Start your day visiting the historic village of Ellicottville with its unique boutiques and quaint shops. Check out Monti's Gallery (MontiPhoto.com; 716/699-5544) where specialty photographs of the Amish community are on display. Stroll through the Nannen Arboretum
(716/699-2377x105 or 1.800.897-9189;)
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/counties/Allegany-Cattaraugus/hort/arboretum/nannenarboretum.html with over 400 trees and shrubs, a Japanese stone garden, herb garden, perennial border, and supremely tranquil Lake Naponica.
Next stop is Bruce Candles of Ellicottville (BrucesCandlesOfEville.com; 716/699-6077) where you will find handcrafted candles, adorable scented bears, glassware and more. There is an extensive selection of handmade and hand-painted candles in a wide array of unique shapes and sizes. If you'd like some scented wax, bring your own jar and they'll fill it for you.
Settle in for lunch at The Hearth Restaurant (716/699-2010) at Holiday Valley Mountain Resort and Conference Center. If it's a sun-drenched day relax on the patio and enjoy the view as your taste buds enjoy the Hearth's wealth of culinary offerings.
Travel south to Salamanca soaking in the beauty of the Enchanted Mountains as you go. Stop at the Salamanca Mall Antiques (716/945-5532) that consists of over 60,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles neatly arranged and displayed- and constantly changing! If you are looking for items from days gone by, this is a must-see. Your next stop is the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum (SenecaMuseum.org; 716/945-1738), highlighting the rich culture of the Seneca Nation of Indians. While here, you will see a reconstructed longhouse and a collection of artifacts from centuries of American Indian heritage. You will learn about their culture and see the actual treaties that granted the Seneca Nation its sovereignty.
Just before you check-in for the night at the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson
(CountryInns.com/oleanny; 716/372-7500) in Allegany, have a seat for dinner at the Old Library Restaurant (OldLibraryRestaurant.com; 716/372-2226), an entry on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tour the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts (SBU.edu/go/arts-center/index.htm; 716/375-2494) at Saint Bonaventure University in Allegany. This modern facility contains galleries and museums with some original Old Masters on display and the Garret Theatre, which hosts performing arts throughout the year. Then tour the grand Victorian Fannie E. Bartlett Historical House, (716/376-5642) built in 1870. The Bartlett House features 12 rooms and 8 uniquely designed fireplaces created with distinct wood and marble from around the world. Located at the rear of the property is the Olean Point Museum (716/376-5642), originally the Bartlett family carriage house. Here you will find local historic artifacts with revolving displays.
Travel north to Franklinville for a gourmet lunch at DeLynn's Gallery (716/676-2233). A new gallery with 4,500 square feet of space, DeLynn's gives you room to enjoy works of art in various media. After satisfying all your senses, continue your journey further north to Machias for a tour of the newly renovated Cattaraugus County Museum (CattCo.org/history; 716/353-8200) now located in the historic Old Stone House.
