We love a magical snow day here in Buffalo- especially a *bonus* surprise one. If you’re struggling with plans or activities to fill an unexpected snow day, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re the brave outdoorsy type or the stay-warm-indoors type, Western New York offers plenty of opportunities for you to embrace the winter weather outside of your home. Here are some of our favorite things to do around WNY when it snows:
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Go Sledding
A fresh snowfall calls for one of our favorite winter activities. Sledding is the best way to spend a snowy afternoon in Western New York. Our region is home to plenty of public sledding hills, so grab your sled or tube and find one near you! Check out our list of sledding hills around WNY.
Ice Skate
Ice skating is a fun, low-key way to spend a snowy afternoon or evening with your family, friends or date! Bundle up, lace up your skates and head to one of Buffalo’s many indoor or outdoor ice skating rinks.
Skiing
There’s no better time to hit the slopes than during a light snow. Experience the magic of gliding through a winter snow globe at one of these ski resorts just outside of Buffalo.
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Go Snowshoeing
Embrace a beautiful snowy day and head outside with your snowshoes for some great exercise and winter fun on the trails. Here are some great trails in WNY for snowshoeing.
Go Tubing
Maybe you’ve already been ice skating, snowshoeing, and skiing and you’re looking to try the next fun winter activity. Maybe sledding just doesn’t do it for you anymore and you want to kick it up a notch. Enter tubing – a thrilling, affordable way to enjoy Western New York’s winter weather without having to rent or buy a ton of equipment. Here are some tubing spots around WNY.
Catch a Movie at a Local Theater
If you’d prefer to stay indoors on a snowy day, we don’t blame you. Get cozy at a movie with some warm, buttery popcorn and a pop! Support local business, and purchase a ticket at one of Buffalo’s locally-owned theaters, where you’re promised a unique, friendly and affordable experience. Check out our full list of local movie theaters here.
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Hit Up a Dive Bar
Every Buffalonian knows a heavy snowfall is the perfect excuse to go out and drink. You don’t have to worry about trudging through a dive bar with your snow-filled boots and five layers of comfy clothing (we’re from WNY, we all get it) when the floors are already sticky and worn. We’ve got a whole list of dive bars for you to get some real cheap drinks, classic dive bar entertainment and fantastic bar food that make getting snowed in there totally worthwhile.
Visit a Museum
Buffalo is home to some spectacular and inspiring museums- for both kids and adults! Treat yourself to a fun and unique learning experience at one of Buffalo’s many different museums, discovery centers, galleries and historical sites. Find all of Buffalo’s museums to visit here.
This post was originally published in 2020 and has been updated.
