How To Spend a Day in Lewiston, New York

Girl stands on stairs leading down to a dock on the water in Lewiston, NY

Nestled along the banks of the beautiful Niagara River, you’ll find the quaint, charming town of Lewiston, New York. Lewiston is a gem- a little hidden, a bit underrated, and often overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, Niagara Falls. And while Niagara Falls State Park is something that everyone should experience when visiting Western New York, it is a shame to not include Lewiston on that list as well.

This special town boasts a rich history, stunning natural beauty, and a vibrant community. Walking down Center Street in Lewiston feels a bit like being dropped onto a movie set. Its charm and quaintness are undeniable and it’s the perfect place to spend a day whether you’re a history buff, an outdoor enthusiast, or just looking for a fun, little getaway.

Stunning pathway lined by trees and greenery in Lewiston, NY

As a Western New York native, I love discovering all that the area has to offer and Lewiston is one of those places I’ve taken for granted over the years. I’ve visited on numerous occasions, but never properly explored it until recently. I love what I found and I can’t wait to share it with you! In this post, I will outline exactly how to make the most out of our time if you’re planning a little day trip to Lewiston.

Table of Contents

Getting to Lewiston, New York

Lewiston is a perfect day trip destination from many areas and cities. Located on the Niagara River, it has a central location and can be very convenient to get to. Below, I will list some places with close radiuses, making for an ideal day trip idea:

Buffalo– 25 miles, 30 min drive
Rochester– 92 miles, 1.5 hr dive
St. Catharines, ON– 25 miles, 45 min drive
Toronto– 83 miles, 2 hr drive

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How to Spend Your Fun-Filled Day in Lewiston

Okay, let’s get into it! Here I will outline exactly how to spend a perfect day in charming Lewiston, New York.

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Stop 1: Lunch at The Village Bake Shoppe

Upon arriving in Lewiston, head for Center St.- this is where all of the action is happening. Parking is easy to find along Center St. or one of its side streets. I chose to park a few streets down and walked to The Village Bake Shoppe from there. Lewiston is a very walkable town, which made getting around the rest of the day very easy.

The Gucci Grilled Cheese at The Village Bake Shoppe in Lewiston, NY

The Village Bake Shoppe is known for its desserts, the high-quality used ingredients, and amazing goodies that are baked fresh to order. They do everything from cookies, cupcakes, pies, and all of the good stuff in between. But not only do they make a fantastic dessert! This is also a great place to come for breakfast or lunch. . . knowing that you’re going to be getting something sweet at the end of your meal. Their breakfast and lunch menus are simple but enticing. I went with their Gucci Grilled Cheese, made with mozzarella, cheddar & swiss cheese, bacon, and sundried tomato.

Stop 2: Shop along Center Street

Stunning view of Center St. in Lewiston, NY — Strolling down Center St. in Lewiston, New York

After fueling up, stroll down Center St. As I mentioned, this is where most of the action is happening in Lewiston. You’ll find cafes, cute restaurants, breweries, adorable shops, and important historical sites. There’s plenty to experience here and the energy and atmosphere can largely be felt just walking along Center St.

In particular, this street is fantastic if you’re looking into doing a little shopping. I stumbled into quite a few stores and there seems to be something for everyone. Here are a few shops I’d recommend going into:

The Plant Shack– stepping into The Plant Shack is like stepping into a botanical wonderland! This beautiful shop is filled with unique, rare, and beautiful household plants, along with some just really cool stuff. This is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a special gift, or maybe want to buy something special for yourself
The Find– this adorable shop is a little bit vintage, a little bit thrift, and has a little something for everyone. From cool clothes to vintage bags, and unique glassware, I could spend hours looking through the treasures at The Find. The owner Gina, is also so welcoming and lovely to talk to!
Totally Buffalo– as a Buffalo native, I could never walk past a Buffalo store and not go in. And Totally Buffalo isn’t a store you’d want to walk away from anyway. You’ll find Bill’s gear, adorable gift ideas, cozy hoodies and t-shirts, and super cute kid’s clothes too

The Plant Shack in Lewiston, NY — The Plant Shack

The Find in Lewiston, NY — The Plant Shack

Stop 3: Lewiston Museum

The outside of the Lewiston Museum — Learn all about the history of Lewiston at the Lewiston Museum

One thing Lewiston is truly known for is its history. It’s such a historically fascinating place and no trip to Lewiston is complete without learning about some of the rich history here. There’s no better place to do that than the Lewiston Museum, which is right off Center St. Located in an old-style church, the museum is small, but packed with artifacts, paintings, and hundreds of years of history. Just a little background info for those who aren’t very familiar with Lewiston: The village was burned to the ground in December of 1813 by the British and the Mohawk allies. But the pioneering families who settled Lewiston returned and rebuilt what was lost and then some. Plenty of information about the fire and the rebuilding of Lewiston can be found here. The museum is open Wednesday- Saturday from 1 pm to 5 pm and is free to enter.

