Getting Oriented

Anchored by the tenacious city of Buffalo and the inescapable Niagara Falls, western New York is wedged between Lake Erie to the west, Lake Ontario to the north, Rochester and the Finger Lakes to the east, and the Pennsylvania border to the south. In the northwest corner is the Niagara River, which connects lakes Erie and Ontario and is shared by the United States and Canada.

From Interstate 90 (New York State Thruway), the main entryway to the region, expressway spur Interstate 190 at Buffalo leads across Grand Island to the Robert Moses Parkway into Niagara Falls. The parkway continues north to Lewiston and then Youngstown, where the Niagara River empties into Lake Ontario. The scenic Great Lakes Seaway Trail traces the region's perimeter in the north and west, along lakes Ontario and Erie.

In this chapter, we’ve started with Niagara Falls, undoubtedly the top attraction in western New York. Seeing the falls from the Canadian side is much recommended, and from there, it’s an easy jaunt to pretty Niagara-on-the-Lake and the surrounding wine country. Worthwhile Canadian overnights are Stratford for its prestigious summer theater festival, and Toronto, Canada’s metropolitan nerve center. Just 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, Buffalo is an idea hub for day trips to the Erie Canal town of Lockport, or to East Aurora, Darien Lakes theme park, or Letchworth State Park. Buffalo is also the starting point for many a trip south along the Seaway Trail to Dunkirk, Fredonia, Westfield, Chautauqua, and Jamestown. East along Interstate 86 are Salamanca and Olean, bordering giant Allegany State Park, and Ellicottville, a short drive north of Salamanca, is a popular ski and foodie destination for Buffalonians.