Buffalo/Cleveland

My favorite donuts in Buffalo are Paula's. However Paula's is pretty much a typical "donut shop" atmosphere. Public Espresso in the Hotel Lafayette is a highly recommended stop. A trip to Buffalo should include a stop at Anderson's Frozen Custard. Anderson's does collabs with Paula's on the weekends.

 

Small city taphouse for cedar point. They always have an impressive tap list.

 

Yes, good cold brew! They've made some interesting drinks featuring cold brew as well (such as cold brew shandy or cold brew with chocolate).

 

I just got back from Anderson's and have to second this! This is a great lunch stop to as their roast beef is killer. Their maple walnut ice cream with hot caramel and bacon is another must try. Paula's donuts is also like a 1 minute drive from Anderson's (Sheridan Drive Location). You would also be less than 5 minutes away from Premier Gourmet if you are looking to bring any beers back.

 

The food is killer, too

I'm not a sugar fan(donuts), but I hear good things about Jack Frost, Krispy Kream and Spudnuts in the Cleveland burbs

 

Thin man is good. Big ditch is also good. BD might be a little more family friendly. Paula’s is the only doughnut shop in buff I know of and as mentioned, donuts are good but if the old fashion variety (nothing wrong with that though).
In or near Cleveland, Willoughby brewing (about 45 minutes outside of Cleveland but on the way from buff) is pretty solid and family friendly. Masthead is awesome and family friendly. Butcher and the brewer has great food and solid beer. Semi upscale so maybe not so much on the family friendly side (if we are talking younger children). A really great brewery in Cleveland IMO that doesn’t seem to get mentioned often is Bottle House Brewing (although not sure I’d bring my kids there. At least stop by and pick up some bottles). They run the variety gamut and do it all well: Meads, braggots, ciders, wilds, barrel aged, ales and lagers. A lot of their stuff is hi-test but available in small pours. Have fun and good luck!

 

Noble Beast is the best stop in Cleveland IMO. The Rock Hall is nearby which your kids may or may not enjoy.

Hear me out on this one, but I think the Vegan Donut Co in Lakewood is the best donut in town and is very much on your way from Cleveland to Cedar Point compared to some of the other options. They weirdly don't have coffee though which pisses me off. Depending on timing it's also right across the street from Rozi's which is probably the best bottle shop in town.

100 percent hit Small City in Sandusky.

 

Last I was at cedar point there was a melt, if you don't want to leave the park, you can pay double for something local there on draft. There's a Fridays at the resort hotel, but not sure they have much for craft beers. Just mentioning because even for me as an adult I hate leaving the park, once I am there it's all rollercoasters. I'd also say, wait to have that beer later in the day, having a beer mid day sucks the life out of me while I am there.

On your way back from cedarpoint to cleveland, you can hit sibling revelry right off the freeway, never been there though. We actually stopped there trying to get food on a sunday after cedarpoint, and there was no food truck that day so we left. It seemed kid friendly, plenty of board games around.

 

KidAdvocate -- When visiting my grandparents in Cleveland I always had a blast when we'd go to the Great Lakes Science Center. Being 12-13 may be a 1 or 2 too old. Maybe. But it's a really neat place with interactive exhibits. Rock 'n Roll HoF is right across from the center.

 

Nope. Brewer left, fell off a cliff.

Double nope. Never climbed the cliff to fall. Just absolutely mediocre stuff.

FWIW, I know the Brew Kettle has done a bunch of collaboration beers with Cedar Point, so I always assumed they had their beer for sale somewhere in the park.

 

Speaking of which, Brew Kettle is a solid spot for beer and grub.

 

Noble Beast has the best variety and most consistent quality. Not to mention a great kitchen. Masthead is cool and all, but Noble has something for everyone. And it’s gonna be good. Pretty damn good.

If you’re willing to make the trek, Goldie’s Donuts are pretty darn good. Daylight Donuts is also very good, but unfortunately closing soon. Honestly would not recommend Brewnuts. Just my opinion.

 

Totally agreed. Although I think Sibling has the upper hand between the two. I still like their Sublime lager and Third Wheel is quite drinkable for the strength. Willoughby has definitely taken a huge plunge. PB Porter is still fine (for now), but nothing else they make is redeeming.

 

I actually just got back from Niagara Falls a couple of weeks back. There is a place in the Niagara/Buffalo area called Griffon Gastropub that has four locations. The actually have a really great selection of taps and incredible food.

Brewnuts in the Cleveland area has great donuts and also happen to serve beer too.

 

Just a quick note on Niagara Falls. If you have passports for you and your kids I would bring them, the Canadian side of the falls offers a lot in terms of activities and has a better view. You can generally park on the American side and walk across into Canada. Aside from the park and the casino the American side and downtown Niagara Falls are kind of dumpy.