This Day Trip Will Take You To The Best Wine And Waterfalls In Buffalo
Buffalo is a great city, but even the biggest city lovers need to escape the hustle and bustle every so often. Whether it’s the nearby cider mills or just a good hike, exploring western New York is something everyone can do with a little time and a sense of adventure. In order to really make the most of a day trip, we suggest combing a love of two things: wine and waterfalls in Buffalo! This day trip will take you from gorgeous waterfalls to beautiful wineries. You may never return to the city again!
The full driving directions for this road trip can be found here. Simply add in your own starting point and you’re on your way!
Folks love to visit Letchworth, as they're some of the most impressive after Niagara Falls. The drop here is about 600 feet, making for a truly impressive cascade! It's fairly easy to access the falls, with plenty of parking and accessibility all year long.
Next, it's on to lovely Emery Park in South Wales.
Located just outside of East Aurora, you'll find two waterfalls in Emery Park. You've got a full day ahead of you, so if you're feeling antsy, you can see both of the 25-foot falls from your car window. Once you've soaked up the beauty, keep going to your next destination!
Getting hungry? Right after you see the falls at Emery Park, make a stop at Elm Street Bakery for freshly made pizza!
Once you've indulged in a pie, grab some cookies and muffins to take on the road with you. Elm Street is a serve-yourself spot for both breakfast and lunch, but after 5 p.m. they turn into a full-service restaurant. The bakery is located at 72 Elm St. in East Aurora.
From here it's north to beautiful Glen Falls Park.
Here you'll be able to see the 27-foot-tall waterfall that flows out of Ellicott Creek. You can see the falls from the road if you're feeling short on time, but the best way to see it is via a short walk through the park.
Akron Park spreads across 284 acres in Erie County. The waterfall here is an impressive 40 feet right on Murder Creek (yikes!) and it's tucked away within some of the more gorgeous scenery in the region.
Now that you've soaked up some western New York beauty, time to soak up some western New York wine! Your first stop is Spring Lake Winery in Lockport.
If you're here on a weekend, you're likely to see a wedding taking place here. That should tell you something about the beautiful surroundings at this winery. Spring Lake has a vineyard, as well as fun nature trails, a beautiful park, and an 8-acre lake. The fact that you can also take home bottles of wine is an added bonus!
Next up is Eveningside Vineyards in Lockport, just a few minutes away.
One of the most notable things about Eveningside is that they press their own grapes, which makes for an exceptionally high-quality product. Their attention to detail can be seen in both their wines and the tasting room. Plus, the location along the Niagara Escarpment makes the whole experience even more special.
Just a few minutes away is Freedom Run Winery, also in Lockport.
It shouldn't be a surprise to see Freedom Run included here, given that it's on the Niagara Wine Trail. If you're into the technical side of wine, you'll love being able to watch the winemaking process here. And the tasting room is cozy, but modern.
Now we're on to the fabulously named Gust of Sun Winery in Ransomville.
While one of the newer wineries in the area, Gust of Sun offers plenty in the way of scenery and snacks. There are non-alcoholic drinks for your designated driver as well, so everyone's happy!
Lastly, the stop you've been waiting for... the three falls at Niagara Falls!
American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls are all located in the same area, making this trifecta a great place to end your trip. These are the largest and most impressive in the area, if not the entire world. If you're traveling with folks visiting the area, this will surely convince them that they've just had the best day of their lives!
For more exploration outside of Buffalo, check out these 10 easy road trips that you can plan and quickly take any weekend you want!
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Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.