You might call Chautauqua-Allegheny the Wild West of New York. Bordering Lake Erie, this region's beautiful natural landscape gives you scenic trails, serene waters,
nature centers and lots of things to do outdoors. Thousands of acres of state land have miles of trails to hike, bike, cross country ski, bird watch, horseback ride and snowmobile on. Continue your adventure at the region's many vineyards, unique museums and other cultural gems.
For one, the many unique outdoor
adventures you can have here attract nature lovers from everywhere.
Allegany State Park is the largest
state park in New York. You’ll find over 35 miles of trails for
hiking,
biking, horseback riding and
snowmobiling along with hundreds of sites for
camping. At
Lake Erie State Park, pitch your tent on high bluffs overlooking the Great Lake.
Long Point State Park sits on Chautauqua Lake, well known to
fishing and
swimming enthusiasts. Enjoy world class fishing on the Genesee River, Cuba Lake, Rushford Lake and the Allegheny Reservoir. You can walk among amazing rock formations—some several stories high—at
Rock City Park and
Panama Rocks.
This is also a prime region for
skiing and
winter sports. Resorts include
Peek n' Peak,
Swain Resort,
HoliMont, and
Holiday Valley, which consistently ranks in the top ten of the East by Ski magazine.
Ellicottville, often called the "Aspen of the East," is well known for après ski fun.
Nature meets
art at the
Griffis Sculpture Park. The 400-acre preserve is an outdoor museum with hundreds of artworks. Weekly entertainment greets you at Wellsville Creative Arts Center. Visit the Old Masters or see a stage production at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on the Campus of St. Bonaventure University. The Town of Alfred is home to the Ceramic Corridor with higher education institutions of Alfred University and Alfred State. The
Chautauqua Institution presents world-class
performing arts in a setting rich with
history and culture. Each summer, thousands gather there for lectures, workshops and concerts, as well as
golfing and outdoor
fun on the water. The
Lucy-Desi Museum in
Jamestown lets you fall in love all over again with classic TV’s famous redhead.
Speaking of falling in love, you’ll likely fall for the region’s
foods and wines. Wineries, such as
Merritt Estate and
Johnson Estate, take advantage of Lake Erie’s microclimate to produce award-winners.
Go
shopping on quaint Main Streets lined with village shops and take home some
antiques and local
arts and crafts. In the region’s Amish Country, you can buy local produce and handiwork at roadside
farmers markets. All three Amish communities welcome the "English" (that's what the non-Amish are called).
You can learn more about regional heritage at the
Seneca-Iroquois National Museum. Visit Bolivar Pioneer Oil Museum which commemorates the site of the first oil discovered in North America at Oil Springs Territory. Also, check out the John L. Sullivan Bare knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in Belfast. Or try out your luck at the
Seneca Allegany Casino, which has over 2,300 slot machines and 40 gaming tables, including blackjack, craps, roulette and variations of poker.