Explore Youngstown, NY—a lakeside town 30 minutes from Buffalo—with history, great food & fun things to do including skydiving & boat tours.

Discover Youngstown, NY

Fort Niagara State Park

Fort Niagara is a fun resort (kind of) with its two boat launches providing access to the Lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario, woodland hiking trails, swimming pools, water slide, a view of Lake Ontario, picnic grounds, playgrounds, waterfowl hunting, and 18 soccer fields. In the winter, visitors can cross-country ski, snowshoe, and sled. There’s also Old Fort Niagara, which offers living-history programs year-round, plus a museum and original 18th-century buildings. It is operated by the Old Fort Niagara Association, a not-for-profit organization, and is a Registered National Historic Landmark and New York State Historic Site. So when you visit Fort Niagara State Park, you get great activities as well as a greater understanding of the past. Sounds like an excellent time for history buffs and nature lovers alike.

Sanger Farms

Sanger Farms is a 4th generation, family-owned and operated farm & bakery nestled a few miles south of Lake Ontario in Niagara County. The farm is known for growing its own peaches and apples, which they then use in their bakery! Speaking of their bakery (unforgivably lazy segue I know) they have everything from their world-famous butter tarts, fudge, cookies, and fruit breads to jams, and jellies made from homegrown fruits and their wildflower honey straight from the hive. They even have delicious maple syrup straight from the good folks over in Canada (look, I can’t name all the good things the Canadians have given us. This piece would be 50,000 words long, so let’s just leave it at Maple syrup and Canadian Bacon). And as if you didn’t need yet another reason to go, they have fun activities like free hayrides during the fall season as well as a hiking trail that even has a Fox Trail. So if you’re looking for some good farm-grown food to go with an authentic farm experience as well as some fun activities, you should definitely put Sanger Farms on your list of fun things to do this fall season.

Niagara Jet Adventures

In 2020, Niagara Jet Adventure was recognized as #3 on USA Today’s Top Ten Best Boat Tours in America. They’re also listed as Trip Advisor’s #1 Bucket List “Thing to Do” when visiting the Niagara region. That’s a lot to live up to, but believe or not, they actually do! Get on a climate-controlled boat. (Oooh fancy, and good for the environment. No wonder they have such a stellar reputation). As passengers take a thrilling ride on a one-hour adventure along with the up to class-five rapids in the Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole Rapids in the Niagara River Gorge, with 360-degree spins along the way. So, if you’re a fan of water-based excitement or a big fan of speed 2 (I don’t know why you would be, but I know some are for some unexplained reason) give Niagara Jet Adventures a shot.

Skydive the Falls

Skydive the Falls is the only skydiving center that circles over the top of Niagara Falls by joining the scenic pattern. Which means you’ll literally be diving over the Falls (look, sometimes when something is as cool as this, it’s worth mentioning it twice just to try and grasp its full awesomeness!). They take off from Shear Airport then fly down the Niagara River, seeing sights like the Toronto Skyline, Fort Niagara, local landmarks such as ArtPark State Park, and Whirlpool State Park. Once they reach Niagara Falls, they join the scenic traffic pattern, where you get even more breathtaking views. If you’re a fan of adrenaline, as well as seeing some of the best natural sites the Buffalo Niagara region has to offer, give skydiving a shot.

Four-Mile Creek State Park

Care for a bit of camping? But we’re not talking about the boring pitch a tent kind. No, if you go to Four Mile Creek State Park, you have the option (provided you make a reservation ahead of time) to get a Yurt, which is a wood lattice framed structure with heavy-duty reinforced fabric sides and insulated liners. They have windows, a domed roof, and wood floors. State Park yurts include three bunk beds and mattresses as well as a refrigerator, microwave, and a heat/AC unit added. So if you’d like to live in a futuristic wood hut during your next camping trip, head on over to Four Mile Creek State Park.

Discover the Charms of Small-Town Buffalo Niagara

Well, friends, we’ve reached the end of yet another tour outside our beloved Queen City, and Youngstown has quite a bit to offer. From Skydiving the Falls to high-speed climate-controlled boat rides and old-fashioned farms that make you feel like your back in the 30s (less The Dust Bowl aspect and more on the side of people regularly growing and consuming their own food). Youngstown has got enough thrills and charm to make anyone a repeat visitor!