The Buffalo Zoo

Courtesy of Bing Images

The third oldest zoo in America, the Buffalo Zoo was established in 1875. Originally, the space was intended to be a deer park on the corner of Delaware Park. As time progressed, people started donating animals to the space and permanent structures began being built to provide the animals with shelter.

300 Parkside Avenue in Buffalo is the address for the Buffalo Zoological Gardens. The telephone number is (716)837-3900. The zoo is open every day from 10:00am to 4:00pm. In January and February the zoo is closed on Monday and Tuesday. It also sits alongside Delaware Park. Delaware Park has golf and basketball. The park is a great place for a picnic or a stroll.

Admission to the Buffalo Zoo is free for those 23 months and younger, children 2-14 are $7.00, students and seniors are $8.00 and adult tickets cost $10.00. Parking is $3.50 in the lot next to the zoo. A token from the cashier needs to be obtained to exit the lot, so mention that you need to pay for parking at the admission gate. Carousel and train rides are $2.00 each.

The “Zootique” is the gift shop at the zoo. In case you forgot something like a sweatshirt or a hat stop by and peruse their wares. Stroller and wagon rental is also available at the Zootique in case the little ones are tired from the walk around the zoological gardens.

Food is available daily at The Beastro. Stop by for lunch or a mid-day snack with treats like popcorn, ice cream, soda and cotton candy. Other items available for purchase are hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries.

Over the years, this facility has changed hands from the City of Buffalo to a zoological preservation society. Since then, the primary focus is preservation and renewal. Improving structures and habitats aren’t the only things happening at the zoo. New exhibits, educational activities, a petting farm and an enclosed tropical rainforest exhibit taking visitors into the depths of the jungle.

While the Buffalo Zoo is a smaller facility, it gives an unmatched intimacy with the animals, getting up close with the many different animals in their enclosures. It makes a day with smaller children more enjoyable because just about everything in the zoo isn’t far away from wherever you are. Bathroom access is conveniently located near the concession stand. A small playground is nearby the eating area and the carousel can be seen from many different angles of the zoo.

An option to consider with the Buffalo Zoological Gardens is a membership. Different packages are available and a great article through the Buffalo Budget Travel Examiner has all the details.

The zoo is a great place to walk and visit, watching the animals, enjoying the stone built walls from older exhibits put together in the 1930’s mixed with fresh new exhibits that bring the gardens into the present.  A day at the Buffalo Zoo is fun for all ages.



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Sprague Brook Park

Serving Western New York since 1963, Sprague Brook Park is an Erie County park, camp ground and recreation area. 9674 Foote Road in Glenwood, NY is the location for the park, which includes more than 2,200 acres of reclaimed state and federal land.

In the summer season, Sprague Brook Park is a reasonably priced campground, featuring 123 campsites, 30 of which are electric. Ponds, playgrounds, tennis and hiking are just a few of the summer activities. The camping season may be over for the year, but the park remains open. Admission to the park is free and there are trails that can be used year around.

Snowmobile trails, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing are popular winter time activities. There is a great sledding hill located near the newly built casino so bring a sled or toboggan!

It is never too early to start thinking ahead for next year to guarantee a reservation at a desired site. Camping reservations can be made year-round by calling 716-858-8355 M-F 8am - 3:30pm.

Another unique feature at Sprague Brook Park is the Vietnam Veteran Memorial Park. Over the years, an overgrown field with a pond along the back edge of the property has been transformed into a moving tribute to those who served in Vietnam and those who never returned. Just taking a moment to reflect in this serene setting is a humbling experience, making the trip to the park well worth it any time of the year.

Our Lady of Victory Basilica

Our Lady of Victory Basilica, known in short as OLV Basilica, is located on the corner of Ridge Road and South Park Avenue in South Buffalo. Completed in 1925, Father Baker, the buildings founder and patriarch helped to build this magnificent piece of architecture. The most incredible part is it was debt free after it was built. Father Baker reached out to the community and asked people to buy a brick for $10.00 each. And it worked!

Besides the incredible architecture on the exterior, the interior is even more impressive. Detailed painting, vivid stained glass and white statues that seem to oversee the church and its visitors.

A gas well was found on the site of the Basilica. Local legend has it that Father Baker told the drillers where it would be and even though it was a difficult drilling process the gas well was tapped at an unusual depth. The gas well continues to produce still today and helps to offset the heating costs of the building.

Father Baker didn’t stop with this incredible shrine. He also built a home for unwed mothers and an orphanage for parentless youth. He was often called the “Padre of the Poor” according to many sources, including the OLV website. Tours can be scheduled, but a public tour is held every Sunday at 1:00pm. The building is open from 7am to 7pm and visitors are welcome for free. Call (716) 828-9444 for more information.

Other locations near by the OLV Basilica are South Park and The Buffalo Botanical Gardens. A visit to this area is an entire day of sight-seeing and inexpensive too!

Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park

The Buffalo and Erie County Naval Park is located at One Naval Park Cove in downtown Buffalo.  It is home to three vessels, the USS Little Rock which is a cruiser, the USS Sullivans a destroyer and the USS Croaker, a Gato Class submarine.

The USS Little Rock was built in 1944, commissioned in 1945 and decommissioned in 1976. These style ships were known as “Cleveland Cruisers” and it is the last one of its kind and on display right here in Buffalo.

Erie County Disc Golf Courses

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Disc Golf has become incredibly popular, and for good reason; it's cheap. Some of the Disc golf courses are free or relatively inexpensive to play. With over 20 courses in Western New York there is sure to be one close by. Maybe even plan a “disc golf getaway” and spend the weekend exploring the many different courses in an area.
In Erie County, Evangola State Park in Farnham has 18 holes which have recently been reworked to accommodate the construction of reintroduced wetlands that were removed years back for roads and other park plans. 10191 Old Lake Shore Road is the address for the course. During the summer there is an entry fee to get into the park, but off season disc golf is free.
In 2010, Ellicott Creek Park in Tonawanda opened up an 18 hole disc golf course within the grounds of this scenic park. It is a mostly flat course, with trees scattered throughout. Also in Tonawanda, Veterans Park has a 9 pitch and putt that was added in 2009.
Como Lake Park in Lancaster created The Lighthouse Disc Golf course in 2007. It is very scenic, with some shots near wild fields, others amongst big, old trees and still others leaving players holding their breath near the water holes. 2220 Como Park Blvd is the address for this course.
6121 Chestnut Ridge Road in Orchard Park is another free disc golf course. Established in 2001, beautiful views of the City of Buffalo can be seen from the hilltop. This course is rather hilly and is one of the shorter courses in the area. Because of the terrain it makes for a more challenging work out.
Emery Park located at 2084 Emery Rd in South Wales is a free 18 hole course laid out in two loops of nine holes each. The first half of the course is heavily wooded and hilly, while the second half is flatter and takes players through the historic park.