An upclose shot of a piano in the Lewiston Museum

Stop 4: Lewiston Landing

The Lewiston Landing sign — No trip to Lewiston is complete without spending time at Lewiston Landing

After the museum, head to Lewiston Landing. One of my favorite characteristics of Lewiston is that it’s located right on the water and Lewiston Landing is the best area to experience it. This stunning park is the perfect place to walk around and enjoy the views. There’s a few restaurants convenient for grabbing a bite to eat, tons of picnic tables, and swinging benches if you just want to relax and even some cool historical elements to explore.

Beautiful view of a restaurant overlookin the water at Lewiston Landing

The Freedom Crossing Monument at Lewiston Landing

One historical monument that should not be missed while visiting Lewiston Landing is the Freedom Crossing Monument. Lewiston was the last stop on the Underground Railroad for slaves escaping to Canada. Josiah Tryon, a tailor in Lewiston, helped many on their journey to freedom. This monument honors the courageous people who risked their lives to be free and the Lewiston conductors who helped them achieve it.

Stop 5: Brickyard BBQ

By this point, you’ll probably have worked up an appetite. There are so many amazing places to eat in Lewiston, but one place I’d highly recommend is Brickyard Pub & BBQ. This place has it all! There’s a very welcoming bar with a giant beer and bourbon selection, a great outdoor seating area, and an awesome menu filled with smoked meats and delicious sides. I went with one of their platters, which included three meats and two sides along with a piece of cornbread. Everything was so tasty and the portions were very generous! Brickyard Pub has amazing vibes, a super fun, easy-going atmosphere, and I can promise you will leave feeling very full and satisfied.

A smoked meat platter at Brickyard Pub & BBQ

Stop 6: Ice Cream at The Silo

Because there’s no better place to be than on the water, I suggest heading back down to Lewiston Landing to end your day. There’s a fantastic place called The Silo, where you can grab ice cream and enjoy it will views of the water. They have a wide variety of flavors and tons of outdoor seating.

Softserve icec ream at The Silo in Lewiston, NY

How to Spend Extra Time in Lewiston, New York

If you have extra time in Lewiston or would like to add another element to your day, I’d highly suggest checking out one of these amazing state parks in the area.

Nature Lovers: Devil’s Hole or Whirlpool State Park

Just a couple of miles outside of Lewiston is Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool State Park. Both of these parks showcase the beauty of the Niagara Gorge and offer up incredible views! At Devil’s Hole be prepared for a lot of stairs. The stairs lead down to the trail, which allows for the most stunning views of the rapids going by. The color of the water is remarkable. Whirlpool State Park has a gorgeous area to view the rapids from above. You can also watch the cable cars go by and the Whirlpool Jet boats speed past.

History Buffs: Old Fort Niagara

Old Fort Niagara is located in Youngstown, just about 9 miles north of Lewiston. Here, you’ll get to step back in time and walk through the actual fort that played a critical role in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. Old Fort Niagar’s history actually spans more than 300 years! At Old Fort Niagara you can either take a guided tour or self-guided. The surrounding areas are also beautiful and worth spending some time exploring.

Music Fans: Art Park

Art Park is one of Lewiston’s claims to fame. People travel far and wide to attend concerts at Art Park and for good reason. This outdoor music venue is the perfect place for a summer evening concert and there’s often events going on here. Check out their website for up-to-date information on what’s happening at Art Park.

An evening concert at Art Park — If you have the opportunity, be sure to catch a concert at Art Park

Enjoy Your Time in Lewiston

I hope this post has inspired you to visit this very special Western New York gem! Lewiston truly has so much to offer and is such a wonderful day trip or weekend adventure. Whether you’re going with friends, planning a visit with the family, or going on a solo adventure, Lewiston has a little something for everyone and is a guaranteed good time. Please leave any questions or comments below and as always, happy travels!