A public square that forms itself at the confluence of Delaware Avenue , Niagara, Genesee and Court streets, this spot could be considered by many where the rest of city springs forth. The highlight is a commemorative memorial in the middle of the square dedicated to American President William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. Several government and private offices are also located around this square and it serves as a good place to start exploring the city.
Stretching out for 20 blocks with Buffalo's downtown Main Street as the axis, this district boasts an exciting concentration of performing arts venues, nightclubs, restaurants and historic buildings. With venues such as Shea's Performing Arts Center, the Studio Arena Theatre, the Wilcox Mansion, the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, and Bobby Militello's Tralfamadore Cafe, it is little wonder the area attracts more than 1.2 million visitors each year. Guided tours of the area are offered, sponsored by The Preservation Coalition.
Home to the Allentown Art Festival and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this vibrant, ethnically and lifestyle-diverse area has become a magnet in recent years for art galleries and restaurants. The area encompasses the intersections of Allen, Main, Symphony Circle and North streets and the Theater District lies just upon its southern border. Attractions in the area include the Wilcox Mansion and the Towne Restaurant. Moreover, if you happen to find yourself here in June, check out the art festival, it draws more than 500,000 visitors annually for a reason.
Located three miles from downtown Buffalo on the Lake Erie shoreline, this unique urban nature reserve offers 264-acre (106 hectares) of trails, anachronistic boardwalks and a marsh. This preserve is the environmental education site for the Buffalo Museum of Science and it's perfect for bird-watching, hiking, and family picnics—not to mention snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the cold winters. In the 1950s, the site was used as a refuse dump, but thankfully it was converted to a nature preserve in the 1980s. Admission is free but donations are requested.
The jewel of Buffalo's park system, this public space was one of six designed by famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 19th Century. The Delaware Park's 376 acres (152 hectares) include one of Buffalo's three public golf courses (Delaware Park Golf Course), plus tennis courts, baseball diamonds, the Buffalo Zoological Gardens and it hosts the popular Shakespeare in the Park Festival every summer. The Rose Garden makes a perfect setting for a romantic walk when Spring arrives and in the winter, bring your skis and do some cross-country skiing over the demarcated trails.