Lancaster, NY Road Trips

1 Hull Family Home & Farmstead (Warren Hull House), 5972-5976 Genesee Street (Genesee St (NYS Rt 33) at Pavement Rd.), ☏ +1 716 681-6451, [email protected]. A rare surviving example of early Federal style architecture. The oldest stone dwelling in Erie County. Built c. 1810 by Revolutionary War veteran and farmer Warren Hull for his family. Hull and his wife, along with a few of his family members, are buried in the family cemetery 800 ft. behind the house. The house and cemetery are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 2 Como Lake Park, 2220 Como Park Blvd, ☏ +1 716 683-5430. Free. (updated Feb 2019)

1 Stonybrook Shines. Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. Every holiday season since 2008, the nine-street Stonybrook Drive subdivision east of Lancaster's village center has become Western New York's answer to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, with neighbor competing against neighbor for the coveted award of best Christmas light display, and tooling through the neighborhood to check out the colorful spectacle (or stopping by to check out the annual MINI Cooper Parade) is now a well-established local tradition. Best of all, it's for a good cause: Stonybrook Shines doubles as a fundraiser for a variety of local children's charities, with thousands of dollars raised each year. Best to visit on weeknights to avoid traffic, and most houses have their lights turned off by about 10PM, so time your visit accordingly. (updated Dec 2020)

Red Roof Inn Buffalo Niagara Airport, 146 Maple Dr., Bowmansville (I-90 exit 49), ☏ +1 716 633-1100. Free newspaper, convenient to restaurants. Mini-fridge, microwave, free domestic long distance calls. Sassafras Bed & Breakfast, 5454 Broadway, Lancaster, ☏ +1 716 683-3753. The Clark-Lester House, a Nationally Registered Historic Place in the historic village of Lancaster that was built in 1891 as the home of pioneering female psychologist Olive Lester, has been restored as the charming Sassafras Bed & Breakfast. The four guest rooms, as well as the two-room Emma E. Deters Suite, all boast private baths and air conditioning and are furnished in lovely Victorian style with genuine antiques as well as reproduction pieces. Working fireplaces original to the property can be found in the living room and dining room, where a lovely breakfast is served daily. The house is surrounded by lovely greenery including impeccably manicured gardens in front and a backyard filled with large old trees that slopes gently downward toward Plum Bottom Creek. Located within walking distance of the historic Lancaster Opera House.

Lancaster is on US-20 east of the intersection with NY-78.