'Hare/ORD.  Two things they noted:

 

1. Go to Disney World. (Orlando is 1,000 miles from Chicago)...There I would agree, grab a flight.  

 

2. They were amazed by all the trees in the US. 

 

LMAO...

 

NYC is only a 375 mile trip.  That's a nice day trip via car... By the time you get to airport security, etc... It will take longer.  Stay rolling, you'll see so much more and have so much more felxibility and freedom.

 

IMO, you'll be waiting around, doing a lot less if you are waiting for transportation.

 

Just my two shillings.

 

Now... If you want to go to Orlando... Hop a flight!  LoL...?

 

I think I'm pretty switched on geography wise so I've no plans to visit Orlando for the day ?

 

We're only in Buffalo for the weekend and on the Sunday we're catching the Patriots game. 

 

I've already been to NYC and Chicago. In 2005 when the England soccer team played in the US. BTW, I preferred Chicago to NYC. 

[Koko78]

Though it sounds like there won't be time, Letchworth State Park is a beautiful place to visit.

 

3 spectacular waterfalls and a beautiful gorge. It's like a cross between the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls.

[ExiledInIllinois]

3 hours ago, BritBill said:

 

I think I'm pretty switched on geography wise so I've no plans to visit Orlando for the day ?

 

We're only in Buffalo for the weekend and on the Sunday we're catching the Patriots game. 

 

I've already been to NYC and Chicago. In 2005 when the England soccer team played in the US. BTW, I preferred Chicago to NYC. 

+1.

 

I laughed at the bolded part!  Wise call.  I am dealing with a son with time management short-comings so sorry if I come across pulling planning totally the other way, leaving a ton of room to spare!  ?

 

But... It was totally funny, my co-workers British in-laws... They touch down at ORD and say (serious): "We'd like to go to Disney World." My friend was beside himself... LMAO...