For a holiday shopping road trip, Batavia is a natural place to begin. Downtown offers a mix of specialty shops, restaurants, entertainment and history, with plenty of reasons to park the car and explore on foot.

Looking for a sweet treat to tuck into a gift bag or something to bring to a holiday gathering? Stop at Oliver’s Candies, a Batavia institution known for handmade chocolates, sponge candy and other confections. For the kids, the young at heart, or anyone who appreciates a classic toy store, Adam Miller’s Toy & Bicycle offers toys and games that can bring a little nostalgia to the season.

You’ll find other downtown shopping options for jewelry, clothing, collectibles and more, making it easy to check a few people off your list in one stop.

When you need a break, grab lunch or a warm drink nearby before continuing your shopping. Give yourself a little extra time to wander. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones you stumble across along the way.

A short drive away, Le Roy offers a relaxed village setting for an afternoon of browsing. Tree-lined streets, historic architecture and Oatka Creek create a welcoming backdrop for exploring the shops and restaurants around Main Street.

If your holiday gift list includes vintage finds, home décor, jewelry or something a little unexpected, make time for April’s Finds and Attic to Basement. Both offer plenty to browse, making them good stops for shoppers who enjoy finding something with a story behind it.

Le Roy also has a bit of history to add to the outing: JELL-O was invented here in 1897. The JELL-O Gallery Museum offers a look at the product’s history through advertising, molds and memorabilia—and can be a fun addition to a day in the village.

Round out your visit with a meal downtown or a quiet moment near Oatka Creek. You may arrive with a list of gifts to find, but leave with a few ideas for your next visit, too.

In Wyoming County, Perry is a great place to slow down and explore independent shops at your own pace.

Start with coffee and something sweet at Old Souls Bakery, then browse Act 4 Books for your next great read and Endlessly Outdoors Company for outdoor gear and gift ideas for the adventurers on your list.

Perry’s walkable downtown makes it easy to move from one stop to the next without rushing. Take your time, explore the local businesses, and leave room for lunch or another stop that catches your eye.

If you want to turn your shopping trip into a longer outing, Silver Lake and the Perry entrance to Letchworth State Park are nearby. Depending on the weather and your plans, you can pair a little downtown browsing with a scenic drive or time outdoors.

The best part? You don't have to make shopping the whole day. Let Perry be the starting point for a winter day trip, with a few local discoveries along the way.

Next, head to Arcade, where antique shops, specialty retailers and independent businesses make browsing part of the fun.

Spend some time exploring Junk and Disorderly Arts & Antiques, Arcade Junction Co-Op, Joseph’s Mercantile and Creekside Fabrics. Whether you’re searching for vintage treasures, something for the home, fabric for a handmade gift or simply inspiration, these stops offer a chance to find something different from the usual holiday fare.

Arcade is also a good place to pause for coffee or lunch at a local spot before heading to your next destination.

If you’re planning ahead, the Arcade & Attica Railroad can add another experience to a visit, depending on its seasonal schedule. A train ride paired with time downtown makes for an easy day trip for couples, families or friends looking to get out together.

Come with a general idea of what you’re shopping for, but don’t be afraid to browse without a plan. That’s often when the unexpected gift turns up.

In Orleans County, Medina offers a distinctive shopping backdrop along the Erie Canal. Historic downtown buildings house independent shops, restaurants and local businesses, giving you plenty to explore between gift stops.

Take your time browsing the village’s specialty shops and enjoy the architecture along the way. The canal adds another reason to slow down, take a walk and appreciate the character of the community.

Medina is especially well suited to a holiday outing when you want to combine shopping with lunch or a break from the road. Rather than rushing from store to store, make an afternoon of it. Explore a few shops, stop for a meal, and see what else catches your attention.

With its historic setting and walkable downtown, Medina is a reminder that holiday shopping can be an experience in itself, not just a list of errands to finish.

Continue west along the canal to Albion, another Orleans County village where independent businesses and historic surroundings make for a rewarding afternoon.

Make the Downtown Browsery Co-op your first stop. With more than 70 vendors across its Albion and Medina locations, the co-op offers antiques, vintage items, handcrafted goods, collectibles and other finds. It’s a particularly good place to look for gifts with character, whether you’re shopping for someone who loves vintage décor, searching for a one-of-a-kind treasure or hoping to find something you didn’t know you needed.

After browsing, continue exploring the independent shops and restaurants around Main Street. Take a break for lunch, enjoy the village’s historic architecture and leave time to wander a little farther than planned.

Albion is an easy addition to a canal-country shopping trip, and it offers a good reason to spend time supporting local businesses while finding gifts that feel personal.

In Allegany County, Cuba offers a small-town shopping experience shaped by its history and longstanding connection to the region’s dairy and cheese industry.

Explore the village’s Main Street and South Street Historic Districts, where historic buildings provide a backdrop for local shops and places to eat. The restored Palmer Opera House, which houses the Cuba Cheese Museum, adds a local history stop to your visit.

Of course, no trip to Cuba would be complete without a stop at the Cuba Cheese Shoppe. Pick up locally made cheese to serve at holiday gatherings, put together a food-focused gift, or bring home a taste of the area for your own table.

Browse the other shops, grab a coffee and enjoy the chance to explore a community with a strong sense of local identity. If you have extra time, Cuba Lake is just outside the village and offers another reason to extend your visit.

Continue through Allegany County to Wellsville, where Main Street brings together shopping, food, arts and local history.

Stop at From the Hart for gifts and locally oriented finds, then visit The Shop at Main for coffee and browsing. If you’re shopping for someone creative or looking for an activity to enjoy after the holidays check out the Wellsville Creative Arts Center, which offers art, classes, workshops and events.

Wellsville also has historic architecture worth noticing as you explore. The David A. Howe Library is another landmark to appreciate while you’re downtown.

Make time for a meal or a break between shops. Wellsville is the kind of place where you can turn a quick shopping stop into a leisurely morning or afternoon, with local businesses and community character adding to the experience.

For a holiday outing with a historic village feel, add Angelica to your route.

The village’s historic Main Street and Park Circle create a distinctive setting for an afternoon of browsing. Antique shops, local businesses and places to eat make it easy to spend time exploring at a relaxed pace.

If you enjoy antiquing, stop at Heritage Antiques and Angelica Country Store & Antiques, both within walking distance of the village center. You may find vintage décor, collectibles or an unexpected treasure for someone on your list.

While you’re there, look for Angelica’s famous salt-rising bread and take a little time to appreciate the architecture around Park Circle. It’s a chance to shop, enjoy something local and experience one more of Western New York’s small-town downtowns.

Angelica makes a fitting final stop—or a reason to start planning another trip through Allegany County.

The best part of a small-town shopping road trip isn't necessarily finding every gift on your list. It's the discoveries along the way.

The shop you wander into just to look around. The locally made item that turns out to be the perfect gift. The bakery stop that becomes a lunch break. The historic building you pause to photograph. The recommendation from a shop owner that sends you to your next favorite place.

Shopping locally helps support the independent businesses that give these communities their character, especially during the holiday season. And when you visit more than one town, you get more than a few gifts crossed off your list you get a day out exploring Western New York.

Choose a few stops, bring your shopping list, and leave room for a little spontaneity.

Park the car. Walk a little. Shop local. Eat something good. Find a gift with a story behind it. Then take the long way home…that’s your Fresh Air Adventure.