Western New York families looking to take advantage of the winter weather don’t have far to go for fun for all ages and abilities.
The region’s eastern counties—just an hour’s drive from Buffalo—offer plentiful options for staying active, exploring new sites and enjoying cozy meals or quaint shopping experiences.
Eric Szucs, the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce’s director of tourism and marketing, says Wyoming and Orleans counties make great destinations for a wide variety of family-friendly day trips.
“Towns and villages like Warsaw, Arcade and others offer affordable experiences that allow visitors to connect with the outdoors not far from home,” he says. “You can get experiences here you can’t get anywhere else. You can try snowshoeing or explore new cross-country skiing trails and then hit the Main Street shops or find great mom-and-pop restaurants and breweries. You can really spend the whole day.”
For the outdoorsy types
If you’re looking for a new hobby or new trail experiences, both counties have numerous scenic areas for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
North Java’s Beaver Meadow Nature Preserve, Varysburg’s Byrncliff Golf Resort and Letchworth State Park have endless acres of land to explore. Local rental shops, like Endlessly Outdoors Company in Perry, offer rental options for winter sports equipment, so you don’t have to break the bank to try something new.
In Orleans County, hundreds flock to Lakeside State Park along Lake Ontario for snowshoeing, and many enjoy bird watching in the winter months at Iroquois Wildlife Refuge in Basom, south of Medina.
Bullard Park in Albion becomes a favorite winter-time spot for families for its sledding hill, complete with a free “sled library” where people can borrow sleds. For the fisherman, Johnson, Sandy and Oak Orchard creeks are popular for ice fishing trout, salmon and steelhead.
“Places like Bullard Park are incredibly popular with local families in the winter months and make a great day trip for those from surrounding counties,” says Isabella Zasa, tourism assistant & digital content creator for Orleans County Tourism. “The Iroquois Wildlife Refuge, easily accessible off the Thruway, is really a year-round destination offering something for everyone to experience nature in all seasons.”
For those who prefer to stay cozy
For train enthusiasts or local history buffs, the Medina Railroad Museum—the largest railroad and toy train museum in the state—features indoor exhibits with railroad and firefighting memorabilia and artifacts.
Meanwhile, in Letchworth State Park, visitors can warm up in the Humphrey Nature Center Thursdays through Mondays during the winter months. The center houses interactive exhibits on Letchworth State Park’s living environment.
For bargain hunters, antique collectors and shoppers of all kinds, historic village centers in Medina and Albion and Main streets in Warsaw, Arcade and Perry all boast picturesque thoroughfares with small shops, bookstores, bakeries and diners.
“There’s a cozy, Americana feel to these rural Main streets,” says Szucs. “Everything is very accessible. You just park and within a few feet you have everything you want, from unique shops and boutiques to delicious food and drink options.”
Adds Zasa, it’s like “you’re in a Hallmark movie.”
“It’s a charming atmosphere, with cozy experiences on every budget,” she says. “Whether you’re outside or going to a museum, you can enjoy beautiful winter scenery or step into history and just take a break from the busyness of the week.”
