Are you looking for adventures? Or do you want to have your vacation packed with various activities?
If so, then consider making the village of Ellicottville your next destination.
Located on the west side of New York and found within Cattaraugus County, Ellicottville is full of places and activities to enjoy.
While the village is only 1 square mile, it is full of vacation options and is a top-rated winter destination if you are into skiing or snowboarding.
The quickest way to reach this location is by driving from south of Buffalo along Route 219; you’ll arrive at the village in just 55 minutes.
It can be a challenge to choose what to do first when in Ellicottville, but there is plenty of fun found in the location.
Here are the 16 best things to do in Ellicottville, New York:
Antepenultimate, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
TheNannen Arboretum is the best place to visit for anyone who wants to enjoy nature without hiking around.
The attraction is under the management of the Nannen Arboretum Society and the Town of Ellicottville and is open from dusk to dawn.
With eight acres of land and different gardens featuring various forms of plant life, there is plenty to see at the Nannen Arboretum.
Antepenultimate, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The attraction’s design aims to provide a natural resource of education for all ages on nature appreciation.
When you walk along the main trail, you can see trees all over with signs and markers that give information on the trees’ origin.
You also have the option to learn more about the park by taking one of the tours.
Antepenultimate, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For sports fans, especially those who love skiing, the HoliMont Ski Club is a great first stop.
Considered the largest ski resort in New York with 50 slopes and trails plus a halfpipe, you’ll get more than your fill of winter adrenaline at this ski club.
The resort is open to the public on weekends but generally reserved for its club members on certain days.
If you are interested in what the resort offers, there are also group tours plus classes available.
Curious about how reliable the lessons are?
The resort provides only certified American and Canadian instructors to help you out.
So, whatever you plan to do at the resort, you can be sure of a quality experience.
If you are not into skiing or hiking, then maybe Sky High Adventure Park is the place for you.
Known as the country’s third-largest adventure park and located within Holiday Valley, the Sky High Adventure Park offers multiple fun activities.
From thirteen treetop courses to forty-three zip lines, the park has plenty of thrill options for you and your family.
For anyone planning to bring their children, you should know that no one under seven is allowed to climb the course.
But fret not, as there are other attractions that the younger kids can enjoy, such as gem mining.
Kids can head to this attraction and pan for gemstones, fossils, or other treasures in a sluice for fun.
Are you interested in summertime sports just as much as winter sports?
Then consider Holiday Valley Resort as your vacation lodging.
The resort provides you with a delightful variety of options, ranging from recreational activities to luxury rooms available at their Inn.
During the wintertime, you can enjoy their mountain for different skiing and snowboarding options.
If you visit during the warmer seasons, however, the resort offers packages for various activities.
Some of them include golfing on a private course or taking a chair lift to Spruce Lake.
There are also different hiking and biking trails you can enjoy, along with the resort packages.
After all these activities, you can either relax at the pool or take a spa day at the nearby spas.
Located in the heart of Ellicottville is the Ellicottville Brewing Company.
One of the oldest breweries in New York since 1995 and featuring German brewhouse tanks and a variety of beers, EBC is a year-round brewpub with great options.
These include over two dozen seasonal and specialty beers, including their signature Ellicottville IPA.
Are you interested in what they have to offer?
They have blood orange hefeweizen and blueberry wheat ale on their menu.
Aside from their variety of beers, the year-round brewpub also offers classic bar foods, along with American cuisine on their menu.
If you visit the local business during the summer, you can enjoy their European-style beer garden.
Is beer not your thing?
The next best thing would be to check out the Winery of Ellicottville.
The establishment opened in 2010 and generally offers 18 varieties of wine for guests.
When visiting this winery, you have the chance to learn about the different wines, their production process, and the ingredients that go into the mix.
To experience more of what the winery has to offer, you can join their wine club.
Other than this, you can also purchase their products online and have them shipped straight to your door.
The winery is open from Wednesday to Sunday, with different store hours, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
You can explore their site for more options and get to enjoy some gift cards too.
Any chocolate lover will want to make a stop at Watson’s Chocolates to explore their various chocolate options.
Having run for 75 years and with eight stores statewide, you’ll only find the best of sweets at Watson’s Chocolates.
The best-known item you’ll find at this shop is their sponge chocolate.
You are guaranteed only the best chocolate treats when visiting this shop.
Some of the sweets that Watson’s Chocolates has to offer include caramels, chocolate turtles, buttery crunchers, and these are to name a few.
Get yourself a cold treat and a beautiful spot by visiting the Tee Bar.
