North Tonawanda, NY Road Trips

1 Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St, ☏ +1 716 693-1885. Summer M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su noon-4PM; spring and fall W-Su noon-4PM, winter closed. North Tonawanda is a former lumber port on the Erie Canal that, in 1915, became home to the Allan Herschell Company, America's largest producer of amusement park rides, particularly carousels. Though the company closed in 1970, the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum lives on in the former factory buildings, providing 15,000 visitors annually with exhibits and demonstrations on the history of the Herschell Company and amusement rides in general. An original Allan Herschell carousel from 1916 is the centerpiece of the museum's collection. Special programs offered by the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum include beginner and advanced woodworking courses, and a short walking and biking trail leads from the factory complex through historic downtown North Tonawanda to the banks of the old Erie Canal. Adults $10, seniors $8, children & students $5, under 2 free. (updated Jul 2023) Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier, 111 Oliver St, ☏ +1 716 694-9588. Jun-Oct: Sa 11AM-4PM, or by appt. The Niagara Frontier chapter of the National Railway Historical Society operates this facility to show off their collection, but as it's all run by volunteers it's only open very limited hours. Free; donations welcome. (updated Jul 2023)

Canal Fest. Held on the third full week of July in the twin cities of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda a short distance north of Buffalo, Canal Fest is the largest annual festival held along the banks of this historic waterway. The live music performances the festival holds yearly at Gateway Harbor are legendary; additionally, the eight-day run of Canal Fest 2011 boasted a parade, a boat-building competition, a sack race and other activities for kids, boat races along the canal, and a fireworks finale. 1 Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St, ☏ +1 716-692-2413. Box office: M-F 10AM-4PM. Also open 1 hr prior to live events and 30 min prior to movies. (updated Dec 2021)

1 Hideaway Grille, 399 Division Street, ☏ +1 716 694-2710, fax: +1 716 694-3040. (updated Dec 2021) 2 Frankie Primo's +39, 26 Webster Street, ☏ +1 716 755-3739. M-Sa 4PM-11PM, Su 11AM-10PM. (updated Dec 2021) 3 Canal Club 62, 62 Webster Street, ☏ +1 716 260-1824. Tu-Sa 4PM-11PM. (updated Dec 2021) 4 Submaster, 105 Main Street, ☏ +1 716 957-3500. (updated Dec 2021) 5 Remington Tavern, 184 Sweeney Street, ☏ +1 716 362-2802. M-Th 4PM-10PM; F Sa 4PM-11PM. (updated Dec 2021) 6 The Dockside Bar & Grill, 153 Sweeney Street, ☏ +1 716 693-3600. Tu-Th 3PM-midnight, F Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-11PM. (updated Dec 2021) Pane's Restaurant, 984 Payne Ave (park behind the building via 16th Ave), ☏ +1 716 692-7076. Tu-Su 11:30AM-8:30PM. Pane's has been providing homestyle Italian-American classics to the area since the late 1950s, so they must be doing something right. The menu is extensive and goes beyond just pasta and chicken parmesan, though the Italian dishes are the specialties. Service is friendly and familial. Enjoy the fish tanks in the walls for dine-in, or get takeout. Popular for banquets as well as catering. $20-$30. (updated Jul 2023)

1 Woodcock Brothers Brewery, 908 Niagara Falls Blvd, ☏ +1 716 260-1284. (updated Dec 2021)

1 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Tonawanda - Buffalo Area, 2400 Niagara Falls Blvd, ☏ +1 716 743-2400. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Indoor pool, fitness center, and laundry room. Includes breakfast and WiFi. No pets. (updated Dec 2021)