Ellicottville, New York has long been heralded as a fabulous location for weekend excursions. In every season, the scenery is breathtaking. Ellicottville also offers a variety of events suited for all ages.
Plan to arrive on Friday evening so you don’t miss the multitude of events in Ellicottville. Three Friday evenings in August – the 12th, 19th and 26th – downtown shops will host Ellicottville Stroll the Streets. Activities include live music on the street, balloon twisting, face painting, photo booth, and more. Take advantage of the lively atmosphere in town and dine at Ellicottville Brewing Company‘s family-friendly outdoor garden. Ellicottville Brewing Company offers pleasing pints and plates of culinary mastery amid towering state-of-the-art copper vats that are part of the brewery’s active distillery. Be sure to order hand-dipped fried calamari for the table. Made with pineapple ginger sauce and a side of roasted garlic lime aioli, the dish is served in three coconut shells.
If you have young children who are worn out from the Friday evening events in Ellicottville, you might consider ordering a pizza to-go from Ellicottville’s newest restaurant, Monroe Street Brick & Brew. Whether you like the simplistic blend of flavors in a margherita pizza or the spicy siracha of a buffalo chicken pie, Monroe Street Brick & Brew’s brick oven creations will have you coming back time and time again.
Cruise into town early Saturday morning for a delicious sausage and egg breakfast sandwich at the locals hangout, Katy’s Cafe. Served on a asiago cheese bagel, Katy’s sandwiches come topped with mouth-watering melted cheese, roasted onions and grilled tomatoes.
On select weekends throughout the summer, Adventure Bound offers guided kayak tours through Cattaraugus Country’s majestic waterways, showcasing the Enchanted Mountain in it’s natural brilliance. Learn about foraging for fresh edibles as Adventure Bound’s knowledgable guides and local naturalist entertain and educate amid towering gorge walls, waterfalls and bridges along Cattaraugus Creek. Bring a “Pick-A-Nick” Lunch Basket of mouth watering delights from Villaggio Italian Restaurant to savor at water’s edge. Villaggio’s “Pick-A-Nick” $40 basket provides more than enough food for four people and may include delicacies such as Italian salami, olives, cheese tray, home-cooked kettle chips, crackers, and deli sandwiches.
If you’re not up for a river excursion, Adventure Bound also offers an array of kayaks and SUP’s (stand up paddle boards) to rent, as well as guided fishing trips to secret fishing spots. Whether you’re an experienced fly fisherman or a new angler, you’ll love the diversity offered by our local waters, which include species such as large mouth bass, small mouth bass, carp, walleye, pike, musky, steelhead and trout. Join us for one of our Orvis introductory fly fishing classes and seminars here or contact the store to book a guided wade or float trip.
If don’t get on the water, stop by Bike and Bean and get the latest info on trail conditions and group rides, ride some great single track out of the village and return to enjoy one of the best burritos around. (We like black beans, brown rice, yes, yes, yes, spinach, and medium) When you place your order you will understand this 🙂
When you get off the water, make your way to Holiday Valley Resort for a thrilling afternoon with family and friends. During the spring, summer and fall months, Sky High Adventure Park offers fun for a variety of ages and skill levels. Participants safely move through one of 15 courses at their own pace. The ropes course challenges strength and balance amid the treetops adjacent to the ski runs. Each course requires problem-solving skills and includes a fun zip line component. Don’t miss the Mountain Coaster! Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster follows a spiraling metal rail above the rough mountain terrain. Riders control their speed throughout the winding descent.
Before dinner, grab a cruiser bike from Ellicottville Bike Rentals and head to the Winery of Ellicottville to tantalize your taste buds with samples of their select wines. Owner Dominic Spicola learned the craft of wine-making from his father, Francesco, who emigrated to the U.S. from Italy in 1968. Dominic says that choosing the right grapes, blending the proportions, and balancing the flavors is truly an art. Dominic and his son-in-law, Sam Sheehy, insist on using all locally grown fruit, and blend new world and old world equipment and techniques in order to achieve a diverse offering of wines. All of the wine for sale by the Winery is crafted in the same building that it is sold.
For dinner, don’t miss the hopping bar scene and live music at Villaggio. The restaurant’s owners, Nick and Kendra Pitillo, also own the renowned Osteria restaurant in Buffalo. In 2015, the Pitillos brought their experience as successful resterauteers to Ellicottville with the opening of Villaggio. Villaggio provides spectacular Italian cuisine and superior service, nestled in one of Ellicottville Historical Structures. Villaggio’s chicken marsala is unrivaled in the world of Italian eateries.
On Sunday, stop by Groove Fitness Center for your morning workout. Groove now offers Barre classes in addition to Synergy 360 and SUP yoga.
If you’re in search of healthy breakfast fare, look no further than Dina’s Restaurant. Dina’s sources local product whenever possible and believes in drawing from seasonal fresh foods that are harvested from the surrounding area. Huevos Verdes is a local favorite that is sure to please the most discerning foodie.
Take a Sunday afternoon drive to nearby Allegany State Park or Little Rock City. Local photographers and Artists are continually inspired by the visual smorgasbord offered by these rich, vibrant locals. Allegany is the largest state park in New York. Two lakes and a large assortment of hiking trails transverse thousands of acres in the park. Less than 20 minutes from downtown Ellicottville is Little Rock City. Stop by Adventure Bound to get directions to this little-known local secret where adventurers climb though ancient rock formations, deep ravines and root structures.
Each season in Ellicottville brings new events and an assortment of fresh and interesting experiences that changes with each visit. If you are looking for things to do in Ellicottville, you won’t need to look far!