Western NY Explorer's Guide

Buffalo History Museum

Buffalo Lighthouse

Western New York An Explorer's Guide: From Niagara Falls and Southern Ontario to the Western Edge of the Finger Lakes Region by Christine A. Smyczynski Published in 2005 and 2008, the book was the first comprehensive travel guide book that focuses exclusively on western New York, including a chapter on southern Ontario. It takes you from the grandeur of Niagara Falls and the lights of the big cities of Buffalo and Rochester to small out of the way villages and places off the beaten trail.

This book, available in book stores, museum shops, specialty stores and from online sources, including The Countryman Press (a division of W.W. Norton), was written with a wide audience in mind, from tourists to native western New Yorkers. No matter what your interest, you'll find something to see and do in western New York!

For native Western New Yorkers this book is the perfect "staycation" guide. Why travel far for your vacation, when there is so much to do right in your own backyard.

History buffs will appreciate the many little known historical facts that are presented at the beginning of each section, along with descriptions of hundreds of museums and other historic and architectural points of interest. The region includes close to thirty designated National Historic Landmarks, including the site of a presidential inauguration and the oldest structure in the Great Lakes Region.

If art and culture is your thing, you'll enjoy the wide array of theaters, art galleries and other cultural institutions the area has to offer. The region has the largest concentration of theaters in the state outside of New York City.

Recreational activities abound in western New York. The area is considered an anglers and boaters paradise, with it's many lakes, rivers and streams. The region boasts hundreds of parks and nature centers, as well as numerous top-rated golf courses. And don't forget about skiing in the winter!

Since western New York has the perfect climate for grape growing, there are over 70 wineries in the region, including many in southern Ontario, Niagara and Chautauqua counties and in the western Finger Lakes Region.

The book has hundreds of listings describing attractions, recreational activities, green spaces, festivals and more, including information on the best places to stay, eat and shop.