The only time we went to Buffalo, was to go to the zoo there. My Dad worked on the NY Central Railroad, and had a pass to ride the train. We'd get up early on a Saturday morning, either catch a cab or ride the bus (we had no car), to the station in Rochester, and get the train there. We'd spend half the day at the zoo, go back to the Buffalo station, get on another train headed to Niagara Falls, and spend the rest of the day there...and get back home around 9 p.m. Saturday night. My Mom would pack a lunch, and we'd eat it at the zoo.
Sounds like a fun day!