The Tee Bar offers all kinds of sweets, ranging from frozen custard to ice cream and milkshakes to sundaes.
A few other treats that the shop also provides include seasonal novelties and homemade waffle cones.
More than their iced treats, the Tee bar is known for its selection of branded t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel.
Every vacation needs some time for relaxation, and the Ellicottville Oasis Spa can provide you with that.
Found within the Tamarack Club at Holiday Valley, the spa is open from 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays and 10:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays, except on Holidays.
You can book their services online and enjoy a range of different services, such as massage therapy, facials, nail therapy, and body waxing of all kinds.
Plus, after enjoying your choice of spa session, you can avail different spa products upon departure.
A few products you can get from the spa after your session are Eminence Organix Skin Care, Shellac CND, and FarmHouse Fresh items.
Have you ever wanted to try and throw an ax?
If so, you can do that at the Ratchet Hatchet.
The lounge and bar attraction is open from Thursday to Sunday, but only by appointment, plus different package options.
You can check out the bar’s detailed FAQ list for any information you may need.
Whether it’s about their costs, drinks, or booking details, you can have any questions answered before making any decisions.
Once you make a reservation for the lunge and bar, you also have the option to sign a waiver ahead of time.
You’ll be sure to have a memorable experience with the Ratchet Hatchet.
No vacation is complete without at least one souvenir.
A great place to get a souvenir unique to Ellicottville would be the Purple Doorknob.
You can’t miss it with its purple exterior.
What makes this shop so different is that it only sells socks.
That’s right, the shop is known for its wide selection of novelty socks that you can purchase either in the store or online.
Indeed, with Purple Doorknob, you can be sure to find items that fit your need.
There are different spots where you can have a moment of relaxation in Ellicottville.
However, if you’re looking to experience a unique way to relax and have a spa day, book an appointment at the Salt Cave and Spa.
They feature rooms that both natural salt and water, along with different types of therapy.
One therapy you can only get at the spa while in Ellicottville is Halotherapy.
Otherwise known as salt therapy, the process involves sitting in a confined space and inhaling tiny salt particles.
It may sound strange, but it is proven to help with breathing problems.
Even if you don’t believe in the salt caves, you can enjoy the different spa packages, such as massages, facials, and foot scrubs, and so on.
Do you want to make your souvenir rather than buy one?
You can do just that at the Artventures Studio.
The art studio is currently open by appointment and does not accept any walk-ins.
You can explore their site and see what services appeal to you.
To name a few of the art activities you can do in the studio, they have pottery painting, canvas painting, stoneware, glass fusing, and mosaics.
In addition to art activities, Artventures also includes services for events like birthdays and corporate events.
Aside from creating art and hosting events, the studio also offers different products for your perusal.
Some products that may interest you include their glow-in-the-dark painting and pottery, plus unique gifts and accents you can use for your home.
Sugartown Farms features over 50 alpacas for you to meet; the farm itself is known for breeding show-winning alpacas.
Here, you have the chance to meet alpacas named after Star Wars characters like Leia, Han Solo, and Wookie.
If this isn’t enough, you also have the option to purchase a bunch of alpaca-themed merchandise.
These include gloves, mittens, sweaters, and even teddy bears.
For those interested in making their very own alpaca apparel, there are also raw fleeces, yarn, and batting available as well.
Take a chance to learn something new by booking a session at the Mel Sole Golf School.
The school can be found within the Holiday Valley and provides you with PGA-certified instructors, whatever your level of golfing ability is.
You can choose to have a one- or three-day program and have the option to either have your classes start from 9 a.m to noon or 1:30 p.m to 5:00 p.m.
Classes are generally grouped into a maximum of four depending on skill levels and cater to different lesson needs.
Aside from the programs you can sign up for, the school also offers private lessons and group clinics.
If you are interested in learning something new while on vacation, you best add this to your list.
Checking out art can be rather fun if you know where to look.
One place that can find unique sculptures of people and animals is at Griffis Sculpture Park.
Around 250 art pieces are standing in the park, with some dating back to the ’60s.
Depending on which part of the park you roam, there are different types of statues that you can find on varying landscapes.
In the Rohr Hill section of the park, a scattering of art pieces is in the fields and woods just off the road.
The second section of the park, known as the Mill Valley Road Site, features long trails with various terrains and a smooth walk area.
There is no shortage of things that you can do in Ellicottville if you plan to vacation there.
If you are looking for an action-filled adventure with plenty to do, the village is certainly a good fit for your travel needs.
Whether you are looking for various sports and climbing or want to have pure relaxation and fun treats, you can find it all at Ellicottville.
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