Youngstown, NY is not well known…
In fact, I’d never heard of it before I was sent there to be in a Hallmark movie!
It’s a little town on the Niagara River in western NY. Just across the river is the Fort George National Historic site in Canada, and Niagara on the Lake, and just up the street is Old Fort Niagara State Park. Being pretty close to Niagara Falls, there are plenty of things to do in Youngstown, NY and the surrounding areas.
Plus, you know, it was the filming location of a Hallmark movie. That I was in. NBD.
Naturally, I had to return to the area once the weather improved (the movie filmed in March), and write an article about this quaint upstate NY town.
Year visited: 2025
Time of Year: March & May
What’s in this Article:
- About Youngstown, NY
- Things to Do in Downtown Youngstown
- Old Fort Niagara State Park
- Things to Do Near Youngstown
- Hallmark Filming Locations
- Best Time of Year to Visit
About Youngstown, NY
Youngstown, NY is a charming small town in western NY, just across the border from Canada. It has a population of about 1800 people.
- Map shows Youngstown, NY in relation to nearby points of interest.
History of Youngstown
Youngstown, NY is just across the Niagara River from Canada. Because of its location, it was often the last stop on an Underground Railroad journey north to freedom. Ferry workers in the late 17 and early 1800s often would ferry runaways across the river to freedom in Canada.
You can find many Underground Railroad sites still standing in downtown today.
Why Visit Youngstown, NY
If you’re like me, you may be wondering why you should even visit Youngstown, or if there are any things to do in Youngstown, NY…?
Like I said, I heard of Youngstown because it was the filming location of a Hallmark Christmas movie in which I was a background extra. And as a lover of small towns with Hallmark charm, naturally I wanted to go back and explore!
And it helps that the town is close to several major tourist attractions.
Here are some reasons to visit Youngstown, NY:
- Real life Hallmark filming location
- Cute shops and restaurants in a historic downtown
- Minutes away from Fort Niagara State Park
- Close to Niagara Falls!
- Not far from Buffalo, which has so many fun things to do!
Things to Do in Downtown Youngstown
There is not much to downtown Youngstown. You basically get one quick strip of Main Street, and that’s it. However, that strip is packed with shops, restaurants, parks, and historic buildings.
Here are some things to do in downtown:
- Get coffee and pastries at Hill of Beans Coffee Stop.
- Have breakfast or lunch at Youngstown Village Diner.
- Explore the local shops, like Everything Youngstown and Sister and Brother Shop.
- Wander through Faulkner Park or take a seat overlooking the water (and Canada!).
- Photograph the adorable St. John’s Episcopal Church.
- Visit underground railroad sites around town.
- Join a seasonal walking tour (or do a self guided tour from Faulkner Park) to all of Youngstown’s historic sites.
- Contact the Town of Porter Historical Society for more info.
- Visit the Town of Porter Historical Society Museum.
- Have lunch or dinner at The Stone Jug.
- Finish your visit with ice cream (and dog treats!) from Petey’s Treats.
Old Fort Niagara State Park
The biggest reason to visit Youngstown is because of its proximity to Old Fort Niagara and Fort Niagara State Park. It’s just a couple minutes drive to the park entrance.
Fort Niagara State Park
So, Fort Niagara State Park isn’t exactly the same thing as Old Fort Niagara. The state park encompasses the area surrounding Old Fort Niagara, and is full of picnic tables, playgrounds, and a seemingly unnecessary amount of soccer fields…
The park is free to enter most of the year*, and is a perfect spot for a picnic overlooking Lake Ontario. There are bathrooms available here, but they are only open seasonally.
- Good to Know: There is an $8 parking fee collected mid June-Labor Day. Otherwise it is free to enter.
- I presume the seasonal bathrooms are open mid June-Labor Day.
- The bathrooms at the visitor center are open year round, and do not require a museum entry.
- Parking is free at the museum year round.
Old Fort Niagara
The highlight of Fort Niagara State Park is Old Fort Niagara! The historical fort is open year-round. The bathrooms and gift shop in the visitor center are free to enter, but you have to pay to visit the museum and fort.
- Tickets:
- $21 for adults
- $13 kids 6-18
- Free for kids under 5
- Opening Hours:
- 10:00 am-4:00 pm year round
- 10:00 am-5:00 pm July & August
- Open daily April-mid October
- Wednesday-Sunday mid October-April 1
Old Fort Niagara boasts a wide variety of architecture, having been held by the French, British, and Americans over the course of several centuries. The highlight is The French Castle, the oldest building in the eastern interior of the US.
