By: Faith Garven

With summer just around the corner, it is time to start planning our summers! I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to being outside. Sunshine is hard to come by in New York State. I know everyone thinks that WNY is kind of boring (I cannot disagree), however there is lots to do around here. Below is a list of fun things to do around the Western New York area and also at home.

• Concerts:

• May 6: We The Kings performing at Niagara County Community College
• May 11: Sara Kays performing at Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY
• May 13: Cory Asbury performing at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church, Williamsville, NY
• May 14: Justin Bieber performing at KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
• June 17: Walker Hayes performing at Sahlen Field, Buffalo, NY
• July 2: Big Time Rush performing at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY
• July 3: Backstreet Boys performing at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY
• July 9: Train performing at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY
• July 15: Thomas Rhett performing at Darien Lake Amphitheater, Darien Center, NY
• Coffee Shops

• Hill of Beans Coffee Stop located in Youngstown, NY
• Wilson Brew Co. located in Wilson, NY
• Craft Coffee House located in Pendleton, NY
• Scripts Cafe located in Lockport, NY
• Steamworks Coffee located in Lockport, NY
• HeBrews Coffee Bar located in Medina, NY
• Wineries

• A Gust of Sun Winery & Vineyard located in Ransomville, NY
• Black Willow Winery located in Burt, NY
• Honeymoon Trail Winery located in Lockport, NY
• Long Cliff Vineyard & Winery, Inc. located in Sanborn, NY

• Hiking

• John B. Austin Nature Trail located in Lockport, NY
• Fort Niagara State Park located in Youngstown, NY
• Eternal Flame Falls located in Orchard Park, NY
• Royalton Ravine Park located in Gasport, NY
• Ellicott Creek Trailway Park located in Getzville, NY
• Zoar Valley located in Gowanda, NY
• Akron Falls State Park located in Akron, NY
• Letchworth State Park located in Castile, NY
• Allegany State Park located in Salamanca, NY
• Watkins Glen State Park located in Watkins Glen, NY
• Boat Tours

• Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride located in Lockport, NY
• Whirlpool Jet Tours located in Lewiston, NY
• Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises located in Lockport, NY
• Maid of the Mist Boat Tour located in Niagara Falls, NY
• Drive-In Movie

• Transit Drive-In Theatre located in Lockport, NY
• Sunset Drive In located in Middleport, NY

Summer Activities That Are Inexpensive (Don’t require a lot of gas):

• Have a picnic with friends
• Watch the sunset or sunrise
• Go berry picking
• Read a book or a book series-in the outdoors
• Find a new hobby
• Go swimming or to the beach
• Have a movie night or game night with friends
• Cook a meal for your family
• Have a bonfire
• Go kayaking
• Stargaze
• Train for a 5K or better yet, the Mighty Niagara Half Marathon
• Get artistic-start painting or drawing or take an art class, like ceramics

For everyone who reads this, I hope you have a great summer! Please stay safe and have lots of fun! College is hard and stressful, but in the end it will pay off. Summer is a time to slow down, relax, and enjoy life (and the sunshine is a huge plus!) I will leave you with a quote: “Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” –John Lubbock