For most travelers, the main draw to this swatch of New York State is tucked up in its northwest corner: world-famous Niagara Falls. The cascading cataracts draw millions of people every year, and it's a pretty cool sight, whether you're 775 feet above them in the Skylon Tower or down below in the Maid of the Mist.
There's long been much to do on the Canadian side of the falls, and a gorgeous new hotel on the American side is breathing life back into Niagara Falls, NY. But the pummeling water isn't the only thing this part of the state has to offer. Buffalo, the area's commercial center, is also its only major city. You may know it simply as the home of the Buffalo chicken wing, but it harbors all kinds of surprises. In the early 20th century, Buffalo was one of the richest cities in America, and it still has a wealth of architectural treasures that warrant a couple days' stay. Frank Lloyd Wright was just one architect who left his mark on the area; fans will definitely want to check out the Prairie-style Darwin D. Martin House and Graycliff in nearby Derby. The city is also trying to forge a renaissance during economically hard times by recovering the glory days of its downtown area. Results are mixed, but there's a lot going on, from renovated hotels to excellent restaurants.
As for the rest of the area, maybe it's the hefty snowfall, the long winters, or something in the water, but western New York is home to some unique characters, unusual museums, and strange foods that are fun to check out.
The legacies don't end there, though. Religious pioneers and other groups have been a major factor shaping the land as well, providing more to explore. Drawn by a rural landscape and gorgeous lake, Methodists arrived in southern New York's Chautauqua in the 1860s and created what is now one of the nation's most preeminent arts retreats, Chautauqua Institution. Elbert Hubbard started a movement of craftsmen in East Aurora, just outside Buffalo, bequeathing a treasure-trove of gorgeous furniture and a tradition of craftsmanship. Mediums flocked to teeny Lily Dale, and now that area is the epicenter for communication with spirits of the deceased. The Amish have set up camp in a small area of the state as well, so it all makes for an interesting drive.
