It should come as no surprise that Buffalo NY is not known for its desirable weather. To be fair, spring, summer, fall, and the first part of winter aren’t too bad. It’s the second, third, and even fourth parts of winter (sometimes extending late into April) where locals start to get a little ornery and start checking the Zillow listings in Florida. What is a Buffalonian to do for 5 months out of the year? Tuck tail and wait for the cherry blossoms to bloom? Nay I say. Whether it be rain or snow, there are always places to go in the Queen City. With that hardy spirit in mind, here is our list of best indoor Buffalo activities to get you through your weather blues.
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Buffalo Botanical Gardens
Quickly becoming one of our favorite places to take friends and family visiting the city, the Buffalo Botanical Garden stands apart as undoubtedly one of our best indoor Buffalo activities. Open year round, the gardens host a wide variety of fauna from around the globe, all artistically displayed amongst various greenhouses and three towering glass domes. This tri-dome glass design was based on the famous Crystal Palace and Kew Gardens Palm House in England and the construction was one of the largest in the country when completed in 1899.
Unlike the outdoor seasonal displays which are free, the indoor conservatory is viewable for a small fee. Tours of the greenhouses are self-guided and most visitors spend between 45-120 minutes enjoying the various gardens. Due to the innate beauty of both the architecture and meticulously maintained gardens within, the Botanical Gardens are a common wedding location and are at times partially closed due to other private events. Call ahead to ensure you don’t miss out!
The Botanical Gardens hosts a wide array of different classes and events as well. From boozy date nights and Christmas displays to art workshops and horticultural classes, you are sure to find something that tickles your fancy at what surely is one of our best indoor Buffalo activities!
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Buffalo AKG Art Museum
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly referred to Albright Knox Art Gallery), has been a staple of tradition and fine culture for the Buffalo region for generations. Construction began in 1900, as the wealthy industrialist and well known philanthropist John Albright donated funds in order to make an enviable art gallery to be displayed at the Pan-American Exposition of 1901. Over a century later, the museum boasts an enviable collection of modern and contemporary art. Notable artists featured include Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollock and Claude Monet just to name a few.
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is arguably the best of our indoor Buffalo activities, and it continues to get better. Several years and $230 million have dramatically updated and expanded the campus, setting up the museum to be a continued center of artistic intrigue and excellence for generations to come. The newly renovated museum just opened in June of 2023. Feel free to take advantage of First Fridays, in which admission to the museum is open to the public FREE of charge (thanks M&T bank!). The art museum is located just across from the picturesque park and flowing grounds of Hoyt Lake as well!
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Buffalo History Museum
Located just across the street from the Buffalo AKG Art Museum sits another of our premier indoor Buffalo activities, the Buffalo History Museum. The museum is housed in an architectural marvel designed to evoke the Parthenon in Athens. It is also the only remaining structure from the aforementioned Pan-American Exposition of 1901. Just outside the Greek inspired colonnades, visitors will also find a peaceful and serene lake next to Buffalo’s own Japanese Gardens. The tranquility of the gardens and beauty of the building itself make the museum a popular destination for weddings and other private events.
The museum is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (pay what you wish admission) and is FREE the third Friday of each month. Spread across three separate levels, the museum does a great job highlighting the significant moments and contributions of Buffalo’s storied history. Once one of the wealthiest, most populous, and most innovative cities in the nation, you may be surprised at some of our notable Buffalo alumni and their history shaping works. Many guests also find the unique gallery showcasing “The Makers and Moments of Buffalo Sports” particularly interesting.
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Darwin Martin House
Designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Darwin Martin House is widely considered a top work from Wright’s “Prairie School” (a specific design philosophy common at the time) era and is another one of our best indoor Buffalo activities. Said to have cost an eye popping $300K (over $10 million in today’s terms), this immaculate construction was commissioned by the local wealthy businessman Darwin Martin, hence the name.
