Best Things to Do in East Aurora NY: The Ultimate Guide

For such a small village, there are lots of fun things to do in East Aurora, New York. It's a historically significant and charming small town in western New York, just a short distance away from Buffalo. If you love picturesque main streets, unique activities and accommodations, and a fascinating history, you'll need to plan your trip to East Aurora.

Justin and I love visiting little villages for their welcoming atmospheres and small town vibes. The historic village of East Aurora has quite a few great restaurants and cafes for a town of its size. Plus, there are lots of intriguing shops and boutiques lining its main street, too.

In this travel blog post, we'll show you all of the best things to do in East Aurora, NY. After we go through the top activities and attractions in East Aurora, we'll show you the best places to stay, getting there, and our top picks for restaurants and coffee shops.

Visiting around the holidays? East Aurora is one of the best Christmas towns in New York State. Looking to pair your trip to East Aurora with another cute small town? Check out how we spent an afternoon in the village of Williamsville.

Best Things to Do in East Aurora, NY: Explore Main Street

One of the top things to do in East Aurora is wander up and down Main Street. There are rows of cute shops and buildings filled with interesting products. In addition, you'll find the majority of the restaurants and cafes on Main Street (while some are located on the side streets).

Shop at Vidler's 5 & 10

Vidler's 5 & 10 just celebrated its 90th anniversary and I can guarantee that it's one of the most unique shops you'll ever visit. The shop is the largest five-and-dime store in the world, with 75,000 items spread through 4 buildings on 2 levels.

I can't even really describe what you'll find at Vidler's 5 & 10 as it's a massive collection of just about anything you can imagine. Some of the sections include candy, retro & collectable, toys, office supplies, candles, cards, bath and body, crafts, kitchen and home decor, and souvenirs. While things aren't priced at five or ten cents any longer, you're sure to find some bargains on many whimsical finds.

In addition to Vidler's 5 & 10, there are lots of unique gift shops and boutique clothing stores that line Main Street. The Rusty Button is an artisan gallery featuring unique handcrafted gifts by local artists. The Plant Shack is a beautiful store filled with gorgeous greenery. If you need any groceries, pop by the East Aurora Co-op Market.

Have a Pint at 42 North Brewing Company

42 North Brewing Company is a craft brewery named after the 42nd parallel where it's located. They source the finest New York hops locally and their attention to detail crafts some of the best beer. They work with the local community, including the region's farmers, local not-for-profits, and local business partners.

There's a diverse mix of lagers and artisan ales for every taste. In addition to their signature brews, they offer seasonal and limited release beer, so there's always something new to try. Sample the 42 North Wallonia Wit if you're a fan of Blue Moon, or the seasonal Oatmeal Cookie stout if you're here in the fall or winter.

Enjoy a beer or a bite to eat at the brewery, and there's a large beer garden if you're visiting during the warmer seasons. There's are regular events at 42 North Brewing Company, and large event spaces if you're looking to host a gathering.

Watch a Movie at the Aurora Theater

It isn't too often that you can catch a movie at a historic movie theater! The Aurora Theatre dates back to 1925, when it was built on the site of the original Millard Fillmore Theatre. A group of local businessmen created the Aurora Theatre, including Irvine Price (of the Fisher Price Toy Company) and Elbert Hubbard II ( son of Elbert Hubbard, founder of the American Arts and Crafts Movement on the Roycroft Campus).

There are lots of recent and older films shown at the Aurora Theater. You can even rent out the entire movie theater for your own private parties! Over the holidays, they show Christmas movies, and there are free movie showings on Wednesdays in the summer for families.

Things to Do in East Aurora: Tour the Roycroft Campus

Roycroft was a community of crafters and artists that formed part of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States, dating to the late 19th century. The group was founded by Elbert Hubbard in East Aurora and their work became known as the Roycroft Movement. It strongly influenced American architecture and design in the 20th century.

