Tifft Nature Preserve

I spent an afternoon walking around the different trails here with Geoffrey on September 2nd. It was a gorgeous day out (actually a little warm for hiking) but it was fun to get outside and enjoy more of what Buffalo has to offer.

This was my first time at Tifft Nature Preserve, and we had an absolute blast. I printed out a map online of the different trails (which was very helpful) and off we went. There were lots of fun photo shots to take, and it was fun looking for the frogs, almost getting run over by a small deer and hearing the sounds of nature.

It is free to visit and a great family fun activity for those who like the outdoors. It was very peaceful and quiet, and a fun date idea too! There are benches and "look out" posts throughout the trails if you need to take a break, and a lot of "fun facts" throughout the different trails.

Japanese Gardens in Buffalo

If you are looking for any of the following:
- If you want an afternoon to picnic
- Photo shoot for engagement pics, wedding pics, family pics, etc...
- A place to walk with gorgeous scenery
- Need a break to clear your head

Then hit up the Japanese Gardens. They are located right behind the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society (Nottingham Terrace in Buffalo off of Elmwood). You can park in the lot there and walk around.

The Japanese Gardens were a gift in the 1970 from a city in Japan called Kanazawa. Construction began in 1971 (so this year marks 50 years of friendship between the two cities) and they were completed in 1974. After years of neglect in the 1980's, they began to reconstuct and reinvest in the gardens in the early 1990's. They have done a tremendous job rejuvenating the area. It is currently maintained by the City of Buffalo Parks Department.

The gardens are a symbol of peace and tranquility and if you need a little time to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, spend some time at the Japanese Gardens.

Miss Buffalo II Cruises

The past few weeks in Buffalo have been incredible and my brothers/significant others and cousin decided to take one of the narrated sightseeing tours aboard The Miss Buffalo II. The cruise we chose was the River, Lock & Canal tour and they run at 12:30pm and 3:00pm (they last two hours).

The Miss Buffalo II has been running cruises and sightseeing tours since 1981, and the boat can accommodate a lot of people per cruise.

Our Captain for the day was Captain Heatley and he was great! In addition the tour guide did a great job. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't love learning something new about Buffalo, and I learned a lot of great factoids on this two hour event.

On the boat there is a small snack bar and bar to get drinks (alcoholic daiquiris are $6.25 - and yum).

It is a great thing to do with both family and friends. The Miss Buffalo offers a variety of different cruise/sightseeing options. They have three sightseeing cruises available, offer a TGIF happy hour cruise and a Rockin' DJ party on Friday and Saturday nights. The prices per cruise range from $15 - $22. They also offer corporate parties and private events. Some of the cruises have the option of getting lunch with it for an additional cost. (We chose to bring Wegmans subs to the Marina and eating before we took the cruise)

The experience of touring on The Miss Buffalo II is a must do. It is a really relaxing afternoon on the river and it is filled with gorgeous sights and a lot of great information about Buffalo.

Tip - Get in line to get on a little early. Then get to the front of the boat (it's the BEST spot to cruise from)

If you want to take advantage of the gorgeous weather in Buffalo, get aboard The Miss Buffalo II as soon as you can!

Happy sailing ;)

Kenney Field in Tonawanda

Growing up Kenney Field (Walter M. Kenny Field) was a place where my family would go to play. I have many memories of my Mom taking us there to play on the playground, the big airplane we would climb on and a train that used to be there as well. We'd go fly kites and enjoy a nice day in Tonawanda. It is located right on the corner of Brighton Road and Colvin Avenue. (Currently there is a Family Video across the street, and then a plaza with a chocolate store, DiPaulo's Pizza and a massage place)

Over time the Field has changed and been utilized for other purposes. Soccer leagues play there throughout the year, football games for the Town are played there and they redid the fields.

At some point, I'm not sure when, the train was removed, and more recently the airplane (which is a Korean War Era Grumman F9F-6P Cougar Naval airframe that has been on display there since 1959) was restored and fenced in. It is no longer available to the public as a part of a "playground" that kids can climb on.

More recently, they constructed The Town of Tonawanda Veterans Memorial behind the airplane. The Memorial was set up for members of the Town to pay tribute to their relatives, friends and fellow Americans who sacrificed their lives serving their country.

The current finished product was finished back in 2010 and has numerous areas to add new names to. Around the memorial there are numerous benches and small trees that people purchased in Honor or In Memory of a soldier.

I took an afternoon and spent some time down at the Memorial, looking at the names, remembering stories I have heard, and reflecting on the ultimate sacrifice. The Memorial is powerful and a good place to visit if you are involved in the military, have friends or family involved, are a history buff, or just want to pay your respects.

