Mid-winter in Buffalo usually means going from "walking in a winter wonderland" to "trudging through the snow, muttering curse words about how cold it still is." We feel you. But we're confident a trip to this place will make you see the snow in a whole new light again. This nature preserve near Buffalo will enchant you all winter long.

The Buffalo Audubon Society and Beaver Meadow Audubon Center is located just 40 minutes south of the city in North Java, NY.

This amazing preserve can be found at 1610 Welch Road, North Java, NY. Simply hop on the 400 and take NY-78 S to get there.

This place will enchant you all winter long.

With 324 acres to explore, there's always something to discover at Beaver Meadow! One of the most popular activities is viewing the wild birds that frequent the area - and sometimes getting up close and personal with them, too!

Experience a little bit of sweetness in the dead of winter.

Beaver Meadow is also a great spot to learn about the art of tree tapping and syrup making! Guided tours are held every so often to give you a unique perspective of this sweet skill.

The Buffalo Audubon Society even hosts a Maple Harvest Festival to enjoy the fruits (or syrups) of the labor.

During the festival, you can visit the sugar shanty, see maple syrup being made, and, of course, taste test it at an all you can eat pancake breakfast!

Beaver Meadow is a great place to feel engulfed in the great outdoors.

It's easy to stay in hibernation mode during our Western New York winters, but Beaver Meadow and the Buffalo Audubon Society give us good reasons to head outside. Strap on your snowshoes to experience more of the preserve and discover much of the area's enchanting scenery from a different perspective.

Bring your winter gear and a camera!

You'll want to bundle up for a day at Beaver Meadow. You'll also want to pack your camera (or phone) for the many photo opportunities that will undoubtedly be discovered. From the frozen landscape to the vast variety of wildlife, Beaver Meadow does not disappoint when it comes to finding subjects to snap.

Told you!

While the smaller birds certainly bring the cuteness factor, Beaver Meadow is also known to have large bird sightings. Snowy owls are a rare (but not unheard of) sight to see at this enchanting place. Ask the tour guides and volunteers for the best tips on sighting wildlife.

If we can't have footprints in the sand, we'll take the snowy variety at Beaver Meadow any day.

Sure, we'd all love an escape from the frigid cold in Buffalo once in a while, but when we can't hop a flight to a tropical destination, we might as well make the most of it here. Beaver Meadow and the Buffalo Audubon Society is a great place to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us here in Western New York - even if we have to bundle up to enjoy it!

What winter activities get your endorphins pumping? Does Beaver Meadow top your list? Share your tips and tricks for surviving buffalo winters with us in the comments below, as well as any suggestions you have for enchanting places to explore during the snowy season!