Penizotto, A Michael

The kids will love running around and enjoying the classic playground experience that awaits them at Beecher Playground. Among the many amenities that this Buffalo park offers are walking paths, picnic tables, a twisty slide, swings, and a set of monkey bars and a jungle gym. Getting the kids away from the video games and computer screens is easy when the alternative is this fun, "quality-family-time" attraction.

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.

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.

Cool music and even cooler brews await you and your friends at Nietzsche's. This is one of Buffalo's favorite nightlife destinations to check out new and upcoming musical talent, as live music is featured regularly. Also, the bar is equally famous for its plentiful pints of Guinness, Bass, Killian's Irish Red, or Rolling Rock. If your taste buds prefer, there is also an inviting selection of bottled brews from which to choose. So, it's safe to say that your beer mug will never be empty for long. And, appropriately, the dance floor is large enough to accommodate anyone and everyone who cares to move to the music.