As we trek through the bi-polar weather in Buffalo (which is hopefully ending soon), one can hope that the rest of our spring is filled with warmth and clear skies. While I love the indoors as much as the next person, being cooped up inside during the winter has left me itching to enjoy the outdoors and explore Buffalo, far far away from campus.
With limited transportation, (your girl is a broke college student with no car, and a limited budget) I was having trouble finding activities that are accessible by public transportation and of little to no cost. But have no fear, I have come to the rescue and compiled a list of fun, free, and relatively cheap trips to take advantage of the upcoming warm weather.
North Campus
I know I said places off-campus, but I felt I had to include these two activities since they are accessible to everyone and are free to all UB students. The Ellicott Creek Trailway, located by the Ellicott Complex, is a 6.9 mile biking and walking trail that follows Bennington creek. It is a nice way to decompress from assignments and finals, hangout with a friend, or to have some much needed time to yourself. The trail is clearly marked and at the farthest point from the highway possible, so it is peaceful. Do not fret for I have attached a link of the trials path for those who are unfamiliar with the Ellicott area.
My second on-campus recommendation is an event, not a place. The Spring into Art 2026 (on April 28th from 5-7pm) is a free event hosted by the Center for the Arts and is a collaboration between the theater and dance, art, media study, and music departments. There will be multiple performances, as listed here, including a film screening, an art sale, free snacks, a craft station and more activities in the open art galleries. It is a nice way to see what our fellow College of Arts & Science students have been working on (and how talented they are). This on campus event demonstrates the hard work these students put in throughout the semester as well as welcoming the new season.
Off-Campus
The rest of the places I chose are accessible by public buses that come to UB , or by taking the metro. There are many public bus stops on campus, like the 44 bus which heads northwest to Lockport located in the Flint Loop, or the 35 route which heads south to Sheridan located in Flint Loop, or right in front of Flint Village. The routes and times for both can be found on the NFTA-METRO website. Also, apple maps has exact bus stop locations and directions when you click the bus icon for what mode of transportation you are using. I wanted to lay out this information to hopefully make your trip as easy as possible.
The next spot I would recommend is Delaware Park. The park itself is beautifully maintained and it has audio guided tours of the park, laid-back walking trails, and boasts a Japanese garden. An added spectacle in late April, from 11am to 3pm on the 25th and 26th they have a Cherry Blossom festival to welcome in the perennials (which are symbols of spring) while also celebrating and honoring Japanese culture. The event offers live music, pink boat rides on the lake, and food trucks. It is a great opportunity to learn about not only the Olmsted parks, and Japanese culture, but also to enjoy nature.
My last recommendation is Broadway Market, which is accessible by bus. The Broadway Market is open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm and has many local food/pastry vendors. They also put on special events throughout the months, like having featured vendors or live music. It can be a fun way to kill some time over the weekends, have some good food and reason to get off campus. It is definitely crowded during this holiday season, but the vendors and events are the most fun. I have to promote the pickle vendor and the NYC bagel stand!
While the winter months slowly come to a close, and mother nature spreads her joy and warmth to Buffalo (finally) outdoor activities can seem overwhelming and inaccessible, especially when living in an unfamiliar city. Consider this as your official guide to places to try this semester that take advantage of the spring season.