101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Buffalo
**Follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Buffalo. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Take A Deep Breath In the Garden
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Kin Lock Farmstead Lavender |
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Lavender Crest Farm |
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Buffalo Japanese Garden |
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Delaware Park Rose Garden |
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Linwood Gardens |
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Martin House |
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Sonnenberg Gardens |
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Goodell Gardens and Homestead |
Get Wild on a Hike
Time Travel Today
Make Life a Beach
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Beaver Island State Park |
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Bennet Beach |
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Evangola State Park |
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Olcott Beach |
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Presque Isle State Park |
Splash into Some Water Fun
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Paths, Peaks, and Paddles |
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Fallsview Indoor Waterpark |
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Seabreeze |
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Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park |
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Waldameer Park and Water World |
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Camp Sherwin Spray and Play Park |
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Six Flags Great Escape Lodge |
Spend the Day at a Museum
Explore These Cities
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Rochester, NY |
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Erie, PA |
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Cleveland, OH |
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Pittsburgh, PA |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Awald Farms |
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Bittner-Singer Orchards |
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Blackman Homestead Farm |
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Charles Carris Fruit Farm |
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Abers Acres |
Play Ball!
Treat Yo' Self
Connect with Nature
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Beaver Island Nature Center |
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Cave of the Winds |
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Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, Inc |
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Buffalo Audubon Center |
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Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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Darien Lake |
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Seabreeze Amusement Park |
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Waldameer Park and Water World |
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Canada's Wonderland |
Talk to the Animals
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The Buffalo Zoo |
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Hidden Valley Animal Adventure |
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Aquarium of Niagara |
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Bird Kingdom Niagara Falls, Canada |
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Safari Niagara |
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The Erie Zoo |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
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African American Cultural Center |
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Niagara Arts & Cultural Center |
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Islamic Cultural Center of Niagara Falls |
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Polish Cadets Hall |
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Casa de Arte |
Monkey Around at the Playground Destinations
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Buffalo Harbor State Park |
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Shoshone Park |
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Martin Luther King Jr. State Park |
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Hennepin Park |
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Dorrance Park |
Get Active Indoors
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The Little Gym Williamsville |
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Rolly Pollies |
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JCC of Buffalo |
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Adventure Landing |
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Epic Sports Center |
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Flying Monkey Inflata-Park |
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Play Port Arcade & Family Fun Center |
Challenge Yourself
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Buffalo Arts Studio |
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Buffalo Dance Center |
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Designing Dish |
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Escape Game Erie |
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Miniature Golf in Erie PA |
Shop Your Heart Out
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Monkey See, Monkey Do...Children's Bookstore |
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Talking Leaves Books |
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Dog Ears Bookstore |
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FisherPrice Toy Store |
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Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle |
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Original Kazoo Company |
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ActionToyMan |
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Beach Zero |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Buffalo. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away