The surrounding countryside is generally described as rolling farmland and woodland. The Village proper is located in the floor of the valley with residential areas reaching up onto the bordering hills Gowanda traditionally has been and still is an economically stable community with a diversified base of employment spread throughout small businesses, industry and institutions. The main business district acts as a shopping center for a 20 miles radius of small communities. This retail-commercial area is easily accessible and provides a broad selection of shopping with plenty of off-street parking.

The residential areas of Gowanda offer building styles spanning more than a century of architecture, including the Village of Gowanda, rich in beautiful Victorian homes. In addition to the picturesque private homes, you can enjoy your stay in Gowanda with a night at any of three bed & breakfasts or the local motel located in the village.

When it comes time to relax and have something to eat, Gowanda offers a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. Everything from fast foods to quaint country diners and even fine dining at one of the top four restaurants in Western New York as rated by the food critic of one of Buffalo's television stations. Enjoy the quality of big city dining, while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and country setting that can only be found in Gowanda.

Cattaraugus Creek, which flows through the Village of Gowanda, offers excellent fresh water salmon and rainbow trout fishing in the spring and fall migrations. It is also a popular white-water rafting area. Within minutes of the village, sportsmen can find wild turkey, deer, grouse, duck and small game, as well as several quiet trout streams. Lake fishing and boating can be enjoyed on Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake and the Kinzu Dam - all within a short drive of Gowanda.

The village offers tennis courts, parks, playgrounds and athletic fields. Two quality 18 hole golf courses are only minutes away from Gowanda. The scenic Zoar Valley offers excellent hiking and camping for those nature enthusiasts.

Several commercial ski areas are close to Gowanda. They offer first rate slopes which draw skiers from several states and Canada. Cross-country ski facilities are also readily available. Tobogganing, sledding, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling and ice fishing are popular family weather sports available in the area.