Hotel at a Glance: Buffalo Grand Hotel

Each second, 3,160 tons of water tumble over the brink of Niagara Falls. It’s an astounding sight no matter the season. Staying at Buffalo Grand Hotel puts guests about a 30-minute drive from both the American and Canadian sides of the falls.

• Included with this Getaway: parking each day
• Best place to unwind: the indoor pool, where sun filters in from a skylight
• In-room amenities: LCD TV and free WiFi; executive rooms also include refrigerators and microwaves
• Harbor Bistro & Bar plates entrees such as New York strip and fresh salmon and pours specialty cocktails.

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.