The Spacious Lake Erie Beach In New York With Beautiful Rolling Sand Dunes And Trails

When we think of New York, we usually think of the bright lights of The Big Apple. While New York City offers a smorgasbord of attractions for any visitor, the state it shares its name with is also blessed with plenty of gems that largely fly well under the radar. From Letchworth State Park, known for its fun-filled outdoor adventures, to the Finger Lakes, one of the state's largest and most active wine regions, New York is well worth visiting –– especially if you want to spend time in nature.

One thing some people don't realize about New York is that it boasts two coasts. While its scenic and windswept Atlantic Seaboard is familiar to many, the western part of the state has over 850 miles of shoreline along Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, as well as the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers. The Great Lakes Shoreline is home to buzzing cities, tranquil inlets, and some of the best beaches the state has to offer.

Situated within the greater Buffalo metropolitan area on the easternmost edge of Lake Erie, Woodlawn Beach State Park is an ideal destination to soak up all the splendors that Western New York offers. This 107-acre park features a 1-mile-long beach, along with a terrific collection of natural sand dunes, making it the perfect spot to relax by the water and let your stresses fall away.

Woodlawn Beach State Park occupies a stretch of sand that has been a historically popular swimming spot since the 1800s. The site was once home to a hotel and resort served by steamships and trains and opened officially as a New York state park in 1996. Since then, it has become one of the top spots near Buffalo to beat the summer heat.

One of the park's most unique features is its sand dunes, which are some of the most well-preserved in the Lake Erie region. The beach itself is also roomy and wide, with volleyball nets and a playground, making it a family-friendly stop. You can access Woodlawn Beach State Park via an interpretative nature boardwalk that takes you through woods and wetlands on your way to the beach. While swimming is very popular in the warm months, guests also can rent kayaks and glide across the smooth surface of Lake Erie.

While you're there, stop in for a cocktail and a bite to eat at Solé Sandbar, which in addition to food and libations, offers plenty of outdoor seating. This watering hole is part of the Solé at Woodlawn Beach complex, which also features four wedding venues, two live music stages, a restaurant, as well as a lodge that you can rent out for special events.

The area around Woodlawn Beach State Park warrants further exploration, especially on two feet. The Tiff Nature Preserve Loop is a 3.2-mile circuit path through local marshland, while the longer Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park and Fuhurmann Trail and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Greenway to Buffalo Main Lighthouse Trail take you along Buffalo's historic waterfront.

You'd be wise to try some of the food while you're in Buffalo, as the city is one of the nation's most exciting — and underrated — culinary destinations. Yes, Buffalo is famous for the spicy chicken wings perfected in the city limits, but the food choices go much deeper than your typical bar food, and the area is home to terrific wineries as well.

While there is plenty to see and do in just Buffalo, you'd be missing out if you didn't make a pilgrimage to Niagara Falls, which is a less than 30-minute drive from downtown. This iconic cascade has been attracting visitors for hundreds of years for good reason, but just make sure you don't fall into any common tourist traps at Niagara Falls. Keep in mind that when it comes to viewing this marvel of nature that straddles the border between Canada and the United States, the Canadian side might offer better panoramas than the American side. Luckily, you can cross over the famous Rainbow Bridge into Canada if you have your passport.