Winter in Holley – Day Trip

Possible Activities: sights, waterfall, Erie Canal, hiking, photography, bird watching, restaurant, music, gluten-free menu, chocolate

There are times we like to take a drive and enjoy the journey instead of relying on the final destination to bring us joy. The ride from Buffalo to Orleans County did not disappoint. We took the long way and traveled past quaint towns, beautiful homes and vast farm lands to our destination. The ride gave us time to enjoy JT’s playlist, have great conversations and grab a few fabulous photos.  

Things to toss in your car

• hat, scarf, gloves, winter or hiking boots
• snacks and water just in case
• a camera or binoculars if you have them
• extra pants if you plan on breaking rules and falling in the mud (more on that later!)

Holley Canal Falls

We began our day trip early January toward Holley Canal Falls, which serves as an overflow outlet for part of the Erie Canal system. We were expecting to see a small trickle since it was January, and were pleasantly surprised to see the falls flowing beautifully from the 35-foot sandstone cliff. The locals say the falls flows best April-November, but it was just lovely when we arrived.

The park includes trails around the falls and a paved pathway along the Erie Canal. There are picnic tables for warmer weather and the area is obviously cared for with love… it’s beautiful!

We would suggest, however, that you heed the warning to stay on the path. It’s a good thing JT had extra clothes in the car! Classic!

Holley Falls Bar & Grill

Following our hiking adventure, we headed into town and found a wonderful restaurant that has been opened for two years – Holley Falls Bar & Grill. What a gem! The bar and dining areas are tastefully decorated, cozy and pleasant. There are 16 taps at the bar, including craft beers and ciders. They also have bottled beers, a decent wine list and several specialty drink offerings.

The best part for Dra? They have many, many gluten free offerings… including dessert! We will make the trip back with friends for sure! Also, they have a piano in the main dining area and have plans to include this offering as soon as “advertised music” is allowed. We were blessed with a spontaneous concert by one of the customers.

We will say this about Holley – if you have a dream of opening a gift store or book store (or really any store), this is the place. Such potential! The small, town square is just begging to be a tourist area. The developer obviously had a great plan; it now needs the next step.

Oliver’s Candies, Batavia

We took the faster ride home toward Batavia and grabbed the opportunity to visit Oliver’s Candies before hopping on the I-90. This stop is a necessity for us (OK, for Dra) – delicious chocolate and yummy ice cream. The favorite? The dark chocolate, caramel, sea salt pieces… fabulous! An explosion in your mouth (yea, we went there).

Box Score for Holley Falls Bar & Grill

• Bacon Bourbon BBQ Burger – Home Run
• Seafood Bisque – Home Run
• Crab Cakes – Double
• GF Cheesecake – Triple
• Service (Dawn) – Home Run!
• Rohrbachs Vanilla Porter – Home Run

Holley Canal Fall, 1 Holley Falls Park Road, Holley, NY 14470 Holley Falls Bar & Grill, 1 Public Square, Holley, NY 14470, 585-638-2212 http://holleyfallsbarandgrill.com Oliver’s Candies, 211 W Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 http://oliverscandies.com