Top Summer Attractions in Western NY: Buffalo to Jamestown

Buffalo residents and visitors will have the chance this summer to see a once-in-a-lifetime renovation of one of the city’s most popular recreation spots. 

Generations of Buffalonians knew LaSalle Park — where the Buffalo and Niagara rivers meet Lake Erie — for its ballfields and sunsets. But this summer, they’ll be able to see it for the first time as Ralph Wilson Park.

“It’s undergoing a once-in-a-lifetime transformation,” says Katie Campos, the executive director of the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy in Buffalo. “It will have an enormous economic impact on the community.”

The park started with a $50 million grant from the Ralph Wilson Foundation on what would have been the former Buffalo Bills owner’s 100th birthday. A massive community campaign formed the vision for the new park, drawing inspiration from parks in New York City, Chicago and Cincinnati.

Construction started in July 2023 on the new park, and plans are on target to open the first phase this summer, with the goal of the entire 100-acre park opening in late 2027 and early 2028. 

The first phase will include the Fourth Street Park and new athletic facilities. But to get to that point, the park had to undergo a massive remediation and redesign.

Because of its location, the park was particularly battered by the weather, getting the brunt of the lake-effect snowstorms in the winter, leading to floods and shoreline erosion. An inlet was added to a new armored shoreline, and elevations were changed in the park — on average 10 feet and some as many as 30 feet.

“Now when you walk through the park on a really windy day, you really don’t feel wind,” Campos says.

The park also added a new steel bridge built by Schlaich Bergermann Partner of Germany to replace the old switchback bridge spanning Interstate 190. The new bridge features cutouts to suggest one of the city’s most famous structures, the Guaranty Building.

“They really honored Buffalo’s rich architecture history,” Campos says. “It’s beautiful.”

All Access at Chautauqua
At the Chautauqua Institution, one gate pass unlocks daily lectures, worship services, concerts, Music School Festival Orchestra performances and community events across the nine-week season. Expect morning and afternoon lectures, midweek family programs, evening concerts — from symphony nights to past headliners like Patti LaBelle — plus youth camps, sailing, biking and lakefront fun for all ages.

First-timer Tip: Book lodging before buying passes. Under 13? Free. If you’re coming outside the June 27-Aug. 30 season, stroll the gardens, browse shops and enjoy lake views with no pass required.

No Joke: Rainn Wilson, best known for playing Dwight Schrute on NBC’s “The Office,” takes the stage July 24 to explore the institutions’ week four theme “Wasted: Our Era of Disposability.”

Calling all Foodies: Chautauqua’s food festival returns Aug. 15-30 and includes chef-led master classes, tastings and culinary lectures.

A Place of Hope
Nature and art collide at Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, notably with its 2026 signature exhibition, “Art That Matters to the Planet: Beyond Beauty,” March 28-Aug. 2. It highlights the famed conservation’s wildflower illustrations alongside the works of internationally acclaimed botanical artist Heeyoung Kim. “Roger is known as the ‘bird guy,’ but he also did a beautiful, highly illustrated field guide for wildflowers — a side of him that a lot of folks might not know,” says CEO Arthur Pearson. “In these times, RTPI is a place that we need because it’s a sanctuary and place of hope.”

Bird-Day Dash 10K: Run wild on Aug. 29, then celebrate Roger’s birthday with live music and food trucks.

A Day at Canalside
Buffalo’s waterfront is built for play. Start at the new Visitor Center at The Chandlery, where an interactive kiosk builds custom itineraries and murals spotlight the city’s creative vibe. Then head outside to sail on the Spirit of Buffalo, cruise on Buffalo Boat Tours, or rent kayaks and paddleboards on the Outer Harbor. Families, check out the Explore & More Children’s Museum. Adventurers, hop on the Queen City Bike Ferry or join a guided ride with Buffalo Bike Tours. Sunset seekers, book a spot on the Moondance Catamaran and watch the skyline glow.

Quick Family Escapes
Two of Western New York’s four-season resorts keep adventure close. Peek’n Peak offers aerial adventure courses, mountain coaster rides, zip lines and fall foliage views worth the climb. Holiday Valley mixes downhill thrills with mountain biking, Sky High Adventure Park and laid-back pool time. Both make easy base camps for families craving fresh-air fun without a long haul.

Set for a Stand-Up Season
Punchlines, cue cards and 70,000 Joan Rivers jokes. They’re all part of the National Comedy Center’s big year ahead. Comedy’s official home turns spotlight-ready with the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Aug. 6-9, the 30th anniversary of the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and I Love Lucy’s 75th birthday, marked with tributes throughout 2026. Add gems like the Stiller & Meara collection and a fresh “Saturday Night Live” tribute, and Jamestown’s laugh lab keeps rolling out the encores.