Visiting the famous Roycroft Campus is of the best things to do in East Aurora, New York. The campus is home to some of the best preserved collections of buildings of the Arts and Crafts Movement, and it's a National Historic Landmark. Nine of the original 14 structures still remain, including the Inn, the Chapel, the Print Shop, the Furniture Shop, and the Copper Shop. Go for a stroll through this complete complex of buildings for free.

I recommend taking a tour of the Roycroft Campus to learn more about the historic site. The Museum Tour is suggested for the casual visitor and the Campus Tour is more comprehensive if you're passionate about the topic. You can book a public tour on Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. If you want to explore at your own pace, the majority of the buildings are free to visit and open from Tuesday to Saturday (11am - 5pm).

Copper Shop Gallery

The Copper Shop Gallery is an art gallery and gift shop. The structure itself was built in 1902 and has served a number of purposes over the years. Nowadays, you can purchase handmade works that maintain the Roycrofters' traditions of Head, Heart & Hand craftsmanship. There are handmade pieces made out of wood, glass, ceramics, block prints, etchings, and more.

Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum

You can learn so much about the history of Roycroft and Elbert Hubbard at the Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum. There are permanent and special exhibits with a historic collection of documents, art, furniture, and books. You'll view one-of-a-kind artifacts and learn more about why Roycrofters were such a vital part of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Things to do in East Aurora: Nature & Outdoors

Fan of the great outdoors? One of the most amazing things to do in East Aurora is exploring its parks and nature trails. For such a small village, there are a surprising number of parks and protected spaces, including hiking trails and even a waterfall.

Knox Farm State Park

Knox Farm State Park is a great place to hike, observe wildlife, and cross-country ski in the winter. The park is 633 acres with 400 acres of grasslands and 100 acres of woodlands, ponds and wetland areas. There are nearly 8 miles of walking trails, including several loop trails around a variety of habitats. It was once owned by the renowned Knox family, and it's great that one of New York's state parks is right here in East Aurora.

Kenneglenn Scenic and Nature Preserve

The Kenneglenn Scenic and Nature Preserve is 131 acres and includes the stunning Hunters Creek gorge. Going on nature walks of Kenneglenn Scenic and Nature Preserve is one of the best things to do in East Aurora. You'll discover forests, wetlands and panoramic views of the area's rolling hills. There are a couple of shorter trails here for hikers and nature lovers alike.

The Owens Falls Sanctuary

Owens Falls is a bit of a secret gem in East Aurora, NY. While the property used to be privately owned, the community rallied and raised the funds to preserve these beautiful lands for future generations to enjoy. There's a 1.4 mile trail through headwater forests and wetlands that leads to two spectacular waterfalls.

Major's Park

Major's Park is a lovely place to go for a walk in East Aurora. There's a ½ mile elevated boardwalk that traverses across meadows and wetlands. A few little side trails follow the edge of Cazenovia Creek. Major's Park is also a great place to have a picnic.

Restaurants and Cafes in East Aurora

One of my favorite things to do in East Aurora is...eat! There's lots of delicious food and drink at the restaurants and cafes in the village. Here are the ones that we had the chance to try and can personally recommend.

Homegrown Kitchen

We stopped at Homegrown Kitchen for lunch and it proved to be an excellent choice. Homegrown Kitchen has an airy and green environment, perfect for savoring healthy eats. They use fresh and seasonal ingredients to create delicious salads, grain bowls, soups, wraps, and smoothies.

There are some great vegan options at Homegrown Kitchen, including the vegan buffalo tofu wraps that we ordered. There's also the jacked up jackfruit panini, avocado toast, and the Cuban cashew bowl. You can get any wrap made as a salad. Definitely try the vegan buffalo tofu wraps, especially if you like spicy food.

The Griffon Gastropub

The Griffon Gastropub has four locations and the largest one is situated in East Aurora. There's an expansive beer menu and all kinds of yummy pub eats on the menu. The vegan items on the menu are clearly marked (same with vegetarian and gluten-free).

