Things to Do in Buffalo Based on Your Kid’s Personality

1. If your kids are energetic … take them to Sky Zone for some trampoline time.
2. If your kids are gamers … head to Game On Computing, which has 42 gaming PCs, plus PlayStation 4s and Xbox Ones.
3. If your kids are sports lovers … challenge them to Cyber Sport, a combo of lacrosse and basketball played on Cyber Cars.
4. If your kids are creepy … brave a guided ghost tour at Iron Island Museum, which has been featured on Ghost Lab and Ghost Hunters.
5. If your kids love scavenger hunts … check out Operation City Quest and introduce them to famous Buffalo landmarks.

Best Winter Activity: Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

When the snow and cold get to be too much in January, February, March (and let’s face it, sometimes April), our customers recommend visiting the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens for some greenery and warmth. Here’s what they have to say:

• In the depths of a cold and dreary—and seemingly never-ending—winter, the botanical gardens is a welcome retreat! – Vicki V.
• A beautifully, calming place to recharge your batteries, especially in the cold winter months. – Donna S.
• I love taking pictures at the botanical gardens. My favorite room is the cactus room. So many unique plants. I love going in the winter to get a breath of warmth. – Cheryl B.
• A wonderful place to enjoy the beauty of our place in time. Every turn brought something wonderful! Looking forward to visits, perhaps in January and February when we all need a little green. – Karen B.

Make Memories at Kelkenberg Farm of Clarence

Two words: adorable photos. The reason so many families take their kids out to a local farm like Kelkenberg Farm is to take cute pictures of tiny tots holding giant pumpkins, cuddling with baby animals, and perching on hay bales on a hayride. Kelkenberg has been welcoming visitors since 1980 for seasonal fun, including pumpkin picking, sleigh rides, and summer picnics. Visits include hands-on activities and a farm tour.

Pro Tip: Dress your little cowboy or cowgirl in a western-style bandana for adorable Instagram snaps.

Best Older-Kid Activity: Iron Island Museum Ghost Tour

Do you believe in ghosts? You might after a tour of Iron Island Museum, a place known to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. Guides tell spooky stories as they lead visitors through the building, which started as a church in 1883 and eventually became a funeral home in the late 1950s. In 2000, it was donated to The Iron Island Preservation Society of Lovejoy, which discovered something horrifying: 24 canisters of cremated remains had been left behind. Iron Island Museum is said to have such a history of hauntings that it has drawn two paranormal TV shows there—Ghost Lab and Ghost Hunters.

Quick Trip: Niagara Falls

One of North America's most popular tourist destinations, Niagara Falls is just 20 miles away from Buffalo, and it offers plenty of things to do with kids. After seeing the gushing waterfall, here are a few more things to try with the family:

1. Ripley's Believe It or Not!: Three attractions draw people to Ripley’s, the Odditorium (with bizarre artifacts such as shrunken heads), The Moving Theater (a 4D theater), and Louis Tussaud's Wax Works (wax celebrities live here).
2. Niagara Falls Fireworks Cruise: This boat tour starts at Niagara's Great Gorge, continues past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, and gets close to the famous Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
3. Captain Jack's Fun Center: Kids play glow-in-the-dark mini golf, navigate a laser maze, and take down the enemy in the laser-tag arena.

Sign Up for Sailing School Camp

Kids and teens ages 7 to 18 go from complete beginners to sailors during Sail Buffalo Sailing School’s summer camps (say that seven times fast). The camps last one summer week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Camps conclude with a pizza party and a graduation ceremony on the last day. Tuition for a full week is $294 and there are discounts for multiple weeks and siblings.

Don’t want to commit to a full camp? Try two-hour private sailing classes with our deal.

Why Rock The Spectrum Is Great for Kids on the Autism Spectrum

Jessica and Jeff Sills—a speech-language pathologist and a P.E. teacher and tennis coach, respectively—opened their kids’ gym in order to provide a safe space for all kids. They designed it specifically with kids on the autism spectrum in mind, and their gym features lots of sensory-based toys. They also added suspended equipment with swings for balance, a craft area for fine-motor-skills improvement, and a zip line for stress release.