How to Spend Your Time in Ellicottville During the Summer

Nestled in the picturesque county of Cattaraugus, is the charming, small town of Ellicottville. Ellicottville’s claim to fame is Holiday Valley, the beloved ski resort that brings in people from all over during the snowy months. For this reason alone, Ellicottville is an extremely popular, well-known winter destination. However, what most people don’t realize is that Ellicottville is a perfect getaway spot year round. Especially if you live in the Western New York area. 

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, I’m no stranger to Ellicottville. Growing up, I skied there every year and now in my adult years, it’s become one of my favorite summer weekend trip destinations. There’s  fantastic restaurants, wineries & breweries, perfect for enjoying patio season. You’ll discover tons of cute shops and boutiques. And believe it or not, Holiday Valley is just as much a summer resort as it is a winter resort! 

In this post I’m going to share some of my favorite reasons why Ellicottville is worth visiting during the summer months. And with summer slowly approaching us, I can guarantee you will have Ellicottville on your list by the end of this post, if you don’t already. 

Getting to Ellicottville

As I mentioned, Ellicottville is a perfect getaway destination for Western and Central New Yorkers. It’s in close proximity to several cities and regions and even other states. Below I will list some places within a close radiuses to Ellicottville, making for an ideal weekend visit or road trip idea:

• Buffalo,NY– 52 miles, 1 hour drive
• Rochester,NY– 100 miles, 2 hour drive
• Finger Lakes Region, NY– 150 miles, 2.5 hour drive
• Erie, PA– 80 miles, 1.5 hour drive
• Cleveland, OH– 180 miles, 3 hour drive

Where to Stay in Ellicottville

Ellicottville can be done in a day trip or as a little overnight getaway. If you plan on spending the night in Ellicottville and are looking for somewhere super cool and unique to stay, I have the perfect place for you! 

Base Camp is Ellicottville’s first and only tiny home village. This incredible property  has different layout options sleeping between 2-6 people, and amenities including a full kitchen, washer & dryer, spacious bedrooms, and access to fire pits & grills. It’s also super conveniently located, just minutes away from all of Ellicottville’s main attractions, restaurants, and shops.

How to Spend your Time in Ellicottville

Okay, let’s get into it! Here are some of the top things I’d recommend doing in Ellicottville during the summer to get the most out of your time spent there.

Wander around Washington Street

Upon arriving in Ellicottville, one of the first things you will notice is the undeniable quaintness of the town. Washington Street in particular is very charming. This is one of the main streets in Ellicottville, where you will find dozens of shops, cute vintage stores and art galleries. There’s fantastic restaurants, cute cafes and even ski shops that are open year-round. Not to mention, the flowers throughout the town are extremely beautiful and well-kept up during the summer months.

A couple of points of interest that I’d recommend putting on your list are: Ellicottville Historical Museum, City Hall, The Purple Doorknob (which has the largest selection of socks in New York State) Watson’s Chocolates, and there’s a giant Christmas Tree made out of skis in front of the post office, which you cannot miss!

 Stroll Through Nannen Arboretum

If the flowers throughout the town are not enough for you, Ellicottville is also home to Nannen Arboretum. Nannen Arboretum is run by a nonprofit organization and is completely free to the public. Sitting on eight-acres, this stunning botanical garden contains over 250 species of trees, shrubs, flowers, and herbs. There are nice pathways, perfect for a peaceful stroll and you’ll also find a beautiful lake and a Japanese garden. Nannen Arboretum is just a five minute drive from Washington Street  or a 15 minute walk.

Visit Holiday Valley Resort

As I mentioned, Holiday Valley is an absolute must-visit winter destination when going to Ellicottville. However, the summertime version of the resort will also leave you in awe. There are three lodges at Holiday Valley. The main lodge is called Tamarack and here you will discover an outdoor bar, fun games, multiple pools and hot tubs, along with a scenic, 18-hole golf course. Walk up to the top deck where there are plenty of seating areas and enjoy the views!

The second lodge is called Yodeler. During the summer, the main slope here is turned into a biking path of sorts. Plenty of mountain bikers can be seen getting a workout on the path which goes horizontally back and forth over the slope. This is also a beautiful place to just relax and take in the gorgeous surroundings. 

Now, if you want to go where all the action is, head to the third lodge, Tannenbaum. During the summer Tannenbaum is transformed into the Sky High Adventure Park. There are so many fun options here! The Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster is a 4800-foot thrilling ride that zigs and zags through the trees and down the mountain. There’s a 3-D climbing wall on tree trunks, where you can climb as high as 40 feet in the air. And there are 43 different zip lines to soar down making this New York State’s largest adventure park. If you’re looking for something a little less thrilling, you can also take a nice relaxing ride up the chair lift for $10. 

For a detailed map of Holiday Valley, click here.

Have a Flight at Ellicottville Brewing Company

Ellicottville Brewing Company has been ranked one of the best bars & brewpubs in New York State, and for good reason! Their beers have garnered international recognition snagging three International World Beer Championship awards! Talk about impressive. And to think, it all started right here in Ellicottville. Many of their beers pair classic brewing styles with the growing craft beer movement, and they tend to have a little something for everyone. 

I recommend grabbing a spot on their patio and ordering a beer flight. This will allow you to pick six different beers from their draft list and get a little sampling of them all!

If Beer Isn’t Your Thing, There’s Wine Too

Ellicottville is also home to a fantastic winery! Established in 2010, The Winery of Ellicottville was opened by Dominic Spicola. He grew up watching his father create wine with techniques he brought with him from Italy. Dominic now continues the winemaking tradition with his son-in-law and today they are serving up award-winning bottles season after season.

Tastings and tours are offered and all of the wine is made and bottled right on the premises. Depending on the season and availability, there are usually 18 different varieties for guests to choose from, sample, or bring home with them. It’s definitely worth stopping in!

Get Pampered at Ellicottville Salt Cave

An authentic European style salt cave is hard to come by, but believe it or not, there’s one right in Ellicottville! For those of you who aren’t familiar, salt therapy is an all-natural way to treat a variety of modern ailments including congestion, allergies, and colds. This salt cave is made up of over 20 tons of Himalayan salt, which makes for a very unique, therapeutic experience! 

There’s also traditional spa treatments offered here as well. You can book anything from foot scrubs, to facials, to massages at Ellicottville Salt Cave. I personally went with a Swedish massage when I visited and it was such a lovely experience. 

The massage suites have an incredible atmosphere all of their own. The dimly lit rooms have a comforting fireplace, calming music, and beautiful fragrances. You can book massages for either 60 or 90 minutes.

Have Dinner at West Rose 

Located right on Washington St, West Rose offers up incredible dishes in a beautiful, welcoming atmosphere. Their menus are ingredient-driven, changing frequently to reflect what’s in season. However, it’s always delicious, and it’s always well-thought out! The open kitchen design highlights a wood-burning oven where their incredible pizzas are made and the bar is chic, yet cozy featuring incredible cocktails and beverage options. I can honestly say, I’ve never had a bad meal here!

Is Ellicottville on Your Must-Visit List Yet?

If you were under the impression before that Ellicottville is strictly a winter destination, I hope I helped to change your mind! Summer will be here before we know it and there’s so many wonderful reasons to plan a trip to Ellicottville. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below and happy travels!