Buffalo Bucket List For Kids This Summer

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If you are looking for some fun things to do around the Buffalo and Rochester region, look no further! I put together a Buffalo Bucket List for kids this summer. There is a line to either mark that you did the item or you can write in the total price you paid to keep track of expenses. This is a great list of local things to do, especially if you are like us and do not have any vacation plans for the summer. Think of it as your staycation for the summer!

For a printable version of this list, click here.

_______ – Find a trail and go for a long walk

_______ – Have a water day using water balloons from Dollar Tree, a homemade water slide using a large tarp and dish soap, squirt guns (Five Below has a ton of great options!), sprinkler, a pool relay race.

_______ – Pack a picnic and go to a local park or playground

_______ – Ride the Flamingo Paddleboats at Hoyt Lake in Buffalo. Each boat holds up to 2 or 4 adults, depending on the model. Reservations are recommended at Buffalomaritimecenter.com. The cost is $15 for 30 minutes.

_______ – Visit Griffis Sculpture Park. The cost is $5 per adult and $3 per child.

_______ – Attend a Michael’s Craft Store event. There are also online virtual classes with up to $60 for supplies when you take all 12 classes.

_______ – Play at Day Road Park in Lockport, NY. Fly a kite, play on the playground, go for the build your own burgers and ice cream afterward at Parkside Drive-In across the street.

_______ – Go to Hamburg Community Playground. Pack a picnic, then go to Nick Charlap’s for ice cream afterward.

_______ – Visit Burchfield Nature & Art Center. Wade in the creek, catch minnows, check out the art, take a walk through the hiking trail looking for painted rocks, play on the playground.

_______ – Soak up some sun at Woodlawn Beach, Beaver Island, or another beach in the area. Pack food and snacks. Some beaches charge for parking.

_______ – Go to Viddlers Five & Dime and buy old-time candy. Visit Knox Farm State Park for a walk or go to the playground at Hamlin Park.

_______ – Attend Hawkcreek Wildlife Event. Enchanted Wildfest is July 17th, Animal Play Day is August 7th, and Spooky Safari runs Oct 2nd and 9th. Adults are $15, Children $9, Family is $35.

_______ – Dinosaur Jurassic Quest running July 17th through 25th. Order through Groupon offer here.

_______ – Visit a blueberry farm to go blueberry picking. Note some farms charge an admission price, which can be as high as $7 per person. This adds up so be sure to check with the venue you are interested in attending before going to see if they have a fee.

_______ – Take a scenic train ride on the Arcade & Attica Railroad. The cost is $9 for adults, $7 for kids, 2 and under are free. There are also themed rides for a higher cost, like Haunted Halloween, Fall Foliage, or The Great Train Robbery Train Rides.

_______ – Visit Presque Isle – the beach, lighthouse, playground. This is approximately a 2-hour drive from Buffalo.

_______ – Visit Waldameer Water Park in Erie PA. Cost is $43 per person, $32.50 for those under 48”.

_______ – Visit Old Fort Niagara. The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children.

_______ – Go on the Cave Of The Winds experience in Lockport. The cost is $19 per adult, $16 per child.

_______ – Ride the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. The cost is $25.25 per adult, $14.75 per child.

_______ – Visit Niagara Power Vista – reservations are required although this is a free experience with free parking.

_______ – Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride. The cost is $23.95 + tax per adult, $15.95 + tax per child.

_______ – Eat at Rainforest Cafe Address: Sheraton Niagara Falls 300 3rd St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303

_______ – Escape Niagara Escape Room, $27 per person

_______ – Visit Rock City Park, $5 per adult, $3 per children

_______ – Explore Local Murals around town. Welcome716 has a great list.

_______ – Broadway Mini Golf Glow In The Dark Nights Every Thursday Night, July 1st through September 2nd. Also, get Green Acres Ice Cream with Glow Sticks. The cost of mini-golf is $9 per person.

_______ – Camp out in the backyard, make your meal over a campfire or grill.

_______ – Nature Scavenger hunt or another scavenger hunt

_______ – Make homemade play-dough.

_______ – Go bowling! Kids bowl free through summer if registered through the KidsBowlFree.com website. However, there is the cost of shoe rental.

_______ – Go to Regal Cinemas $1 show on Tues or Weds.

_______ – Enjoy sunset and ice cream at Erie Basin Marina. Visit the lookout observation tower (lighthouse) if open to the public.

_______ – Take a Drive Bingo game. Print out the boards here.

_______ – Squirt Gun Tie Dye war. Buy white T-Shirts at Michael’s, use squirt guns filled with clothing dye, and then squirt each other for a cool designed shirt!

_______ – Visit the local library for any free or inexpensive events happening over the summer. Sign up for any reading challenge being hosted by the library.

_______ – Visit a local splash pad.

_______ – Play at Billy Wilson Playground, take a walk on the Great Baehre Swamp boardwalk, go to Sweet Emilia’s for Ice cream.

_______ – Eternal Flame Falls hike at Chestnut Ridge

_______ – Buffalo Naval Park and Queen City Bike Ferry. The Naval Park is $16 per adult, $10 for youths, under 4 are free. It costs $1 each way to ride the Queen City Bike Ferry.

_______ – City Hall Observation Deck (open weekdays), Pierce-Arrow Museum (open Thurs thru Sat), and Visit St. Louis Church. Best done on a Thursday or Friday as that is when the deck and museum are open to the public on the same day. There is no cost for City Hall or the church. The cost for the Pierce-Arrow Museum is $12 for adults, $5 for children.

_______ – Dinner Cruise on The Grand Lady downtown. The cost for adults is $72 each and for children $36 each.

_______ – Shakespeare in the Park

_______ – Delaware Park and Rose Garden, Mirror Lake & Japanese Gardens, Buffalo Zoo. The cost for the zoo is $14.95 for each person 13 or older, $10.95 for those ages 2 to 12, and free for those under 2.

_______ – Buffalo Botanical Gardens. You must request e-tickets online and the cost is $12.50 Adults, $11 Seniors (62+) & Students (13+ with ID), $7 Kids 3-12, and Kids 2 and under are free but must still have an e-ticket.

_______ – Buffalo Garden Walk, happening July 24th and 25th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

_______ – Tiki Tour on the water

_______ – Tifft Nature Preserve & Buffalo Harbor Playground

_______ – Akron Falls

_______ – Glen Park Waterfalls, walk along Main Street, visit Old Mill, get ice cream at Sweet Jenny’s

_______ – Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve

_______ – Niagara Wax Museum of History

_______ – Apple Picking at Blackman or Becker Farms

_______ – Basilica Our Lady of Fatima in Lewiston, Joseph State Park, Castellani Art Museum

_______ – Niagara Historical Society, Lake Effect Ice Cream

_______ – Urban Air in Galleria Mall

_______ – Niagara County or Erie County Fair