‘Tis the season for inclement weather. The weather getting in the way of plans is nothing new here in Buffalo (amiright). On the bright (well, cloudy) side, we don’t have a shortage of rainy day activities- and we’re not talking Netflix and chill. For those of you wanting to make the most of your rainy dayz in Buffalo, we’ve got a whole list of ideas for ya. A little precipitation never hurt anyone.
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1. Grab a hot bowl of soup
TBH, the first spot that comes to mind for a hearty, flavorful bowl of warm soup is The Grange because of their grilled cheese and tomato soup combo- you really can’t go wrong here. But that’s not the only spot to grab an awesome bowl of soup in WNY. Other options include Danny’s where they have a 125 soups on rotation, or any of these spots that have great french onion soup according to our readers.
2. Catch a movie at your favorite local theater
Whether it’s at the semi-recently renovated North Park Theatre, any of the local Dipson theaters, or one of the small-town spots, you can catch a movie for under a fortune (*cough cough* Regal Cinemas) while supporting local. And everyone knows the best way to spend a rainy day is watching a movie. Find one near you with our Guide to Locally Owned Movie Theaters.
3. Hit up the Albright-Knox and/or Burchfield Penney
We’re lucky enough to have not just one, but TWO art museums in Buffalo- one of them being one of the oldest in the U.S. (we’re kind of a big deal). The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, established in 1862, is world-renowned and is constantly bringing in new (and old), exciting collections. The Burchfield Penney Art Center is located right across the street from the Albright-Knox, on Buffalo State’s campus. Founded in 1966, the Burchfield is dedicated to local Western New York artists. Both museums offer docent-led tours, classes, workshops and other fun special events! And you might as well do 2-in-1… I mean there’s literally a street’s width between them, and we say the more art, the better.
Note: The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is temporarily closed for remodeling and expansion
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4. Meet allll the fishies at the Aquarium of Niagara
The zoo might be out of the question on a drizzly day, but good news- the Aquarium is certainly not. All of your aquatic friends will be waiting to greet you at the glass! We suggest checking out the daily schedule posted on the website so you know when to catch the sea lion shows and penguin feedings- you’re welcome. It’s open daily from 9 am- 5 pm!
5. Explore your curiosity at the Buffalo Museum of Science
Have you ever seen a bird egg bigger than a dinosaur egg or the skeleton of an Albertosaurus? These ridiculous things (plus a whole lot more) exist at the Buffalo Museum of Science. We promise you, you’ll walk out of there a smarter person than you were going in- and you might just find yourself enjoying learning. Be sure to check out the calendar for all of their fun event nights- they’ve got cool workshops, BTS tours, and Science After Hours adult nights (you all know what that means). Who knew science could be so fun?! #themoreyouknow.
6. Make a trip to the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library is basically heaven on earth for bookworms. More than just your average library, this place is HU(UUU)GE with several educational exhibits throughout on Buffalo’s history, books galore and a quick cafe for all of your heart’s caffeinated desires. You could easily spend a few hours here, so plan on getting comfortable- with a good book of course.
7. Shop ‘til you drop at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls
Make a totally guilt-free trip to the Fashion Outlets because the weather sucks, and you deserve it. They’ve got over 200 of our fav outlets (including fine retailers-Saks OFF 5TH, Kate Spade, NIKE, etc.) with the best deals out there.
Did one of these places close? Send us a note!
This post was originally published in 2019 and has been updated.
