There was a time when Niagara Falls was a seasonal attraction, but today this natural gem draws both tourists and groups year-round.
In any season, a meeting itinerary in the area—comprising Buffalo, N.Y., and Niagara Falls in both New York and Ontario, Canada—should include a visit to the spectacular falls. Planning beyond that depends on the time of year, and attendees, whether they’re wearing flip-flops or galoshes, will be pleased to find an agenda otherwise filled with activities and attractions that best showcase the area.
From taking a Cave of the Winds tour at Niagara Falls and attending a baseball game in the summer, to snowshoeing and theater-going during the winter, the Buffalo/Niagara area is certain to provide a memorable group experience.
In the Summertime
While Buffalo is alive with activity year-round, there is an unmistakable buzz during the summer months, according to Lori White, national sales manager at Visit Buffalo Niagara.
She says there’s never a lack of activities to take part in, as festivals occur every weekend, and there are free outdoor concerts every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and Shakespearean theater nightly in Delaware Park.
“Most groups will take advantage of the free concerts in Canalside, a waterfront district that features more than 600 events each summer,” she says. “The whole group could also take in a Buffalo Bisons Triple-A baseball game with a group representative throwing out the first pitch.”
Michelle A. Blackley, spokeswoman for Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation in Niagara Falls, N.Y., adds that Memorial Day to Labor Day is the busiest season.
“Groups can witness the power and beauty of the falls, ‘lock’ into the Erie Canal, learn about the region’s role in the Underground Railroad and ride the Whirlpool Rapids,” she says.
Across the misty falls in Canada, summertime is electric, according to Paula Racher, manager of meetings and conventions at Niagara Falls Tourism.
“Any of the attractions that incorporate the falls and the Niagara River are a must,” she says, citing Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind the Falls outings, as well as sightseeing tours via Niagara Helicopters.
Racher adds that outdoor venues abound in the summer when Niagara is at its floral best, including locations such as Oakes Garden Theatre, Queen Victoria Park and local wineries.
“Whether enjoying a glass of wine in the midst of a vineyard or sampling local farm-to-table menus at winery restaurants and bistros, you won’t be disappointed,” she says, citing Jackson-Triggs Winery, which is home to a summer concert series in its outdoor amphitheater, and Trius Winery at Hillebrand.PageBreak
Fall Into Autumn
Buffalo Bills football and brilliant foliage are indicators that autumn has arrived in Buffalo.
“There’s a brightness of the sun that gives way to amazing sunsets over Lake Erie, with the last remaining boaters still out on the water in October,” White says.
She adds that groups can wander through local cornfields alongside resident families to pick pumpkins and drink apple cider.
“Neighborhoods and commercial districts alike are dressed up with ghosts and witches in anticipation for trick-or-treaters, and a few weeks later it’s turkey costumes that are the norm at the annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot,” White says.
Blackley suggests groups enjoy the harvest season at Becker Farms and Vizcarra Vineyards in Gasport, N.Y.
“You can spend a beautiful fall day on the farm, pick fresh Macintosh apples, ride a pony, hop on a hayride or pet animals in the zoo,” she says.
On the Canada side, harvest time is also in full swing at fruit and produce farms across the Niagara Region, as well as at area wineries, according to Racher.
“The annual Niagara Wine Festival celebrates all things wine and harvest-related,” she says, adding that a fun group experience is Inniskillin Winery’s Great Canadian Kitchen Party. “Guests are broken into small teams to jointly produce an appetizer, entree and dessert under chef supervision, all while enjoying lovely wines and cheeses.”PageBreak
Winter Wonderland
“As winter nears, some might expect this is the time to head indoors and hibernate until the groundhog sees his shadow,” says Visit Buffalo Niagara’s White. “But we don’t hide from our colder, snowier weather—we throw on another layer of clothing and embrace it.”
Outdoor pursuits include skiing, snowmobiling and ice skating, while terrific indoor options in Buffalo include visiting the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, catching a touring Broadway production at the Tiffany-designed Shea’s Performing Arts Center or enjoying a performance by the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Niagara Falls State Park offers a full schedule of guided winter hikes, including snowshoeing, adds Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation’s Blackley.
Enjoyable indoor diversions on the New York side of the falls include Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, with exciting gaming action and an impressive live concert lineup.
Wintertime in Niagara, Canada, says Niagara Falls Tourism’s Racher, is serene.
“The falls are lovely when the Niagara River freezes and the mist creates a sheath of ice over tree branches,” she says.
A relatively new opportunity for groups convening during the winter is the TD Rink at the Brink, one of the CAA Winter Festival of Lights venues where attendees can ice-skate adjacent to Niagara Falls.
“It’s breathtaking and should be experienced at night when the falls are illuminated in color,” Racher says.
Groups might also like to drop by the Niagara Icewine Festival in January, or at the very least taste icewine at some point during the meeting.
“Niagara’s Inniskillin Winery is the birthplace of Canadian icewine and a great place to start,” Racher says, adding that many wineries feature excellent icewine, including Peller Estates Winery’s Ice Cuvee and Savagnin Icewine from Chateau des Charmes.PageBreak
Spring Fever
Come April, Buffalo’s seasonal attractions open their doors, according to White.
Popular springtime outings in Buffalo include tours at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park at Buffalo’s new Canalside district, a group hike at Tifft Nature Preserve or a stop to smell the spring flowers at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens.
And on Canada’s side of the falls, according to Racher, crocus and daffodil bulbs start poking up in March and are in full bloom by April.
“The vineyards and farms are greening up and attractions are opening, preparing for peak season,” she says, adding that the launch of the Maid of the Mist tips off the start of busier months when it opens in April or May.
At Niagara Glen, a designated nature reserve path along the Niagara Parkway, Racher says team-building activities including orienteering and bouldering are easily facilitated, and the Greater Niagara Circle Route starts welcoming cyclists.
Springtime also marks the beginning of performances at the Shaw Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“The works of George Bernard Shaw are featured along with one blockbuster musical per year,” Racher says. “Planners can incorporate a performance for the group or perhaps a matinee for companion programs.”
Contributing writer Carolyn Blackburn looks forward to another walk-through at Buffalo’s wonderful Albright-Knox Art Gallery.
