Thanks for all the great suggestions!!!
Seems like lots of planning to do! Maybe I can even plan a flight trip with a friend or two some time in the future.
I used to train for PPL back in Redcliffe, near Brisbane Australia, so I'm very used to flying around the coastline and enjoying the coastal views. Up here in Buffalo NY it's quite a change of scenery but I've already done a local flight (with an instructor since I still haven't got word to see the FSDO yet).
Looking forward to doing some flight trips here in the near future!