when my daughter was about two or three we had a ritual for some time to park near where the subway comes up around tupper and ride it to the library on the weekend. she loved it and in fact still talks about those adventures when she sees the trolly/subway. parking was free because it was the weekend, and the subway is free above ground so it was a way to add to the adventure without spending a dime! thanks for the post!

Downtown is cool! No matter what your age. A mall is a mall is a mall, however downtown has places to work, a place to skate, statues which give way to history lessons. differing, most often beautiful architecture, wonderful restaurants, theaters, a train running through it which can carry you from one end to the other, fresh air, people with a broad spectrum of looks, and social backgrounds, baseball, hockey,places, to walk, a waterfront, sailboats, gardens, parks, neighborhoods, museums, and a spirit that just can't be contained in a mall.
BeaconFriendly: keep bringing your daughter downtown, then her friends, and their Moms, and then the husbands, and sons, and soon everyone will get in on our greatest secret "Buffalo is a great city"

I remember going downtown during christmas on a field trip....it was wonderful. We went to see St Josephs Cathedral and other downtown greats. There were downtown stores all decorated and they werent afraid to wish someone Merry Christmas because some non-christian or atheist threatened to sue. Every church had a manger and no one was outraged by the disease of victimization and multi-culturalism.

Some of us actually grew up in a city where you could walk the streets, where poor and middle class families cared about their homes and taught their kids manners and where religion was a respected part of life.

what a lovely story, going into the city as a child was always so exciting.

My son who is now twelve, grew up living downtown with me on Trinity Place. This was in the late 90's before so much was going on downtown. I always knew that it was such a good thing culturally to have his weekend experience in the city as a counter to his suburban weekly experience with Mom. I moved downtown before he could walk and we regularly walked around the downtown and Allentown area's. Some of our favorite things were riding the metro rail of course. We also used to go to HSBC Center and lean against the building and look up. This is really cool for kids and adults alike. We also spent time at the ball park, the marina or the observation deck of City Hall. Also riding the bus was a special treat.

Some of our favorite things to do have turned into family folklore. We had an elaborate story about the Lion on the side of the Midway buildings on Delaware and Virginia. The Lion would come down at night to make sure all the kids in the city were in bed. ( of course when we were walking at night) But, since he was with me then he was safe. It was a fun and bonding experience.

The beautiful architecture, and culture of the city just lends itself to the creativity of life and especially the creativity in children. thanks for shareing your daughters experience while downtown.

Here's my first downtown memory. Having grown up in the southtowns, coming down the Skyway with the city skyline unfolding in front of you. And then getting off (likely onto Delaware Avenue), laying down on my back in the rear seat and looking up at the 'skyscrapers.'

It would be great to get more kids' perspectives on their city. Any chance of that, QE & Figmo?

We live in the Elmwood Village so downtown is a pretty short hike for us, but her experiences up to now have often involved strollers or wagons. She's so much more aware of everything now that she walks with me. I love Buffalo and I feel so lucky that I can share that love with her! Keep those memories/suggestions/ideas coming!

Riding the bus downtown with Gramma and going shopping at AMNAs and then lunch at the Yankee Doodle room. Those days rocked!

My brother, sister, and I spent summers with my grandparents on Lafayette Avenue when we were very young. My grandmother took us downtown most every day. We were New York City kids, so Buffalo's downtown didn't seem very big to us, but felt very grand. One time my parents were visiting, and we were all supposed to go to dinner at the home of a business associate of my grandfather. This was an age where everybody dressed up, even children. My brother and I ruined our best clothes, playing outside, and wrestling with one another, waiting for everyone to go. We were taken downtown to one of the big department stores, where the in-house tailor altered new slacks and jackets on the spot. While he did that a salesman asked us where we were from, then drew and cut from a cardboard suit boxtop a big Buffalo as a keepsake.
My mother commented so much about the friendliness and extraordinary service of the people in the store that I began to think Buffalonians were another species.