Historic landmarks

For something a little out of the ordinary, consider a drive to the Roycroft Inn and Campus in East Aurora, a scant half hour drive from Buffalo. Our tour guide, Tom, shared the history of the inn. Elbert Hubbard, one of the founders of the Arts and Crafts Movement, called Roycroft his home, his workshop and his business from 1895 until he died in the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915.

Chic boutiques

On our way out of East Aurora, we stopped by Vidler's 5 & 10. Definitely not a dollar store. Four

19th-century buildings have been turned into a boutique shopping experience, where visitors can buy toys, picture frames, candles, kitchen gadgets and craft supplies. For more shopping with individuality in mind, check out Elmwood Village, a Buffalo success story. Years ago, the area suffered from urban decay as residents left for suburbia, but the community rallied, revitalizing the village so well that it has now been named one of the top 10 neighbourhoods in America and shoppers benefit, too. More than 200 boutique shops and restaurants line a main street that somehow manages to combine small-town charm with big-city chic. Search for the perfect shoes at Shoefly and handbags at Clutch, grab a pastry or take a cooking class at Delish! and buy yourself something fun at-what else?Spoiled Rotten.

Cultural pursuits

If you've shopped till you've dropped and need to get away from it all for a while, I suggest two peaceful alternatives, depending on your mood. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery houses an astonishingly diverse collection of modern art that ranges from the more traditional paintings of

Monet, to pieces like Craig Kauffman's orange, wavy, vacuum-moulded Plexiglas and a new exhibition until June 29 of Jennifer Steinkamp?s 3-D installations. Some of the gallery's exhibits are interactive so you can get right up close to them, however some exhibits aren't and you?ll set off the alarm if you try. The trick, I discovered, to my intense embarrassment, is figuring out which is which. For a more natural art experience, visit the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, one of only two conservatories in the world built by renowned landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted. There are more than 3,000 square metres of beautiful flowers to explore, including orchids, cacti and fruit trees, under the soaring glass ceilings of this impressive Victorian greenhouse. Check out their schedule, as the Gardens often host fun events like afternoon teas, art exhibits and after-dark tours by candlelight. I could feel the day's stress melt away as the trickling fountains and lush greenery worked their magic. Back in downtown Buffalo and ready for a night on the town, we needed only to walk a few blocks to Bacchus on West Chippewa Street at Franklin for a fine dinner. The roasted beet and orange salad was a work of art and the grilled filet mignon was beautifully prepared. No girls' weekend getaway is complete without a night at the theatre, and Buffalo?s theatre district offers many choices. We enjoyed a play at the Irish Classical Theatre Company, an intimate theatre-in-theround. Not only do patrons feel like they are part of the action, but it is fascinating to watch how the actors play to all parts of the theatre. If the night?s still young, head back to the hotel for a nightcap in The Chocolate Bar, and maybe a piece of molten chocolate cake if you?re feeling naughty. After a day like this, you?ll have to admit, there?s more to Buffalo than shopping malls.