From the mighty roar of Niagara Falls to world-class art collections to Grammy-award winning orchestra performances, incredible experiences await in Buffalo and Niagara Falls for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Follow a multisensory tour of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, listen to the authentic stories of freedom seekers and abolitionists at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, descend 175 feet to the base of Niagara Falls, and more! Recently visited by recording artist and disability activist, Lachi (@lachimusic), follow this guide to plan an unforgettable weekend in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Photo Credit: @alexandralucero on Instagram.
FRIDAY
3PM: Check into your accommodations
Settle into the Buffalo Marriott at LECOM Harborcenter, your home base for the weekend. Conveniently located in downtown Buffalo, you’ll be close by to a variety of attractions including Canalside and Niagara Falls. Hockey fans will also be happy to hear that this hotel is also connected to the KeyBank Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres. Braille and raised signage is also used throughout the hotel.
4PM: Explore extraordinary art collections
Credit: Marta Zielinska
Whether you’re a casual art lover or art enthusiast, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum is a must-stop that’s sure to impress. For more than 150 years this museum has been collecting, conserving, and exhibiting artwork created by the world’s greatest artists including Picasso and Van Gogh, among many others. For visitors who are blind or have low vision, large-print exhibition labels are available for selected works in the galleries and visual descriptions for the AKGo! Audio Experience can be accessed by downloading the mobile app and scanning separate QR Codes placed near object labels. For more accessibility information, visit the museum’s website.
You can also experience the wonder of the Buffalo AKG on a Multisensory Tour, where adults who are blind or have low vision can learn about the collection and special exhibitions through in-depth verbal descriptions, touch tour components for sculptural works, and other sensory experiences. These tours are held at various times throughout the year (next tour is offered on December 14) and advanced registration is required.
6PM: Dine at Cornelia
Follow your art-filled day with a delicious meal at the AKG’s Cornelia Restaurant. Enjoy classic flavors with an artful spin like red wine-braised short ribs served over boursin and flat mushroom risotto. For visitors who are blind or have low vision and would like the accommodation, food service staff are available to read the menu aloud.
SATURDAY
9AM: Start your day with breakfast at Panorama on Seven
Start your day right at Buffalo’s casually-elegant Panorama on Seven. Not only is this restaurant located right at your hotel, but it also offers a tasteful Southern European-inspired menu with local flair. Breakfast options include omelets, New York strip steak and eggs, and banana and Nutella stuffed French toast.
10:30AM: Listen to powerful stories at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
Just a 20-minute drive outside of Buffalo will lead you to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, a museum that showcases the powerful stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls. Explore exhibits like “One More River to Cross” which received the 2019 American Association for State and Local History Award of Excellence. Follow along a guided Freedom Conversations Tour, where you’ll engage in conversation about the authentic stories of freedom seekers and abolitionists as well as your own life experiences, inspiring visitors to recognize modern injustices and take action toward an equitable society.
12:30PM: Stop for a casual lunch at Parkway Prime
Refuel with a casual lunch at Parkway Prime, found on the edge of the Niagara River. This steakhouse and lounge is sure to please every palate with soups, salads, sandwiches, and filling entrees like chicken pesto pasta.
2PM: Explore the roar of Niagara Falls
Credit: @alexandralucero on Instagram
Next stop is the mighty Niagara Falls, just a 30-minute ride from downtown Buffalo! As the oldest state park in the United States, this must-visit destination is located on more than 400 acres of lush terrain filled with miles of hiking trails and iconic attractions. Prepare to enter the splash zone as you descend 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge from the Hurricane Deck on a Cave of the Winds tour. There is a universally accessible viewing platform at the bottom of the falls that can be accessed via an elevator and ramp with a spectacular view. To get closer to the falls, you will need to climb stairs. You will get wet (drenched to be exact) during this tour so be sure to dress accordingly and note that stairs and observation deck will be slippery. If you didn’t get enough of a splash, you can also explore the roar of the falls up-close on a Maid of the Mist boat ride to the base of American Falls and the basin of Horseshoe Falls.
5PM: Stroll through Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood
Artistic vibes are abundant in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood. With live music bars, neighborhood galleries, lively restaurants, and local boutiques lining the streets, you’re sure to feel the creative energy as you stroll through this vibrant community. Allentown has flat, paved sidewalks and streets. Stores, restaurants, and other businesses may have a few steps to enter.
6:30PM: Wing it at Anchor Bar
Credit: @upstateeatstrail on Instagram
You just can’t visit the very place the Buffalo wing was invented without digging into some for yourself! Come taste where it all started back in 1964 at Anchor Bar, one of the many stops along the Buffalo Wing Trail.
8PM: End the day with a cocktail from Casa Azul
Credit: @casaazulbuffalo on Instagram
What better way to round out the day than with a beautifully-crafted cocktail from the outdoor patio at Casa Azul! This taqueria serves up everything from margaritas to oxtail taquitos to mezcal infused chocolate mousse.
SUNDAY
10AM: Take a morning stroll on the canal
Credit: @rizzo_michael on Instagram
Start your day right with a stroll along Buffalo’s historic waterfront. Canalside hosts all kinds of exciting year-round events like outdoor yoga and live concerts in the summer and ice skating in the winter. It’s also home to America’s largest inland naval park, the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park, which offers audio and guided tours. Don’t forget to snap a selfie with Buffalo icon, Shark Girl before you go!
1:30PM: End the weekend with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
For the grand finale of your weekend, head to Kleinhans Music Hall and witness the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra! The orchestra holds a variety of performances throughout the year including Jingle Bell Jam (December 15) and more. Experience the wonder of a live performance for yourself! Large print repertoire pages for Buffalo Philharmonic performances are available at coat check. Plus, the hall holds pre-concert talks before each Classics weekend concert, starting at 1:30PM for Sunday shows, where you’ll listen to a discussion of the upcoming performance from a guest speaker.
GETTING THERE
By plane: Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
The Buffalo Niagara International Airport partners with the Aira app, a service that provides visitors who are blind and have low vision with visual information on-demand, free of charge while at the airport. The Aira app is available for download via smartphone for free and used to connect to a highly-trained, remotely-located agent to access visual information on-demand. Agents utilize live video streams, GPS, maps and other web-based data to help travelers navigate and experience the airport on their own terms and time. For more information about Aira, visit the airport website or aira.io.
By train: Travel Amtrak direct from Chicago, Toronto, Albany, and New York City. The three stations in the Buffalo-Niagara region include Exchange Street (BFX), Buffalo Depew (BUF) and Niagara Falls station (NFL). Taxi service is available upon arrival at Depew and Niagara Falls stations. Exchange Street station is walking distance from downtown Buffalo and Canalside attractions.
By bus: Greyhound to Buffalo
By car:
From Rochester: 1 hour and 10 minutes
From Toronto: 1 hour and 45 minutes
From Cleveland: 3 hours
From Albany: 4 hours and 30 minutes
From NYC: 6 hours
From Montreal: 6 hours
