In Erin's opinion, Charlap's has the BEST chocolate and vanilla twist you can get. Get it how she likes in a cone with rainbow sprinkles or try it in a dish—you won't be disappointed. Leah and Lee, two of Erin's bridesmaids, were the BEST ice cream scoopers ever! Nice arm muscles, ladies!
A classic Hamburg hotspot—JP Fitzgeralds has great wings (with bleu cheese of course) and "The Best Reuben Sandwich in WNY" (no really, it's the best reuben). Try it open like Erin's grandpa prefers or closed like Erin likes it.
A favorite restaurant of Erin is The Grange. She recommends their Kale Caesar Salad with lemon and breadcrumbs. Enjoy coffee and a pastry for breakfast, lunch outside in their sidewalk cafe, and a seasonal cocktail after dinner.
A lovely atmosphere inside or out! The inside is reminiscent of a ski lodge and the outdoors is like being in someone's beautiful backyard, fully suited with fire pit tables and a pond. Enjoy Erin's favorite, the BlackBerry Gose, if you like sours or Two Two Mango, Jake's favorite, if you prefer ales. Don't forget the Baked Pretzel Sticks!
This memorable location (where Jake proposed to Erin) is over 1,000 acres. He proposed to her at the top of the big toboggan hill on October 12, 2018. Located in the Shale Creek Preserve is the popular Eternal Flame Falls. A small grotto at the waterfall's base emits natural gas, which can be lit to produce a small flame. This flame is visible nearly year round, although it can be extinguished and must occasionally be re-lit. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Flame_Falls) Over the years, Jake has enjoyed playing on their disc golf (frisbee golf) course with friends.
This is one of Jake and Erin's favorite places to get wings...a Buffalo must! The Honey Butter BBQ is one of Erin's favorites. Enjoy dining in or takeout but be sure to bring cash because it's cash only!
Roycroft was a community of craft workers and artists which formed part of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. In 1895, Elbert Hubbard founded the community in the village of East Aurora. The Roycroft Campus was dedicated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The Roycroft Campus includes the Power House, the first Print Shop and the Roycroft Inn, the Chapel, the Second Print Shop, and the Furniture Shop. In addition, there is the Roycroft Copper Shop and Gallery, where you can view and purchase exceptional works of art by current Roycroft Renaissance artisans.
One of Erin's favorite restaurants and where Erin and Jake celebrated one Valentine's Day. Their dessert was two cookies and a cup of moo! Elm Street makes delicious baked goods perfect for breakfast and a simple order and seat yourself style lunch. For dinner you can opt to sit at the bar and watch the cooks in the kitchen make your meal with local and seasonal ingredients.
A must-see store in the heart of East Aurora, Vidler's 5 & 10 is a five-and-dime store on steroids. This nearly 90-year-old emporium holds more than 75,000 items of tchotchkes (and some stuff you might really need) and is entertaining just to walk through.
Grab a beer and some locally sourced grub in this awesome spot. A neat atmosphere of wood and brick on the inside and outdoor space with a fire pit, corn hole, and picnic tables on the outside.
Originally built in 1825 as "the portal to the west", the Erie Canal Harbor served as the terminal for the passage of goods and passengers from the East Coast across the Great Lakes for much of the 19th century. In 2008, the first phase of the historic canal harbor area redevelopment opened to the public. Today it includes a boardwalk, food spots, kayak rentals, boat drinking tours, museums, and serves as a place to see your favorite band. You can even kick it back and relax in one of their many brightly colored Adirondack chairs. Be sure to see the one and only "Shark Girl" located next to the outdoor ice rink.
This pub has two of Jake's favorite things—beer and history! Presidential and historical memorabilia cover nearly every square inch of this Buffalo pub. There's even free popcorn and nachos, complete with a toppings bar of salsa, cheese, jalapenos and chili to accompany your drink of choice. A memorable place to visit for sure!
Lake Effect is a small batch artisan ice cream company offering unique flavors you can't get anywhere else. Erin couldn't refrain from only including one ice cream recommendation, so here's another. She loves the award-winning Salty Caramel and Banana Pancakes.
A natural wonder of the world and the most powerful waterfall in the world, Niagara Falls is just forty minutes from East Aurora. The birth of Niagara Falls can be traced back more than 12,000 years to the end of the last glacial period. During periods of peak flow in the summer and fall, more than 700,000 gallons of water per second pour over Niagara Falls (https://www.niagarafallsusa.com/planning-tools/about-niagara-falls/fun-facts/) The Canadian side is better...bring your passport!