Buffalo – Things to do with your Team

Situated on the shore of Lake Erie, Buffalo is the second largest city in New York and home to the world-famous Erie Canal, which connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. If your team is heading here for a tournament at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center or any other facility, and you’re looking for fun group activities, Buffalo has plenty to offer. There are also plenty of reasonably priced hotels in the area. Here are ten interesting options that’ll keep your group busy and entertained during your off-time.

 

Climb Aboard at Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park

Even if you’re not a military buff or boat lover, you can’t help but be enthralled by the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park. This park and museum on the shore of Lake Erie is home to several decommissioned U.S. Navy vessels that you can actually board and explore. There’s the cruiser USS Little Rock, the destroyer USS The Sullivans, and the submarine USS Croaker. In addition to these imposing vessels, a number of smaller boats, vehicles, and aircraft are on display, including a one-man helicopter used by the Marines, an Army M41 Walker Bulldog tank from the Korean War era, and a Navy FJ-4 jet. Open from March 25 through October, this fascinating park is a popular destination for residents of Buffalo and visitors alike. 1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo, NY 14202

 

Discover the Buffalo Museum of Science

Buffalo - Things to do with your Team - Travel - Hotels4TeamsLocated just northeast of downtown and housed in a historic building that opened in 1929, the Buffalo Museum of Science is home to a number of interactive exhibits that put science in the spotlight, from astronomy to zoology and everything in-between. The Extinction Gallery is an exhibit that chronicles the life and extinction of organisms on the planet and features 50 million-year-old fossils and artifacts. Our Place in Space is an astronomy exhibit that includes five themed areas that explore constellations, planets, meteorites, and earth’s movement around the sun. Nano is an interactive exhibit that delves into nanoscale science, or the science of the teeny tiny. These are just the tip of the iceberg, and you’ll have a great time exploring numerous other exhibits and attractions. 1020 Humboldt Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14211

 

Get an Aerial View of the City at Buffalo City Hall & Observation Deck

Buffalo City Hall is an Art Deco masterpiece of a building that features incredible details like gorgeous murals, Art Deco relief sculptures, historic statues, sparkling stained glass windows, and a magnificent skylight on the 13th floor. The building was completed in 1931 and has been the home of Buffalo’s municipal government ever since. Exploring this building is quite a blast, especially when you make your way up to the 25th floor and take three flights of stairs to an observation deck, where you can get an unfettered aerial view of downtown Buffalo and the surrounding landscape. Tours are available at noon Monday through Friday. Call ahead if your group numbers 10 or more. 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202

 

Explore the Buffalo Fire Museum

Firefighting is one of the riskiest and most rewarding professions ever, and this museum is dedicated to everything firefighting in Buffalo. The famous Buffalo Fire Museum has over 30 collections, including horse-drawn and motorized fire department vehicles, firefighting gear and tools, uniforms, badges, helmets, and patches, tons of photographs, and several videos and films. Interactive exhibits offer hands-on learning, and special collections include a 9/11 display and artifacts from the 1983 propane explosion in Buffalo that killed five members of the department. If you’re fascinated by firefighting, this museum is for you. If you’re not, you probably will be by the time you leave. 1850 William St, Buffalo, NY 14206

 

To find hotel rooms closest to where your team is playing in Buffalo or any city, visit Hotels4Teams.com. Hotels4Teams – The Best Hotels at the Best Prices, Closest to the Action!

 

Take a Side Trip to Canada

If you’ve never been to Niagara Falls, your trip to Buffalo offers the perfect opportunity to make the half-hour drive to the town of Niagara Falls to see the incredible spectacle of 250,000 cubic feet of water plunging over the falls every single second of every single day. The good news is that the most majestic portion of the falls is on the U.S. side. The bad news is that you have to cross into Canada to see that view. Made up of three waterfalls, including the 188-foot high Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls features premier viewing areas, boat rides at the base of the falls, and the informative Table Rock Visitor Center that explains the geological history of the falls and chronicles the experiences of the daredevils who have plunged over them. While you are in Canada, drive another 16 miles north and visit the adorable lakeside town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. This quaint town’s Heritage District showcases the history and the buildings tell the story of the architecture of years past. Blocks of shops and restaurants make for a fun afternoon for all. Be sure to visit Mississauga Point Lighthouse National Historic Site which sits overlooking Lake Ontario.

