I wasn’t born in Niagara Falls, but I may as well have been. My grandmother lived there — two miles from the infamous waterfalls — and I estimate I hit 100 visits by the age of 16. When I moved to the Buffalo-Niagara region as an adult, I spent my first summer leading hiking tours […]
Dyngus Day is a holiday like no other and Buffalo is the absolute best place to celebrate it. No, that’s not me being biased — this really is the best place to celebrate (sorry Cleveland). For one day after the Lenten season, Polish-American communities get together for all-out revelry. There’s food, music, dancing, drinking, and
Choosing the best time to visit Niagara Falls requires more than looking at the weather. Each season has a different atmosphere, a different look, and different advantages. As a local, I’ve experienced them all and have a few preferences for sure. The good news is that most of the year is a totally fine time
Tell anyone you’re talking to the dead and they’ll think you’re crazy. Unless you’re in Lily Dale, the largest spiritualist community in the world. Only an hour away from Buffalo, I went to the Lily Dale Assembly intrigued by the bizarre. I thought that spiritualism — a religion based on communication with the spirits of
The American side of Niagara Falls got shafted: we don’t have the same full-frontal views of the waterfalls that Canada boasts. Everything is either a partial view or a side glance…except we do have one major advantage because we have Cave of the Winds, which is the best falls experience on either side of the
Cave of the Winds is the Best Winter View of Niagara Falls Read More »
Buffalo’s been in the travel news a lot this year — heck, it even made Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel” list for 2020. But every guide I’ve read has been exactly the same, as if the city only has a handful of great activities. Well, sometimes it takes a local’s perspective since unlike visitors I
14 Things to do in Buffalo NY (That You Can’t Do Anywhere Else) Read More »
I’ve never been a big fan of Halloween. Costume parties are more of a hassle than a festivity and handing out candy gets old after the fifth doorbell ring. But boy-oh-boy, I like pretty things, which is why I drove 375 miles to see a bunch of pumpkins. Not just any pumpkins, of course. I
The Great Jack O Lantern Blaze is Stunningly Gourd-geous Read More »
In June, Governor Cuomo issued an executive order requiring a 14-day quarantine period for people traveling to New York from states with “significant community spread” or residents returning home after travel. UPDATE: New York now has two options for visitors (or residents returning after travel):1) Quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New York2) Take
New York is Not Messing Around With Travel Quarantines Read More »
I’ve never been a big fan of Halloween: it’s too hokey for me. Cake my face with makeup and spend $50 on a costume? No thank you. And don’t get me started on monster slime or edible eyeballs. Nope, not for me. But Sleepy Hollow on Halloween? That’s classy. That’s pumpkins and legends and history
Sleepy Hollow on Halloween: The Best Fall Getaway in NY Read More »
As impossible as it may seem, 2020 has been good for a few things. For me, one of the upsides of this year has been a personal reminder about how much New York state has to offer. My travel this spring and summer has been centered around where I can safely roadtrip to: my own
7 Best New York State Parks for Getaways & Roadtrips Read More »
