Hotel at a Glance: Hotel @ The Lafayette

The Hotel Lafayette opened their doors in 1904 as one of the premier hotels in the United States, and after over 110 years it remains one on the longest continually operating hotels in New York State. Designed by the nation’s first professional female architect Louise Blanchard Bethune, today the French Renaissance gem is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a favorite destination for both history and architecture enthusiasts. Following a multi-million dollar historic preservation project in 2012, the Hotel @ The Lafayette continues to serve its guests in the 57-room boutique hotel and attached restaurant.

• Modern rooms and suites all have 40-inch TVs and free WiFi; junior suites add fireplaces, and one-bedroom suites are outfitted with full kitchens.
• Free breakfast: A complimentary Deluxe Continental breakfast is served daily.
• Included with select options: A tasting flight of house-brewed craft beer, paired with a signature appetizer, for two adults, and valet parking for your stay.
• Pan-American Grill & Brewery: The onsite restaurant pairs classic American pub food and burgers with a wide selection of craft beers brewed in-house.
• Downtown Buffalo: The hotel is within walking distance of sports stadiums and concert venues including the KeyBank Center and Canalside, a waterfront entertainment district.

Buffalo, New York: Chicken-Wing Capital with Rich Railroad History

Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York, but it’s second to none when it comes to its namesake buffalo wings. Though the pioneering restaurant’s identity is subject to debate, there’s no doubt about Buffalo’s status as the capital of wingdom. To sample the city’s most famous export, head to the Anchor Bar or Duff’s Famous Wings.

Buffalo was once one of the biggest railroad hubs in the country and has several museums dedicated to celebrating those glory days. Visit the Iron Island Museum to get a feel for how the railroad shaped the city. History buffs will also want to check out the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, also known as the Buffalo History Museum. Housed in a neoclassical building along Scajaquada Creek, it has exhibits on the War of 1812, the Erie Canal, and the Pan-American Exposition held on the museum grounds in 1901.

In warmer months, you can enjoy outdoor spaces such as Delaware Park—the urban green space was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and contains the Buffalo Zoo—or make the half-hour drive to Niagara Falls.