Here Comes the Fun

• Family Fun Attractions

Family fun comes in many fascinating forms and surprising spots in Buffalo Niagara. Whether it’s watching river otters romp in their way cool pool at the Buffalo Zoo, getting soaked yourself on a summertime excursion on a Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour or exploring the amazing collection of antique toys at the Toy Town Museum, fun is easily found for you and your family.

The third-oldest zoo in the country has been quietly re-inventing itself with new exhibits, programs and special events. Perhaps the most exciting development at the Buffalo Zoo is the sound of frolicking, fun-loving otters and sea lions in brand new, state-of-the-art aquatic habitats.

At the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park visitors are invited to tour the decks and hulls of a guided missile cruiser, destroyer and WWII submarine. It’s a hands-on experience like no other!

Martin’s Fantasy Island is a seasonal treat for the entire family. With more than 100 rides, shows and attractions, Fantasy Island has been entertaining kids of all ages for generations with the newest thrill rides and classic favorites.

Explore & More…A Children’s Museum is the region’s only museum that’s designed just for children from birth through ten years of age.

At the Buffalo Museum of Science the Dinosaurs & Co. exhibit showcases interesting collections of fossils and the “Our Place in Space” lets visitors explore five astronomy-themed areas.

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum offers children the chance to experience a favorite rite of childhood on an old-fashioned carousel. The Buffalo area is home to the only carousel museum in the world housed in an authentic, original factory building with an operating 1916 carousel as well as a vintage 1940s "Kiddie Carousel."

The Toy Town Museum features hands-on activities as well as an extensive collection of toys from around the world.

You’ll also find entertainment for young audiences at Theatre of Youth in the beautifully-restored Allendale Theatre in the historic Allentown district.

Niagara River gorge try a Whirlpool Jet Boat tour. It’s a 45-minute ride on the wild side for the whole family from May through October.

Fun? We’ve got it!

Family Fun Attractions

Adventure Landing

This is the place for family fun! Open year-round, there is something for everyone at Adventure Landing. Test your putting prowess on our miniature golf courses, improve your gaming skills in our mega-arcade or build your own stuffed-animal friend in our Teddy Bear Factory. We also offer great birthday party packages and cater to most group events! Check our website for additional information.
ADDRESS
2400 Sheridan Drive
Tonawanda, NY 14150
(716) 832-6248
Website: http://www.AdventureLanding.com

Adventure Speedway

Let the Adventure begin! This seasonal park is a great place for families. Featuring a quarter-mile, twisting go-kart track that tests your driving skills, over 40 interactive arcade games and bumper boats, a fun way to cool down while bumping, dodging, and splashing your friends as you make your way through the Bumper Boat Pond. We also offer the best birthday party packages in town and specialize in group events!
ADDRESS
3939 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Wheatfield, NY 14120
(716) 692-3122

AMHERST MUSEUM

Experience 19th Century life on the Niagara Frontier. Tour historic homes, gardens, churches, one-room schoolhouses and visit a working blacksmith shop. Learn about local history through exhibits on agriculture, costumes, antique radios and pioneer kitchen. Learn about the Erie Canal in our unique interactive exhibit and climb aboard our replica canal packet boat. Special events are held year-round.
ADDRESS
3755 Tonawanda Creek Road
Amherst, NY 14228
(716) 689-1440
Website: http://www.amherstmuseum.org

AQUARIUM OF NIAGARA

Dive into an ocean of discovery at Niagara's other water wonder! Highlights include California sea lion demonstrations, harbor seals, and a colony of endangered Peruvian penguins. Over 40 aquatic exhibits.
ADDRESS
701 Whirpool Street
Niagara Falls, NY 14301
(716) 285-3575
(800) 500-4609
Website: http://www.aquariumofniagara.org

BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDENS

This Victorian Botanical Garden is a national historic site, education center and tourist destinations which holds exotic horticulture treasures from around the world. One of only two remaining Lord & Burnham conservatories incorporated into an Olmsted designed park.
HOURS
Mon: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Tues: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Wed: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Thur: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fri: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sun: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
ADDRESS
2655 South Park Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14218
(716) 827-1584
Admission: Adults $6, students (with ID) and seniors (55+) $5, Children(6-13) - $3.00, Children under 6 and Garden Members are free.
Website: http://www.buffalogardens.com

BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY NAVAL & MILITARY PARK

This Buffalo waterfront attraction is the largest inland park of its kind in the nation. All branches of the Armed Forces are represented in the park's exhibits. Tour the decks and hulls of a guided missile cruiser, destroyer and WWII submarine. Inspect uniforms and memorabilia in the museum and exhibits aboard the ships. See planes, a tank and more!
ADDRESS
One Naval Park Cove
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 847-1773
(716) 847-6405
Website: http://www.buffalonavalpark.org

BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

Dedicated to the study and interpretation of the natural and physical sciences, the Buffalo Museum of Science's extensive collections and artifacts represent all facets of the natural world with an emphasis on Western New York as well as man-made objects spanning the globe. Anchoring Buffalo's East Side in Olmsted-designed Martin Luther King, Jr. Park since 1929, the museum presents a wide variety of programs and services for children, teachers, families, adults and community organizations throughout the year. The museum also operates Tifft Nature Preserve in South Buffalo, a 264-acre wetland preserve on reclaimed former industrial land, and seasonally sponsors archaeological exploration at the Hiscock Site in nearby Genesee County, NY, one of North America's richest Ice Age sites.
HOURS
Mon: Closed to the General Public; Group Bookings Only | Tues: Closed to the General Public; Group Bookings Only | Wed: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Thur: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fri: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sun: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
ADDRESS
1020 Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14211
(716) 896-5200
Admission: Call for rates
Website: http://www.buffalomuseumofscience.org

BUFFALO TRANSPORTATION/PIERCE-ARROW MUSEUM

Western New York-made automobiles, cycles, and automobilia focuses on local transportation history. Cars from 1901 to the 1960s, muscle cars, Pierce-Arrow, Thomas Flyers and more. Unique Women and the Automobile exhibit presents an in-depth look at the role women played in all phases of the automobile industry throughout the 20th Century. The Museum also provides a unique venue for parties, business meetings and social events. Please call ahead for museum hours.
ADDRESS
263 Michigan Avenue at 201 Seneca Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 853-0084
Website: http://www.pierce-arrow.com

BUFFALO ZOO

The perfect venue for unique family fun, all year long! It's the only place in town where visitors are able to observe a wide array of exotic and domestic animals in one setting.
ADDRESS
300 Parkside Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 837-3900
Admission: Adults $9.50, children (2-14) $6, seniors (63+) $7, Full-Time Students (up to age 22 with a valid student ID) $7, Children 23 months and under: FREE
Website: http://www.buffalozoo.org

DARIEN LAKE THEME PARK AND RESORT

Darien Lake is New York State's largest theme park resort and has more than 100 rides, shows and attractions. It has a 20,000 capacity performing arts center and three on-site lodging choices.
ADDRESS
9993 Allegheny Road
Darien Center, NY 14040
(585) 599-4046
Website: http://www.godarienlake.com

ERIE CANAL DISCOVERY CENTER

A new state-of-the-art interpretive center for the Erie Canal, focusing on the role that Lockport played in canal history, and featuring a 20' x 13' Raphael Beck mural, "The Opening of the Erie Canal, October 26, 1825." This beautiful floor to ceiling mural depicts the celebration surrounding then NY Governor Dewitt Clinton's ceremonial first passage through the now famous "Flight of Five" locks at Lockport to officially open the Erie Canal. Individuals from the painting "come to life" with the assistance of virtual-reality, through computer kiosks in the Center. A multidimensional orientation film transports the visitor back in time onboard a recreation of the packet boat Western Comet. Additional audiovisual stations such as the "Hard Rock Canal" and "Work the Lock" allow guests the hands-on opportunity to view the dolomite rock wall at Lockport and to navigate a model ship through an actual working series of locks. The life and times of "canawlers," people who lived and worked on the canal, as well as "canal kids," are depicted in exhibits that feature the latest technology in communication "sound-sticks." The National Park Service rounds out the many displays with their own description of the National Heritage Corridor.
ADDRESS
24 Church Street
Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 439-0431
Website: http://www.niagaracounty.org

