Amherst Diamond Exchange

With hectic schedules and various other distractions, it is often difficult for couples to make time to just talk and enjoy each other's company. If that sounds like a familiar scenario for you and your partner, then take a little time for a romantic date of a different sort by visiting the Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center. Stroll hand in hand from gallery to gallery as you take in the best in cutting-edge visual arts, contemporary music or innovative performance art. And maybe after absorbing it all, the two of you can find a bench in the corner and share some intimate conversation among these memorable expressions of art.

Buffalo's economic growth owes much to the Niagara River and Lake Erie. Historically, this body of water has been pivotal in the area's water trafficking economy and is also an attractive natural spectacle. Hear about the commercial growth while enjoying the aquatic visual appeal when you take the Buffalo Harbor Cruises. The cruises feature highly informed guides who tell the stories that have occurred between these shores. They will be happy to answer your questions, as well. Take your camera to snap lots of great views of the harbor and the city. The tour's vessel, "Miss Buffalo II," regularly departs from the dock at 79 Marine Drive.

The Genesee County Park and Forest is quite popular with hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. This park features more than 400 acres of forest and 17 miles of recreational hiking trails, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter months. Another reason this destination is a favorite is that it is open year round.

Niagara Falls State Park offers plenty of outdoor activities and attractions, but the most obvious focal point of the entire area are the magnificent, cascading waters that make Niagara Falls such a riveting and compelling vision. The park covers a large area, as it includes the land that borders the American side of Niagara Falls. The area features several islands that act as vital vantage points when experiencing a park this size. These islands include Three Sisters Island, Prospect Point, Goat Island, and Luna Island at Bridal Falls. The park also features a highly informative Visitor's Center, the Niagara Falls Discovery Center, as well as a very popular Observation Tower. The park is open all year round and visitors can enjoy such activities as fishing, hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.