 

Hang Out Canalside

Canalside is a public space that runs along the Erie Canal, and it offers a ton of activities to keep you busy, busy, busy. Hundreds of special events are scheduled here throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and sporting events. Here, you can ice skate on a 35,000-square foot ice rink or play a pickup game of pond hockey in the winter, or you can have fun in the sun in the summer, thanks to tons of exciting (and free!) activities. Plenty of public art dots the park, and there’s shopping, restaurants, and cafes to quench your thirst or satiate your hunger. 44 Prime St, Buffalo, NY 14202

 

Get Wild at the Buffalo Zoo

The third-oldest zoo in the U.S., the Buffalo Zoo has been around for nearly 150 years and features a diverse collection of exotic wild animals. Convenient to all of the area hotels, the zoo has permanent exhibits that include the Sea Lion Cove, Rainforest Falls, Otter Creek, and Arctic Edge, which features two polar bear enclosures and an underwater viewing area. Animals are housed in areas that closely mimic their natural habitats. Explore the indoor Rainforest Falls for a one-of-a-kind interactive experience, and enjoy the Elephant House and Yard, the Giraffe House, the Gorilla House, and Rhino Yards. 300 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214

 

Check Out Antique Cars, Bikes, and Motorcycles at the Pierce-Arrow Museum

Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was an auto manufacturer located in Buffalo from 1901 to 1938. At the Pierce-Arrow Museum, you’ll encounter an incredible selection of unusual antique cars, bicycles, motorcycles and see a variety of unique artifacts chronicling the rich history of transportation in western New York through the ages. Among the awesome vehicles here are a 1902 electric carriage, a 1903 Pierce Stanhope, a 1918 Pierce-Arrow 7-passenger touring car, and a 1948 Playboy Motor Car. Perhaps the most impressive thing here is the 1927 Buffalo Filling Station, a permanent, life-size exhibit built directly from the plans of the famous architect who designed it, Frank Lloyd Wright. Located in downtown Buffalo, the Pierce-Arrow Museum is a must-see attraction, particularly for automobile and history buffs. 263 Michigan Ave, Buffalo, NY 14203

 

Lasertron

Buffalo - Things to do with your Team - Travel - Hotels4TeamsLasertron is an amusement center that offers Laser Tag, Mini-Golf, Cyber Sport, a Video Arcade, and more. The laser tag section features a giant 9200 square foot arena divided into two team zones: the green team and the red team. The arena features four large ramp structures to get to the second level, a massive upstairs level, and eight bases. There are three 9-hole miniature golf courses. Cyber Sport is a highly competitive two-team game that accommodates up to 10 players who compete five against five. Cyber Sport is a combination of lacrosse and basketball played on highly maneuverable Cyber Cars. And don’t forget the huge arcade! 5101 N Bailey Ave, Amherst, NY 14226

 

Find Artistic Inspiration at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery

For the art lovers on your team, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is a delightful place to spend a couple of hours perusing paintings, drawings, sculptures, tapestries, and other amazing, unique works of art. With over 150 years of experience collecting and exhibiting contemporary art, this gallery has an extraordinary permanent collection that includes works by artists like Frida Kahlo, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Francis Bacon, among others. Some of the art is out-of-this-world whimsical, and a number of pieces are so big, or so colorful, or so detailed that they make you dizzy. What they all have in common is their ability to awaken and inspire the artist in you. 1285 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222

 

Buffalo Bisons

Catch a minor league baseball game at the home of the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play from the first of April to Labor Day, and the tickets are very affordable for youth groups. Your team will have a blast in Buffalo, thanks to these and other points of interest that offer unique experiences and an opportunity to bond. No matter what you end up doing, as long as you’re doing it together, you’ll all come away a stronger team and a new appreciation for Buffalo. 1 James D Griffin Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14203

 

Buffalo often goes overlooked as an exciting travel destination; it shouldn’t. Your team is in store for some amazing attractions and memorable experiences while you’re there.