Take 5: Bustling in Buffalo

1. Wander with Wildlife
Since 1875, Buffalo Zoo has welcomed visitors wishing to learn more about the creatures with which we share our planet. Focal points include the Reptile House and the Arctic Edge, which is home to a polar bear, bald eagle, arctic fox and Eurasian lynx. buffalozoo.org

2. Travel Back in Time
The Buffalo Museum of Science, known for its impressive collection of more than 700,000 botany, entomology, mycology, paleontology and zoology specimens, is ready to be explored. Settle into your seat in the museum’s 3D Cinema and get ready for a whirlwind adventure. Children’s exhibits feature interactive, science-based play themes centered on energy, space, weather and the environment. sciencebuff.org

3. Explore Exquisite Masterworks
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which over its 150-year history, has earned a stellar reputation for collecting, conserving and exhibiting modern and contemporary art from great artists of their times. Beginning with Albert Bierstadt’s 1859 The Marina Piccola, and progressing to works from artists including Degas, Monet, van Gogh, O’Keeffe and Matisse, the museum is dedicated to sharing their lives and art with visitors of all ages. Family Fundays on the second Sunday of each month are filled with drop-in art activities inspired by a different artist, work or theme. albrightknox.org

4. Shop ‘Til You Drop
Audiophiles can’t get enough of Black Dots (blackdotsbuffalo.shop), an independent record boutique known for a diverse collection that includes hard-to-find jazz and rock LPs and new pressings. Ansar Fragrances & More is the place to find burning and essential oils, as well as African shea butter, body soaps and lotions. Trend Up (trendupstore.com) specializes in helping men and women put together a unique wardrobe of urban contemporary streetwear. Dipped and Designed by Mallory creates luscious confections that can be customized for any occasion. The colorful exterior of Alice, Ever After Books (aliceeverafterbooks.com) will delight 5-to-8-year-olds as they open the door to literature penned just for them.

5. Entertainment Epicenter
Live music fills the air in a variety of Buffalo venues. Babeville (babevillebuffalo.com), a visual art, film, performance and literary center, is home to the Buffalo Chamber Players and the arts collective Artistas Del Barrio Buffalo. The eclectic Nietzsche’s (nietzsches.com) lives up to its motto, “Without music, life would be a mistake,” serving as a hub for local and national acts, as it supports the careers of newcomers. Shea’s Performing Arts Center (sheas.org), a trio of theaters that include the historic 1926 Buffalo Theatre, spotlights Broadway touring productions, as well as children’s shows and concerts by noteworthy entertainers.