EXPLORE & MORE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

Spark your kids creativity, curiosity & imagination at a fun museum designed for the many ways kids learn.
HOURS
Mon: By reservation for large groups | Tues: By reservation for large groups | Wed: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Thur: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fri: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sun: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
ADDRESS
300 Gleed Avenue
East Aurora, NY 14052
(716) 655-5131
Website: http://www.exploreandmore.org

FORT GEORGE

Built over 200 years ago by the British Army, the buildings of Fort George have been reconstructed to commemorate the important history represented by the site. Visitors can experience every day life during the War of 1812 through costumes, reenactments and special events.
ADDRESS
26 Queen
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S1J0
(905) 468-4257
Admission: Adult-$10.90, Youth-$5.45, Children Under 6- Free, Senior Citizens $9.15
Website: http://www.niagara.com/~parkscan/

FREEDOM CROSSING: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN GREATER NIAGARA

The dramatic and heart-rending stories of the people who risked their lives for freedom, as well as the lasting heritage of their ancestors, can now be experienced at Freedom Crossing, the new Regional Underground Railroad Interpretive Center, on the campus of Niagara University in nearby Lewiston. Freedom crossing tells the story of the Underground Railroad in Buffalo Niagara through historic photographs, artifacts, stories, audio stations, and art. Brochures and maps are available to Underground Railroad historic sites.
ADDRESS
5795 Lewiston Road
Castellani Art Museum
Niagara University, NY 14109
(716) 286-8200
Website: http://www.niagara.edu/cam

GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE AND MUSEUM

Genesee Country Village & Museum is one of the largest living history museums in the nation. The museum is uniquely situated between Rochester and Buffalo in the beautiful hamlet of Mumford, New York. Stroll through the 19th century Historic Village and meet the costumed interpreters that help bring the 1800s to life and be certain to visit the John L. Wehle Art Gallery May through October. Experience the Nature Center with five miles of hiking trails year-round. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is offered in the winter months for a fee.
ADDRESS
1410 Flint Hill Road
Mumford, NY 14511
(585) 538-6822
Website: http://www.gcv.org

HERSCHELL CARROUSEL FACTORY MUSEUM

The only museum in the world housed in an authentic, original carousel factory building. The building and 1916 carousel are listed on both the New York State and National Register of Historic Sites. Exhibits include: operating 1916 carousel, kiddie carrousel, and 20 hand-carved carousel characters.
ADDRESS
180 Thompson Street
North Tonawanda, NY 14120-0672
(716) 693-1885
Website: http://www.carrouselmuseum.org

KAZOO MUSEUM, FACTORY & BOUTIQUE

The only metal kazoo manufacturer in the world operating as a working factory and museum, with belt-driven machines dating back to 1907. The museum highlights history, amusing trivia and a unique view of how kazoos are made. Get the chance to make your own kazoo!
HOURS
Mon: Closed | Tues: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Wed: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Thur: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fri: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sun: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
ADDRESS
8703 South Main Street
Eden, NY 14057
(716) 992-3960

LOCKPORT LOCKS & ERIE CANAL CRUISES AND THE LOCKPORT CANALSIDE

Experience this AAA Gem Attraction featured on the History Channel. Enjoy a unique narrated two hour cruise past many historic sites and five original locks. Cruise includes being raised and lowered 50 feet in the only double set of locks on the Erie Canal. Banquet and meeting rooms open year-round.
ADDRESS
210 Market Street
Lockport, NY 14094
(716) 433-6155
(800) 378-0352
Website: http://www.lockportlocks.com