The playrground in the area has been updated and it is still a popular place for Tonawanda families to spend an afternoon.

If you are in the area, make the stop to check out The Memorial and airplane.

Thank you to all the men and women who so bravely fought for and are still fighting for our safety. Your strength and willingness to defend what our country stands for overwhelms me.

We will never forget all our brave soliders have done for us.

I have no connection to the Memorial, wasn't part of any planning or fundraising for it, but I have included the link to donate to it if it is something you would be interested in:

https://parksreg.tonawanda.ny.us/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/wbps0330.html

BFLO Harbor Kayak

On Memorial Day 2011 Geoffrey, Jacob and I went down to the Erie Basin Marina to walk around the Naval Park and canoe!

We rented a canoe from Bflo Harbor Kayak and had an absolute blast. They are located at The Central Wharf on the Commercial Slip. They just have a blue tent with a small sign stating their name and life jackets hanging from the tent. You can't miss the different kayaks and canoes they have next to the tent, and down on the docks.

It cost $30 for an hour for the three of us (although the cost is really for two people).

We were given our paddles and the owner helped us into the canoe and set us free! I'm not sure if it is something I would have done on my own (since that was my first time canoeing), but luckily Geoffrey had done it before, so I knew we'd be safe. I was sorta surprised that they didn't give you any tips or say anything other than, "See you in an hour", but I guess they are targeting people who have done it before. You do have a waiver you are asked to sign releasing them from anything that may happen to you while you are out there.

We canoed around inside the Marina; we didn't want to venture out too far and get stuck with bigger waves. We canoed near the old grain elevators and the General Mills plant and it was interesting to see how the old industrial buildings were built. We had fun looking at all the different boats and seeing their names. It intrigued me to learn more about the grain elevators and I'm gonna do some research on it. They offer a tour of them through Buffalo Tours, so maybe I'll do that...either way, it will probably end up being a blog post soon!

All three of us took turns at paddling and after a while we got into a good groove. It definitely does take a lot of upper body strength that I don't have, but I did pretty good with what I could. We paddled leisurely so we could enjoy the sights around us too :)

You can also rent them for 1/2 the day and it really isn't that much more money ($45 for 4 hours)

The best deal they offer is getting the season pass which only costs $75. Get out once a week and it's quite a deal!

The owner was a friendly guy and it's a great way to get in some exercise and enjoy the sights of Buffalo around you. I'd suggest it if you've canoed or kayaked before, but if you haven't, make sure you take someone experienced out with you!

Glen Falls in Williamsville

Glen Falls, and Glen Park a gorgeous park with a miniature version of the Falls, is an absolutely great spot to spend a Saturday afternoon or an evening after work.

Located in the heart of Williamsville off of Main Street, it is a gorgeous place to walk through after a dinner on Main Street.

The Falls are a 27 foot cascade with a few other free falling spots along the way. It is part of Ellicott Creek. Surrounded by the Falls is Glen Park, a beautiful spot filled with pathways, trees, flowers and plenty of places to have a picnic.

It's a fun, romantic spot for couples - and is a great spot to bring the family to play on a summer day.

Fast fact about Williamsville: Did you know that one of the early settlers Jonas Williams owned two mills near Ellicott Creek. "Williams Mills" eventually turned into Williamsville and became the name of the village.

If you are looking for a great place to walk, jog, or just relax, check out Glen Falls.

Hoyt Lake, Delaware Park

Hoyt Lake, a gorgeous area in Delaware Park and a part of the city's park system is a MUST DO in Buffalo. The park was created by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead in the 19th century and continues to be my TOP pick for a relaxing afternoon in the city.

Hoyt Lake is my favorite summertime spot to unwind with a good book or have a picnic with friends. Last month I spent a few hours down there on one of the unseasonably warm days in Buffalo. It was an absolute delight. Many people use it as a place to jog, a place to walk the dog, and a place to just sit and relax. I love going down there when I need to clear my head and when something is bothering me. It is a really good place to destress!

With the Albright Knox Art Museum across the street and The Delaware Park Rose Gardens right next to it, the sights surrounding it are beautiful.

I've had some fun, random conversations with other Buffalonians in the park, and everyone is friendly and says hello.

If you are looking for an afternoon in the sunshine, this is the place to be. It really isn't just a place to visit in the summer though. It is gorgeous all four seasons!

This year's State budget includes $100,000 to purchase new equipment to pump oxygen into the lake to keep it going and more beautiful.

It is truly a gem in the city.

Here's a few shots from the Lake when I was there back in April 2011.