The home and grounds have been meticulously maintained and are viewable by both guided and self guided tours (click HERE). There are numerous buildings to peruse in addition to a large greenhouse and sweeping outdoor landscaping. Our recommendation would be a guided tour for sure. The architectural concepts and attention to detail are often lost on the untrained eye, and we found the many explanations and overall knowledge of our docent to be very helpful and enjoyable.
For those looking for even more Frank Lloyd Wright on their travels, consider visiting Graycliff as well. This ambitious summer estate was also designed by Wright for the Martin family and is about 30 minutes south of the city. It comprises several buildings spread across 8.5 acres and is picturesquely perched atop a high cliff overlooking Lake Erie!
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Shea's Theatre
Shea’s has been a staple of Buffalo’s entertainment industry and a prime example of the flourishing cultural and arts scene at the heart of the city. A common place for wedding and engagement photos, Shea’s is located alongside other smaller theaters in an artsy and aesthetic part of the city known as the “theater district.” Shea’s Theatre itself is no less impressive. Lavishly modeled to resemble the finest palaces and opera houses in Europe from the 17th and 18th centuries, the architecture of Shea’s is truly stunning.
Initially constructed to show silent movies, Shea’s now is a popular destination for viewing Broadway Musicals and other specific events (comedians, musical artists, etc) coming to Buffalo. Be it rain or snow, Shea’s is undoubtedly one of our best indoor Buffalo activities, so follow the events link HERE and start planning your next visit today!
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Key Bank Center
The KeyBank Center is a multipurpose indoor arena located in the downtown Buffalo arena by the waterfront. As far as indoor Buffalo activities go, no item on this list has the scale or swagger of The Keybank Center. The arena seats over 19,000 thousand fans and is one of the largest indoor arenas in the country. It has long been the home of both the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits (professional lacrosse team) and hosts a range of other events from professional wrestling and UFC to headline musical artists and the NCAA March Madness tournament.
There is basically no free street parking to be found by the arena anymore so plan on paying for access to a lot or the parking garage next door. Rideshare apps are also an easy option. For the savvy Buffalonian looking to avoid the most intense traffic, consider taking the metro rail which drops off right near the front doors. If you’re not convinced enough by now, click HERE for a list of top upcoming events and attractions set to entice you to the KeyBank Center today!
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Pierce Arrow Museum
The Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company was a car manufacturer in Buffalo in the early 1900s. The company specialized in luxury vehicles and Pierce Arrows were actually the first official state cars of the White House (compared to “The Beast” of today). Focusing nearly exclusively on luxury models (with some being the equivalent to a $200,000 car of today), the company fell on hard times with the great depression and throughout the 1930s eventually became insolvent.
Regardless, the luxury and allure of these fine American vehicles remains on full display at the Pierce Arrow Museum in downtown Buffalo. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 9A-4P, visitors can enjoy free onsite parking and enjoy a walk through Buffalo’s illustrious history as a once top manufacturing and transportation hub in the country.
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino
For those less interested in culture and the arts, but equally interested in parting with their money, consider the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. With the slogan “Where Buffalo Comes to Play. Nowhere Else Comes Close,” the downtown casino is surely one of the most popular indoor Buffalo activities. The casino attracts over 3 million annual visitors through various table games, over 1000 slot games, eclectic dining options, as well as countless other events and promotions.
The casino is owned and operated by the Seneca Nation of New York. Local Seneca Nation businesses include the Seneca Niagara and Seneca Allegany Resorts and Casinos as well.
Indoor Buffalo Activities
Helium Comedy Club
Last but no least on our list of best indoor Buffalo activities, is Helium Comedy Club. This happening and often uproarious downtown spot, attracts some of the finest local comics and traveling acts in the country. In this smaller and more intimate club setting, comedic journeyman and first time open mic nighters alike release their best material, all hoping to keep you laughing and filled with merry memories for days to come.
There is a full bar (obviously) available as well as dining options for a pre-show meal. Tickets often sell out for the bigger names so take a look at the upcoming performers list HERE and jump on it quickly if interested!
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