Whether you want to take to the water in your own vessel or just jump right in, Buffalo offers two prime locations for your aquatic recreation endeavors. Buffalo has the geographic advantage of being located near two of the Great Lakes—Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Such close proximity offers excellent opportunities for watersports when the weather is warm. The kids will love swimming, and dad will equally enjoy taking the boat out for a fishing excursion a little further out from the shore.
Delaware Park is a favorite of Buffalo residents for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it bears a resemblance to New York City's Central Park. The reason for that is because landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed that park for the Big Apple, also designed Delaware Park. Olmsted said that his formula for a great park always had to include water, woods and meadows, and all three are distinctly present at Delaware Park. This is an ideal place to bring the family for a day of fun outdoors that includes walking, jogging, playing tennis or golf, or just enjoying a picnic in one of the park's many expansive areas.
Browsing through a book store is always an adventure. But that adventurous experience is brought to a higher level when you visit Talking Leaves Books. You'll find everything from paperbacks to vintage versions of your favorite titles, not to mention a generous selection of first editions and lots more. Plus, don't miss the expansive area that features magazines and other reading items. There is also an open, comfortable lounge area for thumbing through your latest find, or you can just sit back for a while and do some people watching.
While many people see the Erie Canal from a distance, getting a closer look will reveal how this body of water works to further the area's economy. The canal is actually quite interesting, and you can learn more about it when you take the Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruise. Your tour guide will be quite informative from start to finish, describing how Lockport is known for the area's water "locks" that run approximately 50 feet. When you cruise through the canal on this tour, you'll actually go through the "locks" and see for yourself how these locks are used to move traffic along the river and its uniquely elevated terrain. It's a great tour for the whole family.