Justin and I ordered both of the vegan burgers, the No Moo For You (Beyond burger with lots of delectable toppings) and the Spicy Vegan Burger (the black bean burger). Our server (who isn't vegan) informed us that the Spicy Vegan Burger is her favourite dish on the menu, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

Kornerstone Cafe & Juice Bar East Aurora

The Kornerstone Cafe has two locations, one in Buffalo and one in East Aurora. We loved going here for breakfast in the morning as there are lots of fantastic veggie options and some of the most delicious coffee.

I loved my acai smoothie bowl as it was very yummy and nutritious. If you visit for lunch, there are more vegan meals, like sandwiches and wraps with the option of adding their vegan "chicken" salad. The beet slaw and homemade hummus sound great, too!

Where to Stay in East Aurora

Even though East Aurora is a tiny town, there are a lot of great places to stay. You can base yourself in East Aurora to explore more cute villages in western New York, and even plan to stay here when you visit Buffalo if you love a more quaint atmosphere.

The Lofts @42N (Airbnb in a Brewery)

When Justin and I traveled to East Aurora, we stayed at The Lofts @42N. This is an Airbnb property offers a "brewcation" and consists of four hotel-style rooms above 42 North Brewing Company. Each room is individually designed with various elements themed around East Aurora, Buffalo, western New York, and brewing beer.

We stayed in the Queen City Room. The decor represents Buffalo's industrialized past, featuring original molds from Buffalo Foundry & Machine Company on the walls, and a backsplash of the city's grain silos on the wall behind the bed.

Each room at The Lofts @42N offers views of the beer garden. Of course, you get to sample the beer of 42 North Brewing Company when you stay here. There are four tallboy cans of beer in a small beer fridge, as well as a gift card that equates to two pints of beer at the brewery. Justin and I popped down to the brewery in the evening to try some of their offerings on tap.

The rooms here are clean, comfortable and modern, with all the amenities that you need for a great stay. Down the hallway from our room, there's even a window looking down on their production facilities, just in case you want to watch your beer being made. For fans of craft breweries and beer, staying at The Lofts @42N is an absolute must.

If you're a fan of beer and want to check out more great finds in New York, we have some great craft beer guides for you. Here are some awesome breweries in Buffalo and a guide to the best Finger Lakes breweries.

Roycroft Inn

The Roycroft Inn is a historic hotel that's part of the Roycroft Campus. It first opened in 1905 and became a national landmark (as part of the Roycroft Campus) in 1986. The inn also contains a restaurant and a lobby bar.

If you are a history buff and plan to take a tour of the Roycroft Campus, it's only fitting that you spend the night at the hotel, too. There are restored murals by an original Roycroft artist on site, and there's plenty of antique Roycroft furnishings.

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Getting There

We drove to East Aurora from the Toronto area where we live. It's only about 20 minutes south of downtown Buffalo. If you're not within driving distance of East Aurora and you're looking to incorporate it into a New York road trip, I suggest flying to Buffalo. Here's where you can find cheap flights to Buffalo.

Then, once you reach Buffalo, pick up a rental car there to start your trip. You can compare car rental prices here to find the best rates. You can drive to Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and even beyond to Rochester and the Finger Lakes. Head southeast of Buffalo to find East Aurora.

More Things to Do in Western New York

There are so many fun things to do in Western New York. We visit all the time as we live only a short distance away in the Toronto area. These spots make a really excellent day trip from Toronto, day trip from Buffalo or road trip from elsewhere in the USA and Canada.

• Best Things to Do in East Aurora, NY
• Things to Do in Williamsville, NY
• Fun Things to Do in Buffalo, NY
• Vegan Guide to Buffalo, NY
• The Best Murals in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY
• InnBuffalo Off Elmwood: Our Full Review
• Best Breweries in Buffalo
• Eternal Flame Falls in Orchard Park
• Griffis Sculpture Park: One of the Largest Sculpture Parks in the USA

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