MARTIN'S FANTASY ISLAND

If you are looking for quality, safe and fun entertainment in a wholesome family environment, then Martin's Fantasy Island is the perfect choice. Experience over 100 rides, shows, games, petting zoo and complete water park, including the Silver Comet wooden roller coaster and an authentic Wild West Shoot-Out. Open Seasonal, mid-May to mid-September.
HOURS
Mon: Closed | Tues: 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Wed: 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Thur: 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Fri: 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Sat: 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Sun: 11:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
ADDRESS
2400 Grand Island Boulevard
Grand Island, NY 14072
(716) 773-7591
Website: http://www.martinsfantasyisland.com

MIDWAY STATE PARK

Celebrating 111 years of continual operation, this historic amusement park nestled on the shores of Chautauqua Lake includes rides, arcade, food concessions, mini golf, go-karts, museum and gift shop. Beautiful picnic grove, pavilions for groups and family outings. Open year-round for picnicing and walking, and seasonally May-August for arcade and rides.
ADDRESS
4859 Route 430
PO Box 72
Bemus Point, NY 14712
(716) 386-3165
Website: http://www.midway-park.com

NIAGARA PARKS BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY

The world's largest glass enclosed butterfly conservatory with over 2,000 free flying tropical butterflies in a rain forest setting. Extended hours in Summer months.
HOURS
Mon: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Tues: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Wed: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Thur: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Fri: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sat: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Sun: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
ADDRESS
2405 Niagara Parkway
Niagara Falls, ON L2E6T2
(905) 371-0254
(877) 642-7275
Website: http://www.niagaraparks.com

OLD FORT ERIE

Award winning attraction and beautiful historic site overlooking Lake Erie and the Niagara River. Reenactments include The Fenian Raid in June, The Siege of 1814 in August and The French and Indian War in September.
ADDRESS
350 Lakeshore Road
Fort Erie, ON L2A4X4
(905) 871-0540
(877) 642-7275
Website: http://www.oldforterie.com

OLD FORT NIAGARA

Three-hundred years of history, just minutes from the Falls. The site of historic battles and sieges, trading and conquest, Old Fort Niagara is an exciting place where the past lives on. Preserved as it stood in the 1700's, when France and Britain controlled Niagara, the Fort's structures include the oldest building on the Great Lakes. Hours: January-June: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. July-August: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. September-December: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
ADDRESS
Scott Avenue
PO Box 169
Youngstown, NY 14174
(716) 745-7611
Website: http://www.oldfortniagara.org

PEDALING HISTORY BICYCLE MUSEUM

The Pedaling History Bicycle Museum is the largest all-bicycle museum in the world, and exhibits a complete history of the innovation, invention and development of man's first personal mechanical transportation. There are more than 400 rare and unique bicycles on display.
ADDRESS
3943 North Buffalo Road
(Rt. 277)
Orchard Park, NY 14127-1841
(716) 662-3853
Website: http://www.pedalinghistory.com

THEATRE OF YOUTH (TOY)

Theatre of Youth (TOY) engages all ages with award-winning, child-centered professionally produced theatre that stimulates the imagination and the creative spirit. TOY is the resident company of the historic Allendale Theatre, built in 1913.
ADDRESS
The Historic Allendale Theatre
203 Allen Street
Buffalo, NY 14201
(716) 884-4400
Website: http://www.theatreofyouth.org

TOY TOWN MUSEUM

Younger visitors will delight in ToyWorks, a hands-on area where kids can try a number of different learning activities. Adults will enjoy our extensive collection of "Toys Through the 20th Century," "Toys from Around the World", and a host of regularly changing exhibits.
ADDRESS
636 Girard Avenue
East Aurora, NY 14052
(716) 687-5151
Website: http://www.toytownusa.com

WHIRLPOOL JET BOAT TOURS

Passengers ages six and up will enjoy this 45 minute white water adventure through the Niagara Gorge. Experience history, scenery, excitement and the thrill of a lifetime. Book online for discounts. Open daily May-October. Departure times vary and are subject to change. Reservations required.
HOURS
Mon: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Tues: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Wed: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Thur: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Fri: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Sat: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Sun: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
ADDRESS
Water Street Landing
115 South Water Street
Lewiston, NY 14092
(888) 438-4444
Admission: Adults $56, children ages 6-13 $47. Price does not include applicable taxes.
Website: http://www.whirlpooljet.com