Buffalo gets a boost

Nothing gets my heart racing more than the promise of visiting an exotic far-away destination, but on a day-to-day basis, I extol the virtues of places around Lake Erie. In my regional travels, I have found some true gems, but I really hold Buffalo, New York, in high regard.

And, apparently, so does The New York Times, which ranked the city one of “The 44 Places to Go in 2009,” in the January 11 travel section.

The Lake Erie city ranked #37 on the list, which also included incredible international spots, such as the Seychelles, Zambia and Bhutan. According to The Times, Buffalo got high marks for being able to “thrill culture junkies,” specifically noting the recent opening of the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

There’s a lot more to Buffalo, whether you head downtown for free Thursday night concerts at Lafayette Square or wander the funky neighborhood of Elmwood Village.If you’re lucky, you might see Chuck the Bubble Guy blowing bubbles from his third floor apartment in nearby Allentown.

For more information about Buffalo, check out this video: