New York to Niagara Falls road trip: 20 stops worth the detour

Cult Buffalo-style pizzeria since 1946 with thick, cheesy, cup-and-char pepperoni pies that locals order for every celebration. Order: Pepperoni pizza.

a Poconos family resort with huge snow-tubing

Longtime West Side celebration restaurant blending Italian, French and New American cooking with one of the city's coveted patios. Order: Handmade pasta.

Old First Ward tavern and brewery pouring house beer and slinging a legendary haddock fish fry on Wednesdays and Fridays. Order: Beer-battered fish fry.

a powerful Poconos fall on Bushkill Creek

Quaint village bakery and cafe turning out artisan breads, fine French pastries and specialty pies, a favored spot for breakfast in town. Order: Croissant.

the third of Letchworth’s big falls, reached by a stone staircase

the "Niagara of Pennsylvania," a network of falls on private boardwalks

a hidden Finger Lakes gorge fall above Skaneateles Lake

East Aurora institution since 1967 that perfected two Buffalo staples, the beef on weck and the char-broiled jumbo wing. Order: Beef on weck.

Rochester tradition at the Sea Breeze amusement area serving its self-proclaimed World's Greatest Cheeseburger alongside hots and fries. Order: Cheeseburger.

a tea-colored fall in Hickory Run State Park

a wide, terraced curtain over 400-million-year-old bedrock

Charming tavern across from the Aurora Inn serving creative pub fare, local brews and a seasonal menu on a shady patio with pool and darts. Order: Craft beer flight.