Rooting for Buffalo

If you have only a day to spend in Buffalo, focus your visit on the downtown area because it has a high concentration of attractions, dining and shopping that make it easy to see and do a lot in a short time.

Before heading into the heart of the city, explore Broadway Market on the outskirts of town. It opens before most attractions and is a great place to grab a fresh-baked muffin or European pastry from a bakery. Take a few minutes to browse the numerous specialty stands featuring produce, meat, homemade bread, candy, flowers, gifts, and arts and crafts.

After eating breakfast and exploring the bounty, head to Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House, a ten-minute drive from the market. Perhaps the hallmark of Wright's career in Buffalo – he designed six homes and an office building here – it exhibits the traditional elements of his Prairie Style, including natural materials and a long, low structure. The home is open to the public only during scheduled tour times (often late morning), so remember to call ahead. After the tour, head downtown, where you may enjoy lunch and sightseeing on foot.

Home to Delaware Park and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Elmwood neighborhood is filled with boutiques, contemporary art galleries, book and music stores, international eateries, bars and sidewalk cafes.

If you're in town during the NFL (Sep-Jan) or NHL (Oct-Apr) season, you'll want to spend the evening cheering on the Bills or Sabres, respectively, at a home game and then unwinding at a nearby bar like Mohawk Place, which is near HSBC Arena and offers frequent live concerts and a casual atmosphere that appeals to post-game crowds.