Skip to content
Top 5 Indoor Things to Do in Buffalo

Top 5 Indoor Things to Do in Buffalo

Everyone knows that with Buffalo’s winter weather comes a need to find indoor things to do. The longer nights and colder weather make it more difficult to find outdoor activities. While there are some classic outdoor activities such as ice skating and skiing, it’s important to be able to occasionally find shelter from the cold and find something to do inside. Luckily, Buffalo is home to plenty of wonderful indoor things to do that offer an escape from the snow and ice. No matter your age or interests, there’s fun to be found everywhere you look. From educational experiences to entertaining excursions, start planning your next local adventure today! To help you find the perfect winter escape this year, our team has put together a list of our five favorite indoor things to do in Buffalo.

1. Explore the Buffalo Museum of Science

If you haven’t been to the Buffalo Museum of Science since you were a kid, you might be surprised at how much has changed. What was once a building housing hundreds of scientific dioramas has been transformed into a series of interactive experience, allowing for hands-on learning! Visitors can get up close and personal with historic pieces of the museum’s anthropology collection, explore the vast expanse of space in their planetarium, and shrink down to the size of an ant to learn all about insects in their Bug Works exhibit!

The Buffalo Museum of Science is a great way to spend a few hours inside while learning about the world around you. With a collection of more than 700,000 specimens from the Greater Niagara Region, kids and adults alike are sure to leave the museum having learned something new. In addition to their daily offerings, there are plenty of special ticketed events to give you even more personal learning experiences. Create your own homemade paper, learn how to identify Western New York’s winter birds, and even discover the geometry of snow. Visit the Buffalo Museum of Science and use all of your senses and experience our city from a brand new point of view.

 

2. Dive in to the Aquarium of Niagara

For people more interested in seeing living specimens, the Aquarium of Niagara offers a wonderful variety of indoor things to do and see. From penguins to seals, the aquarium is the closest place to see a massive variety of aquatic animals from around the world. In addition to these more exotic species, their newest expansion, Great Lakes 360, highlights turtles, frogs, sturgeon, and more animals from the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem. Learn more about these wonderful creatures that live right in your backyard, and find out how the Aquarium of Niagara is helping to conserve these important animals.

A fan favorite activity at the aquarium is the California sea lion show! Watch these athletic animals swim through the water and soar through the air everyday! There’s also opportunities to experience shark, stingray, and clownfish feedings. There are plenty of indoor things to do at the Aquarium of Niagara, so start planning your visit today.

 

3. Enjoy a Day at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

If you need a tropical escape from the snowbanks and icy roads, did you know that you don’t need to leave the city? Take a trip to Lackawanna and visit the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Not only will you see and learn about plants from around the world, you’ll also be sure to find comfort and warmth as you are transported into a tropical oasis. During the holiday season, the Botanical Gardens hosts their annual Poinsettia Exhibit, one of Buffalo’s most popular holiday traditions. The conservatory is filled to the brim with brilliant poinsettias of all sizes and colors. Allow the vibrant reds, magentas, pinks, yellows, and oranges to fill your heart with joy.

You can also see the Poinsettia Exhibit on select evenings during Poinsettias After Dark. Thousands of twinkling lights will guide you through our magically illuminated greenhouses. See textures, shapes, and shadows that you’ve never noticed before as different colors bathe our plant collections in a whole new light and enjoy a calming and relaxing evening while escaping from the cold. If you’re looking for a fun, hands-on activity at the Botanical Gardens, look no further than the Conifer Wreath Workshop. Learn how to create a fresh, fragrant conifer wreath to add some festive greenery to your home.

 

4. Embrace the Arts at the Burchfield Penney Art Center

For the more artistically-inclined, visit the Burchfield Penney Art Center. The Burchfield Penney’s collection is made up of works by regional artists and institutions, meaning that visitors are supporting the preservation of local artists’ paintings, drawings, sketches, and more. Their rotating art exhibits mean there’s always something new to see, including traveling exhibits that give guests the opportunity to see works of art that they can’t see anywhere else in Buffalo.

If you want to get a taste of the Burchfield Penney Art Center before your visit, you can always take a virtual tour of some of their galleries.  They even offer art workshops and classes where you can learn the basics of a variety of artistic styles and develop your skills. From painting to interpretive dance, there’s a class for anyone at the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

 

5. Embrace our region’s culture at the Buffalo History Museum

Since 1886, the Buffalo History Museum has played a crucial role in preserving our region’s history. With a collection of almost 500,000 objects and artifacts from across Western New York, you’re sure to discover a moment from history that piques your interest. Their permanent collections include an interactive recreation of pioneer life, a gallery of Native American artifacts, and an showcase of Buffalo’s sports icons throughout the years.

Their rotating exhibits and special events help to ensure that no two visits to the museum ever feel the same. Exciting initiatives, like their M&T Third Fridays, means that anyone and everyone can visit the Buffalo History Museum. Plan your visit today and get ready to learn about Buffalo’s exciting history.

 

Explore More

Love is in the air at the Botanical Gardens

The most romantic time of the year is almost here, which means it's the perfect…

All Things Orchid at the Botanical Gardens

In January 0f 2024, the Botanical Gardens hosted our first ever Orchid Exhibit. We got…

Wedding Ideas and Tips from our Wedding Planners

Planning a wedding can be a difficult and intimidating task. There are so many tasks…