Lisa "chucked it all" to travel around the world. Now, she's creating a new life based travel blogging. And she stumbled across Buffalo.
"It was a Friday afternoon and folks were out strolling, smiling, and laughing. The waterfront was buzzing with life – couples walking hand in hand, families having a picnic in the grass and kids in the water in boats. The positive energy was palpable. I was impressed, if not a bit smitten. I fell in love with Buffalo."
Lisa found many more than Five Reasons to Visit Buffalo during her brief three-day stay in our fair city last July, compliments of Visit Buffalo Niagara. Her May 5, 2016, IIWorldtour.com blog post is worth the read. In fact, it is worthy of shares. Many of them.
She starts at Canalside and heads up the River, taking River Boat tour to understand the Erie Canal and the hulking grain silos. After noting the many ways to be on the water - kayaks, waterbikes, etc. - she notes that special olfactory delight known primarily to locals: that toasty scent of Cheerios.
Then she hops on a bike and toodles around Elmwood Village during GardenWalk Buffalo, peeking into lush bakyard gardens along the way. Heading through Allentown, she quotes Seamus Gallivan and mentions Slow Roll. The wonder of Larkinville and the fun of Food Truck Tuesdays get a mention.
The requisite Breweries section cites only Resurgence and Community Beer Works, but gives a nod to "beer oriented development," a fairly recent concept which may have its genesis right here in Buffalo.
And, of course, food. She quickly dismisses wings and shares her first 'weck experience at Charlie the Butchers, providing a mouth-watering explanation of the kummelwick roll and horseradish which sets it apart. More importantly, she acknowledges the farm-to-fork scene, calling out Proper. She even captures the toast craze well, gratuitously adding donuts (Paula's, of course) to the must tries.
Saving the best for last, architecture gets its due. In addition to our Frank Lloyd Wright treasures, she recognizes the Arts & Craft Movement and Roycroft, and notes not only the the forthcoming Hotel Henry, but that ROC sits on grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
This may be just a blog post, but it is as complete, as accurate and as well written as any slick travel mag article on Buffalo written to-date.
I'm glad you chucked it all to travel, Lisa, and I'm really glad you made it to Buffalo. You have done a terrific job of giving folks far more than five reasons to stop in for a few days. Or to move here, lock stock and barrel.