At the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, carousel rides and historic musical technology share the same space for discovery. Admission includes all exhibit areas, including the interactive rides Number One Special, also known as The Big Carrousel, and Kiddie Carrousel. The Music Hall provides exhibition space for the museum’s band organ collection. In the Wurlitzer Music Roll Department, historic, still-operational equipment demonstrates how paper music rolls were made. The department also houses more than 1,600 original, hand-punched master music rolls dating from around the turn of the 20th century. Families can enjoy interactive activities and a Kiddie Carrousel in the Jeanette E. Jones Children's Gallery. The museum is housed in the Allan Herschell Co. factory building, which is listed on the National Register.
Erie Canal: History and Lock Engineering
Open year-round, the Erie Canal Discovery Center is an interactive multimedia museum about the beginnings of the Erie Canal in the 1820s. It also houses the Lockport Visitor Center. The Lockport Locks offer another view of the canal, allowing boat traffic to travel up the Niagara Escarpment.
Seasonally, Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises offers a narrated, two-hour trip on the Erie Canal. Passengers are raised and lowered 50 feet through Locks 34 and 35. If you plan to take this trip, check the current dates in advance; the tour is seasonal.
Water, Trails and Open Landscapes
Niagara Falls State Park is America’s oldest state park. A round-trip boat ride with Maid of the Mist takes you into the roiling waters of the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. At Fort Niagara State Park, a boat launch provides access to the Lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario.
Wilson Tuscarora State Park encompasses more than 395 acres of forest, open meadows and wetlands rich in plant and animal life. A four-mile nature trail is suitable for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The park also offers fishing, a boat launch and an 18-hole disc golf course. Artpark offers a different mix: numerous hiking trails, natural areas, fishing piers and picnic spots. Its arts, theater and rock camps are geared toward young people.
Carousels, Culture and Newfane
Olcott Beach Carousel Park features a 1928 Herschell-Spillman carousel, a historic arcade and historic rides for children. The park is seasonal; check the specific opening days before your visit.
The fully restored Victorian Van Horn Mansion offers insight into Newfane’s history. Tours extend from the basement to the attic; the seasonal tour period is listed as March through December. The also-seasonal Lewiston Museum features exhibits on the history of the Town and Village of Lewiston in New York State.
In Newfane, Chateau Niagara Winery sits on a 31-acre property along Eighteen Mile Creek. The winery produces handcrafted wines from its own grapes, including Chardonnay, Riesling, GewĂĽrztraminer, Pinot Noir and dessert wines. The Newfane Apple Harvest Festival is a free annual event in September, with food, music and performances. Check the current event dates before your trip.
Getting Around
The Discover Niagara Shuttle is a free seasonal hop-on, hop-off service with designated stops. Its Lockport route connects Niagara Falls and Lockport and serves the stop at the Erie Canal Discovery Center. Connect Niagara operates differently: for passengers who cannot reach a scheduled stop, the service can deviate up to three-quarters of a mile from the route. Check the county’s current schedule for details.
Discover more destinations: Niagara Falls, Lockport, Youngstown, Olcott, Greene, Chautauqua, Sullivan, Cattaraugus County.
For the main travel overview: New York.