Tips for Visiting
- Try to arrive just after the hour.
- There is a short introduction video shown in the museum in the visitor center at quarter after every hour. After the video, a guide will meet you outside the theater and offer a short tour of the grounds, if you would like. The tour ends just in time for the musket demonstration, at the top of every hour.
- Everything is open in July and August.
- Musket demonstrations and costumed guides are at the fort year round, but there are so many more seasonal demonstrations, guided tours, and food (with reportedly very good ice cream) open in the summer.
- There are lots of bugs next to the lake.
- Old Fort Niagara’s location is stunning, situated where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. But when I climbed up the River Defenses to enjoy the views, I had to swat all the bugs away. Yuck! So be sure to bring bug spray and be aware of them by the lake.
- Save your parking ticket.
- If you enter Fort Niagara State Park between mid June and Labor Day, you will have to pay $8 to enter. Show your receipt at the museum to get $8 off the cost of your entry ticket.
Things to Do Near Youngstown, NY
This little corner of western NY is stuffed with state parks! From Old Fort Niagara to Niagara Falls, and everything in between.
Here are the best things to do close to Youngstown, NY:
- Devil’s Hole State Park hiking trails
- Whirlpool State Park overlook and hiking trails
- Niagara Falls State Park!
- Plus, so many fun things to do in Niagara Falls, NY.
- And don’t forget to explore the city of Buffalo, NY!
Hallmark Filming Locations
I first visited Youngstown to film in the Hallmark movie: Newport Christmas. While the movie is set in Newport, RI (and I can’t wait to visit next Christmas!), it was filmed in Youngstown, NY.
Since the movie hasn’t come out yet, I don’t know all of the filming locations. The scene I was in was filmed at a private mansion, so you also can’t visit that particular spot.
But here are the filming locations I do know, plus other areas nearby where Hallmark (and other similar companies) have filmed movies:
- The Stone Jug-This historic restaurant (also known as Ontario House) was used as a filming location for Newport Christmas.
- East Aurora-East Aurora is an adorable small town south of Buffalo where quite a few Christmas movies have been filmed. Vidler’s 5&10 is an especially recognizable landmark.
- Niagara Falls-The Hallmark movie Falling for Niagara was filmed in nearby Niagara Falls. Although the movie was filmed on the Canadian side of the falls, you will recognize filming locations and find similar things to do on either side.
- Buffalo-Buffalo is up and coming in the film industry. At least three holiday movies have been shot/are shooting already in 2025! Holiday Touchdown: A Bill’s Love Story is coming out this year, filmed entirely in Buffalo. Other movies have used some shots from Buffalo, especially the Buffalo Botanical Gardens.
- Ellicottville-Ellicottville is an hour and a half from Youngstown. It is home to Holiday Valley Ski Resort, which was briefly featured in the movie Christmas in Vermont.
Best Time of Year to Visit
The best time to visit Youngstown and Old Fort Niagara is undoubtedly the summer! Everything will be open, the town will be buzzing with activity, and you will find events, plus more live demonstrations at the fort. Not to mention the weather will be ideal!
It’s also the perfect time to visit Niagara Falls and ride the Maid of the Mist.
However, if you want Hallmark Christmas vibes, December can be a good time to visit too. Just be sure to dress warm, and don’t freak out if it snows!
As you can see, there are some worthwhile things to do in Youngstown, NY. So be sure to add this area (and all of the beautiful western NY!) to your US bucket list!
Any more questions?
If you have any questions about visiting Youngstown, Old Fort Niagara or Niagara Falls, feel free to email me or comment below.
Planning a trip?
If you’re planning a trip to the historic Youngstown and Fort Niagara, save one of the pins below for future trip planning:
You might also like:
- The Complete Guide to Niagara Falls (Canada & US)
- Top Things to Do in Niagara Falls
- 40+ Things to Do in Buffalo, NY
- Real Life Hallmark Christmas Towns to Visit
- The Best 1-Week Western NY Road Trip
Julia is a travel blogger with a Bachelor’s Degree in photography from Indiana Wesleyan University. She worked as a professional photo-retoucher for seven and a half years, before leaving the company to work in the travel industry. She now works at a historic 1800’s hotel. When she’s not working, she’s reading fantasy novels or classic literature, and planning trips to magical destinations.
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