Beat the Winter Blues with these Weekend Trips from Buffalo

Sometime around the beginning of February, when winter seems like it will never end, Buffalonians are ready for a change of scenery. These winter weekend getaways can be reached in just a few hours on the road or in the air. They may not have warm weather, but they do have plenty of activities to help you beat the winter blues!

Get away from Buffalo with a weekend trip to one of these destinations:

Cleveland, Ohio

Distance from Buffalo: 3 hour drive
Classy jazz bars, the house from A Christmas Story, great brunch and one of the country’s best art museums are just a few of the things that welcome weekend visitors in Cleveland. Bundle up and brave the cold for a walk through Public Square or along the Hope Memorial Bridge.

Corning, New York

Distance from Buffalo: 2.5 hour drive
Of course, the Corning Museum of Glass is great all year round. There’s also the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, and galleries and restaurants within the Gaffer District. Cross-country ski along the Finger Lakes Trail for some fresh air.

Detroit, Michigan

Distance from Buffalo: 1 hour flight
It’s easy to forget how close Detroit is to Buffalo. A one-hour flight makes this city a great Midwest winter getaway. Ice skate, check out one (or two, or three) of Detroit’s many museums and enjoy awesome brunches.

Ellicottville, New York

Distance from Buffalo: 1 hour drive
You could spend the entire weekend skiing at Holiday Valley Resort and recovering from a day on the slopes in front of cozy fireplaces. There are also breweries, shops and spas to help you enjoy a weekend away.

Letchworth State Park, New York

Distance from Buffalo: 1.5 hour drive
The cabins at Letchworth State Park are open year round. Take a weekend to unplug, hike and take in snowy scenery. Snowmobilers are also welcome in some areas of the park.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Distance from Buffalo: 3.5 hour drive
There are a few ski resorts not far from Pittsburgh, so Buffalonians looking for new slopes might enjoy making the trip to Pittsburgh. This city has some unusual museums (Bicycle Heaven, the Roberto Clemente Museum and the Bayernhof Museum), and lots of breweries and coffee shops to explore in the cold.

Providence, Rhode Island

Distance from Buffalo: 3.5 hour flight
While most cities have great libraries, the Providence Athenaeum is especially gorgeous. Wander through the shelves after hitting a coffee shop and before heading to the Federal Hill neighborhood.

Rochester, New York

Distance from Buffalo: 1.5 hour drive
While Rochester doesn’t seem like much of a winter getaway, there’s enough to do downtown to keep you busy for a weekend. The George Eastman Museum, garbage plates and tons of coffee shops are waiting just an hour down the Thruway.

Toronto, Canada

Distance from Buffalo: 2.5 hour drive
Head to Canada’s biggest city for tons of entertainment options. You’ll forget all about the cold when you’re shopping at St. Lawrence Market, taking in the history at Art Gallery of Ontario and bar hopping in the Kensington Market neighborhood.