New York's Laid-Back City Just Outside Buffalo Sits On Lake Erie With Scenic Parks And Local Eats

Most people know Buffalo as a vacation destination, drawing in thousands of visitors each year with its stunning waterways and incredible local food scene. But just south of Buffalo is a beautiful, laid-back city showcasing a different side of Lake Erie. Lackawanna is a charming small town in upstate New York. 

Like its much larger neighbor, the town has its own legacy of industrialism. For most of the 20th century, the city was home to one of the country's largest steel-making plants, providing jobs for thousands of people in the area. When the plant closed in the early '80s, Lackawanna had to reinvent its entire economic proposition. But the small city never lost its charm.

These days, Lackawanna has traded bustling smokestacks for a quieter, small-town serenity. Its 2-mile stretch of Lake Erie shoreline and numerous nearby parks give the city a more residential pace than Buffalo's busy waterfront, making it the kind of place where travelers can take in lakeside views without the crowds. Lackawanna's surprising greenery, scenic parks, and burgeoning food scene make it worth the detour off the Buffalo tourist trail to find some of the area's secret spots most tourists miss.

Nature lovers will find plenty to love in Lackawanna. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens in southern Buffalo are a surprising tropical escape in a place famous for its snowy winters. The gardens are located just north of the town's core on South Park Avenue. Housed in a gorgeous glass conservatory crafted by some of the most renowned greenhouse architects of the Victorian era, the gardens have been welcoming visitors from across the globe since 1900. Inside, you'll find tropical plants, towering palms, and finicky plants like bananas and pineapples, flora that are incredibly difficult to find growing in this area of the country.

Lackawanna is also very close to several scenic parks and nature preserves. South Park is a 155-acre country park known for its picturesque walking trails and vast arboretum, right next to the botanical gardens. The park was designed by none other than Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of NYC's Central Park. Less than a 10-minute drive northwest will take you to the Tifft Nature Preserve, a "264-acre nature refuge dedicated to conservation and environmental education" nestled on the outer harbor between Lackawanna and its thriving neighbor Buffalo, with its waterways and local flavor.

No trip to this stretch of Lake Erie is complete without a stop at Buffalo Harbor State Park, an outdoor escape adjacent to Tifft on the lakeside. While there, visitors can explore the quiet shorelines of Gallagher Beach, spend time at a water park playground, or stroll along the harbor's sprawling breakwall. Anglers can spend an afternoon fishing for bass, perch, or crappie from Gallagher Pier. The park is also the beginning of the Shoreline Trail, which winds along the shoreline through Buffalo for 8 miles, connecting visitors traveling either on foot or by bike to the lake.

Lackawanna's food scene has a warmth all its own, blending lakeside charm with the kind of neighborhood comfort that keeps locals coming back for more. Mulberry Italian Ristorante serves up comforting takes on classic dishes like lasagna, gnocchi, and baked manicotti. They're known for their massive portion sizes, and the restaurant is ranked the No. 2 restaurant in the Buffalo area on Tripadvisor with a 4.5-star rating. 

The city is also home to several charming and quirky restaurants, like Rooster's Cafe, a casual dine-in spot serving classic American dishes. From outside, it's entirely unassuming, just a small brick building with a bright red door. Upon entering, guests are treated to a one-of-a-kind interior showcasing a collection of Americana-style rooster decor, complete with a massive sign reading "It's Roosterlicious!" 

No trip to Lackawanna is complete without sampling some of western New York's culinary classics. Head to Steve's Pig & Ox Roast on Ridge Road to try beef on weck, a local take on a roast beef sandwich served on a kümmelweck roll. Grab a hearty serving of wings at cozy spots like Big Will's Kitchen, Ice House Revival, and Steel City Pub. With its comforting cuisine, neighborhood feel, and regional specialties, Lackawanna gives visitors plenty of reasons to pull up a chair, ease into a slower pace of living, and stay a while. It's just one of the gorgeous and easy day trips from Buffalo to consider when you're visiting this part of New York.