This guide also includes opinionated listings of inns, B&Bs, hotels, vacation cottages, and campgrounds; hundreds of dining recommendations, from roadside diners to four-star cuisine; up-to-date regional and downtown information; an alphabetical "What's Where" subject guide to aid in trip planning; and handy icons that point out places of extra value, family- and pet-friendly establishments, wheelchair access, and popular wedding venues.

Christine Smyczynski is a native western New Yorker with a longtime interest in regional history and local attractions. She is a travel guide author who has written hundreds of articles about the region. Christine lives in Buffalo, New York, with her husband and four children.