Editor's Pick: Best Place to Take Tourists - Downtown Buffalo

That’s right, you read correctly, the best place to take tourists is the ghostly quiet, boarded-up-storefront-ridden, nearly abandoned downtown area. On first thought this area may seem like a place to avoid, but when you consider the pockets of activity and emerging new businesses and restaurants, downtown Buffalo can actually be a perfect place to show guests a good time. The Theater District has its own unique charm and is home to the awe-inspiring Shea’s Performing Arts Center (646 Main Street), which can be toured Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (during non-show days) at 10am and 1pm. Also on Main Street is the locally owned City Wine Merchant (715 Main Street), which has a wide selection of handpicked wines. Down near the First Niagara Center on a charming cobblestone street is the middle European style restaurant, stube, and deli, Lagerhaus 95 (95 Perry Street). Lagerhaus 95 offers contemporary gastro pub fare and an extensive wine and beer list. You can also follow the popular food truck Lloyd Taco Truck (@whereslloyd) and the newly opened Cheesy Chick (@thecheesychick) grilled cheese food truck on Twitter to catch them at the First Niagara Center. If your visitors are in Buffalo during the week you can take them to the heart of downtown to the City Hall observation deck. Being the third tallest building in the city, it provides views of the city, Lake Erie, and the Niagara River.

- jill greenberg