Hitting the High Mark
After that thrilling victory against the Ravens on Thanksgiving, your Bengals are back on track and also back on the road. This time, they’re heading up north to face Josh Allen and the Bills. Thankfully, Joey B has returned to make this another round of a must-see QB rivalry.
Going to the game? Here are some recommendations to make sure you won’t be “winging it” on your weekend in Buffalo!
Die Hard Fan
If you’re willing to visit Buffalo in winter to see a 4-8 Bengals team, you’re in this category! With that being said, Buffalo can be tricky to navigate, with the stadium in a suburb 20 minutes away. To split the distance, consider staying in the Hampton Inn Buffalo South/I-90. It may not be the most scenic, but it will definitely allow you to get to the game early so you can kick it with the Bills Mafia all afternoon. Just be wary around their tables!
Buffalo does winter big, including winter sports. It may be daunting to hit the slopes if you don’t ski or snowboard, but luckily there is another sport to try: curling. If you’re anything like me, you’ve clicked play on the Olympics at a random hour only to be met with a game of curling. You probably thought to yourself “Wow, this looks easy, I think I could do it!” At the Buffalo Curling Club, you can test that theory. For $35 per person, you can take their 2-hour Learn to Curl class. And with the 2026 Winter Olympics coming soon, there’s no better time to try it! Once you’re all curled out, head to the famous Bar-Bill to warm up with authentic Buffalo wings. Bar-Bill is the only Josh Allen approved wing joint with the word around town that he orders 40 every time he eats there. So, before the Bengals try to beat him on the field, you could see if you can beat him at eating wings. (Although 40 seems like quite the challenge!)
On the bandwagon
If you’re back on the bandwagon because of last week’s big win (or because of Burrow coming back), I don’t blame you. Cincinnati sports teams always know how to get our hopes up. But regardless of what happens on the field, Buffalo is still a cool city to explore. A great home base for your trip would be the Edward Hotel. Built in 1910, the hotel was once part of Buffalo’s historic Millionaire’s Row, the richest street in the country. Now, it serves as a gorgeous boutique hotel offering the best of old-world opulence and modern style. Once settled in, you’ll be living lavish and ready to take on the town.
The most iconic spot near Buffalo needs no introduction. Niagara Falls. The famous falls are only a half hour drive away on the US side. Or, if you got your passport handy, drive that same amount and see them from the Canadian side, which many say is the superior experience. Either way, you’re not getting that view back in Ohio.
Once you’ve crossed that off your bucket list, you can head downtown to try the original Buffalo wing at Anchor Bar. If you don’t know the story, Buffalo wings are called Buffalo wings because of the city, not the animal. The Anchor Bar on Main Street is where they were invented after the mother of a bartender deep fried chicken wings that were normally used for a soup stock pot. The Anchor also has a gift shop that can't be beat, featuring ridiculous wing related items like a foam hat, wing print bandana and an extremely realistic neon orange chicken wing keychain. Who doesn’t need one of those!
Along for the ride
If you’re not that much of a sports fan or have gotten your heart broken by one too many Cincinnati sports teams, I understand. You’ll want to stay at the Richardson Hotel for a truly unique experience. It originally served as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane throughout the 1900s but has now been renovated to create a one-of-a-kind picturesque stay. The hotel is filled with gorgeous architecture and is housed on the 40-acre Richardson Olmsted Campus which is designated a National Historic Landmark.
The Richardson is also just steps away from Buffalo’s AKG Art Museum that houses works by legendary artists like van Gogh, Dali, Jackson Pollock and Frida Kahlo. Founded in 1862, The AKG is the sixth-oldest public art institution in the United States. Beyond the vast collection of important works, the AKG is also unique for their Creative Commons, a large interactive space featuring countless LEGOs to build with. Keeping with the historic theme, Gabriel’s Gate is a cool, old school wing spot in Buffalo’s quirky Allentown district. So old school that there isn’t even an official site. But they have been serving the city for over 50 years, so they have to be doing something right! Plus, the Jonas Brothers stopped in last month if you needed another cosign. Afterwards, you can wander Allentown (unless you’re sick of historic architecture already).
Hopefully, Sunday’s game ends up like the Bengals’ snowy playoff victory over the Bills in 2023. Maybe without all that snow considering all of you making the trip.
– Meredith Ruhland