22 Best Things in Western New York
We asked viewers to tell us some of their favorite things about Western New York and the votes are in
We asked viewers to tell us some of their favorite things about Western New York and the votes are in.
Here's the countdown of the 22 Best Things in Western New York.
No. 22: Art festivals
From Allentown to Elmwood, and many smaller ones in between, they're can't-miss events year in and year out.
VIDEO: Best of WNY No. 22 to No. 17
No. 21: Albright-Knox Art Gallery
This world-class museum showcases hundreds of works of art at any given moment. The gallery even leaves thousands of pieces in storage, which is why it's about to undergo a massive $150 million expansion.
No. 20: Dyngus Day
Thousands of Western New Yorkers celebrate the holiday just after Easter with great food, dancing and of course, pussy willows and water guns.
No. 19: Concert venues
You have the KeyBank Center, plus other spots — big and small. Shows have even returned to the Bills stadium, allowing Western New York to attract some of the best artists in the world.
No. 18: Ellicottville
Just 50 miles south of Buffalo, you find the Southern Tier getaway known for its winter skiing.
But we all know it's a four-season destination. Its long-running Fall Festival attracts tens of thousands of people each year and is a popular place for checking out fall foliage.
No. 17: Wineries
Cheers to Western New York's grape country, which has dozens of wineries stretching from the Niagara Trail to the southern shores of Lake Erie.
No. 16: Craft beer
Western New York's craft beer scene keeps on growing. Favorites like Big Ditch, Hamburg Brewery, Resurgence are just a few of the more than two dozen brewers that are now open in the Buffalo area.
No. 15: Elmwood Village
It's been named one of America's 10 Best Neighborhoods. It has the perfect mix of retail and residential — no wonder homes for sale in the village don't last long.
No. 14: Village of East Aurora
It's the birthplace of Fisher Price, and long ago, was home to future president Millard Fillmore. East Aurora is now rated the third-best town in the state for raising a family.
No. 13: Easy access to Canada
Another country is just a short drive away for Western New Yorkers, and in a couple, you can even travel to Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America.
No. 12: Niagara Falls State Park
Where to begin? It's the oldest state park in the country. It showcases a wonder of the world. The Today Show said it's the 10th most beautiful spot in America. Oh, and it helps that it brings 8 million visitors a year to see Niagara Falls.
No. 11: Buffalo Zoo
It's the third-oldest zoo in the entire country and almost a half million people visit every year.
No. 10: Buffalo's Outer Harbor
From an industrial wasteland to a tourist attraction — what a difference. It's even complete with a state park that opened a few years ago.
No. 9: Shea's Performing Arts Center
Whether it's touring Broadway musicals, comedy shows or concerts, the 4,000-seat theater is a jewel in the crown of the Queen City.
No. 8: Western New York history
We have our connections with past presidents like Teddy Roosevelt, who was inaugurated here. Buffalo served as a terminus of the Underground Railroad. And chill out, even the air conditioner was invented here.
No. 7: Our architecture
Famous buildings are everywhere. The area is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieces, Louis Sullivan's Guaranty Building and H-H Richardson's complex, to name a few. In July, USA Today profiled how Buffalo is building on its architecture tourism.
No. 6: Food festivals
The festivals are usually in the summer, but they keep our taste buds going all year. The Taste of Buffalo, by the way, is the largest two-day food festival in the country.
No. 5: Professional sports teams
I know, they aren't doing so well at the moment, but millions of people around the country associate Buffalo with the Bills and Sabres.
No. 4: Four Seasons
Not the band — our weather! People love that we have winter, spring, summer and fall!
And you know the saying, "if you don't like the weather right now, just wait a few minutes — it'll change.
No. 3: "City of Good Neighbors"
People love that we're City of Good Neighbors. We dig out strangers during snowstorms, keep food pantries full for the holidays and raise money and hopes for people in need. No wonder Travel and Leisure Magazine named Buffalo America's Friendliest City.
No. 2: The Food Scene
Of course, Buffalo is the birthplace of the chicken wing, but you'll find delicious delicacies in every neighborhood. The New York Times called Buffalo an unsung food destination.
No. 1: Canalside
This has become the go-to place to take out-of-towners visiting Buffalo.
From concerts to car shows. to yoga and fireworks, Canalside has more than 1,000 events each We even hosted the world's largest rubber ducky.
This area just keeps growing and it's exciting to think about what's next for Canalside and for all of Western New York.