Our family took a much needed little getaway last week, and we ended up in the town of Westfield, New York for a couple of nights. While perusing dog-friendly Airbnb rentals near Lake Erie (closest large body of water/beaches to us), I happened upon a cute looking cottage in this town that was within our budget, and after a little research on Westfield’s attractions I knew this would be a fun place to explore for our more low-key and outdoors-centered interests.

It was so intriguing passing by acres and acres of grape vineyards driving into this part of the state, and we spent a morning at the Lake Erie Grape Discovery Center to learn about the history of the grape industry, agriculture, and production (grape juice giant Welch’s has had a prominent role in this history in Westfield). Kind and knowledgeable staff gave us samples of grape popcorn and grape juice which was fun, and we concluded our visit with a bowl of grape ice cream that was delicious.

After our morning among the grapes, we stopped in just down the road at an interesting-looking antique shop in set up inside of a barn on a historic estate. It was lovely! I wished my budget had been larger, not that the prices were unreasonable at all, I’ve just never experienced a shop like this that was absolutely brimming with high quality and very unique and special finds. It was fun to peruse and admire craftsmanship and design and to be inspired, and the owners were a delight to chat with. I did walk away with a couple of small items that fit my tight budget, and I’ll be sure to share those another post in the future.

My favorite piece of architecture we visited in this town though was definitely the Barcelona Lighthouse. They had just recently completed a few months prior the phase one of renovations at this site, and the newly restored lighthouse was open to the public for its first season of tours. We learned that this lighthouse was the United States’ first natural gas powered lighthouse constructed in 1829. The renovations to the structure and exterior were done with much care and expertise, being as true to the original construction as possible. The stone and original timbers were impressive and beautiful, and the friendly staff there were full of facts and knowledge to share. I challenged my fear of heights and climbed to the top (which wasn’t too tall when all said and done!), and it did not disappoint with stunning views of the harbor, even in the gentle rain and the haze from Canadian wildfire smoke. My favorite little moment there was stopping at the windows on the way up and down the spiral staircase, appreciating the way the light filtered in so softly on the deep stone sills.

Of all the spots we explored in Westfield, our family spent the most time by the water. So many simply stunning elements to found on the shores of Lake Erie here. The textured cliffs were truly awe-inspiring, like pieces of art the way the waters have carved the stone over thousands of years. And speaking of stone, the stones on the shores were so interesting, washed as flat and smooth as I’d ever felt by the gentle waves the lapped a soothing sound. Songbirds fluttered from the branches and roots of the lush vegetation up the cliffs, and shorebirds called from the skies and vast waters…so much to beauty to be submerged in.

I’d be untruthful to paint the picture that all was pristine and glorious in these spots though. There were some unfortunate sights as well, like large amounts of litter either washed ashore from the waters or left behind on the beaches. There also was at times an overwhelming stench coming of hundreds of decaying fish that had washed ashore in different coves at the beaches — we found out the mass die-off was due to a natural phenomenon that had occurred the week prior where strong winds had caused lake water to flip bringing cold temperatures from deep waters to the surface, and susceptible species subsequently couldn’t withstand the rapid change. It was sad to see so many fish bodies like that. But, I am so grateful we had the opportunity to walk along the smoothest rocks, admire incredible cliff formations, and just witness some truly magnificent nature.

It was quite a fun couple of days for our family here in Westfield, many fond memories made and I hope we’ll pass by through this area again for another visit sometime!

The next stop on our getaway was an hour north of Westfield to Buffalo to visit family. We decided to check out the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens while there and it was a plant lovers absolute dream! I could’ve spent all day perusing the vast array of specimens and admiring the impressive architecture. From palms to orchids, to cacti, to citrus, to begonias, to bonsai, to carnivorous plants, the list could go on and on of all the different flora to behold here. I loved the design and layout of the conservatory and really enjoyed the bright, peaceful, and pleasant atmosphere in each room, even though it was quite humid on this sunny summer day. The grounds outdoors were mostly under construction during our visit, they are underway to expand and renovate and looks to be quite a lot will be added in the coming years. If I had to pick a favorite room, mine probably was the bonsai exhibit. I am inspired now to learn more on the art and growing of bonsai and want to give it try here sometime myself. Perhaps a good winter gardening hobby to try?

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That about wraps up the main activities of our trip. Of course the in-between moments like playing with the dogs, eating yummy meals outdoors, laughing with loved ones, chatting the drive away while our kiddo gets a snooze… all of it I’m truly thankful for and glad we could make this happen. It is definitely a highlight of the summer for me! And one of the best parts about getting away, even if it’s only a few hours away for a few days, is coming back home and the newfound appreciation for all the little comforts and conveniences of home. That mixed with the buzz of seeing new sights and having had some time to let go and just be without chores or work beckoning, it is an immense privilege and hope to keep this feeling lasting as long as possible! That’s one reason I thought I’d share these explorations here, to come back and read and scroll through the photos to bring back some of those feelings again anytime I need.

Getaway to Westfield and Buffalo NY