AL

CONTENTS

MA

TE

2 NIAGARA IN DEPTH

PY

RI

GH

1 Niagara Today. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
The VQA Appellation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2 Looking Back at Niagara. . . . . . . . . . .12
History of Niagara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3 The Lay of the Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
The Niagara Escarpment. . . . . . . . . . . . 18

CO

4 Niagara in Popular Culture:

Books, Film & Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5 Eating & Drinking in Niagara . . . . . .21
Cooler Souvenirs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
An Olympic Wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

3 PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO NIAGARA

1 When to Go. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Niagara Region Calendar
of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2 Entry Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Passport Cards: The New Way to
Enter Canada for U.S. Citizens . . . . . . 29
3 Getting There & Getting Around . . . .30
4 Money & Costs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
5 Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

5 The Most Romantic

Niagara Moments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
6 The Best Things to Do for Free
(or Almost). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
7 Best Activities for Families . . . . . . . . . .6

1 The Most Unforgettable Niagara

Region Experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2 The Best Splurge Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . .2
3 Best Moderately Priced Hotels. . . . . .3
4 The Most Unforgettable
Dining Experiences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

vii

TE

1 THE BEST OF THE NIAGARA REGION

RI

LIST OF MAPS

24

What Things Cost in Niagara . . . . . . . 37

6 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
7 Specialized Travel Resources . . . . . .38
8 Sustainable Tourism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
General Resources for
Green Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
9 Special Interest Trips and Escorted
General Interest Tours. . . . . . . . . . . . .43
10 Staying Connected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

iv

4 SUGGESTED ITINERARIES FOR THE

NIAGARA REGION
1 The Region in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
2 The Best of Niagara in 1 Day . . . . . .49
3 The Best of the Niagara
Region in 2 Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

4 The Best of the Niagara

Region in 3 Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

CO N T E N T S

N I AG A R A R E G I O N

5 WHERE TO STAY
1 Niagara Falls, Ontario &
New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Family-Friendly Sleepovers . . . . . . . . . . 65
2 Niagara-on-the-Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

58
Just for Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
3 Wine Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
4 Welland Canal Corridor. . . . . . . . . . . .79

6 WHERE TO DINE
1 Restaurants by Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . .82
2 Niagara Falls, Ontario &
New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Fallsview Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
3 Niagara-on-the-Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
High Tea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Cooking Up a Storm in Niagara. . . . . 98

81
4 Wine Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
A Private Dining Experience . . . . . . . .103
5 Welland Canal Corridor. . . . . . . . . . 105
Where to Stock Up for a Picnic
And Where to Enjoy It. . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
6 Fonthill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

7 WHAT TO SEE & DO IN THE NIAGARA REGION

1 The Top Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Niagara TriviaFacts and
Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Niagaras Fury: The Creation
of the Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Best-Value Canadian
Niagara Falls Experiences . . . . . . . . . .112
2 Museums & Historical
Landmarks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
The Story of Laura Secord:
Its Not Just About Chocolate . . . . . .121
The Welland Canal Corridor. . . . . . . .123
Niagara Freedom Trail
(Underground Railroad) . . . . . . . . . . .125

47

108

3 Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
4 Niagara Falls for Thrill Seekers . . . 128
The Brave and the Foolhardy
Niagaras Daredevils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
5 Especially for Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
The Mystery of the Whirlpool
Solved! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
6 Parks & Gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Farm Living Is the Thing for Me . . . .138
7 Outdoor Pursuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
8 Organized Tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
9 City Strolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Cycling Tour: Historical

Niagara-on-the-Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Walking Tour 1: Niagara-onthe-Lake Shopping District. . . . . . . . .151

Walking Tour 2: Historic

Downtown St. Catharines . . . . . . . . .152

8 THE WINE-COUNTRY EXPERIENCE

Affordable Icewine? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169

Serve Your Wine at Its
Ideal Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Celebrity Wineries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
The Ins & Outs of Shipping
Wine Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
What Wines Should You
Bring Home? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181
Microbreweries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183

9 SHOPPING

185
Duty-Free Shopping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
4 Shopping A to Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

10 NIAGARA REGION AFTER DARK

1 The Performing Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
The Falls by Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206
2 The Club, Live Music &
Bar Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

3 Film. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
4 Gaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

11 SIDE TRIPS FROM NIAGARA

1 Port Colborne & the
Welland Canal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
2 Hamilton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219

12 FAST FACTS
1 Fast Facts: Niagara Region. . . . . . . 227

202

213

3 The Artists Trail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

4 Niagaras Culinary Trail. . . . . . . . . . . 225

227
2 Airline, Hotel & Car Rental
Websites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

CO N T E N T S

1 The Shopping Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

2 Great Shopping Areas. . . . . . . . . . . 185
3 Malls & Shopping Centers . . . . . . . 188

154

N I AG A R A R E G I O N

1 Introducing the
Niagara Wine Region. . . . . . . . . . . . 154
2 Essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
What Is an Appellation?. . . . . . . . . . . .157
Niagara Wineries in the U.S.. . . . . . . .159
Dine Among the Vines . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
Never Drink & Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
3 Niagara Regions Wineries . . . . . . . 165
Niagaras JewelIcewine. . . . . . . . . .166

vi

13 WINE 101 234

1 Introduction to Winemaking . . . . 234

INDEX

CO N T E N T S

N I AG A R A R E G I O N

General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .239

Accommodations Index . . . . . . . . . .244

Grape Varietals in Niagaras

Wine Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236

239
Restaurant Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .245

LIST OF MAPS
Looking Back at Niagara . . . . . . . . . . 13
Niagara in 1 Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Niagara in 2 Days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Niagara in 3 Days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Niagara Falls Accommodations . . . 61
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Accommodations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Niagara Region
Accommodations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Niagara Falls Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Niagara-on-the-Lake Dining . . . . . . 93
Niagara Region Dining . . . . . . . . . . 101
Niagara Falls Attractions . . . . . . . . . 109
What to See & Do in
Niagara-on-the-Lake . . . . . . . . . . 119

Niagara Region Attractions . . . . . . 133

Cycling & Walking Tours . . . . . . . . . 141
Niagara Region Wineries . . . . . . . . . 155
Niagara Falls Shopping . . . . . . . . . . 187
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Niagara Region Shopping . . . . . . . 193
Niagara Falls After Dark . . . . . . . . . 205
Niagara Region After Dark . . . . . . . 209
Port Colborne & the
Welland Canal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221

The Best of the

Niagara Region

AL

You hear it bef ore you see it, a lo w constant rumble that poets ha ve

CO

PY

RI

GH

TE

MA

TE

RI

called the mighty v oice of thunder . Then y ou see the ev er-present mist, often shot
through with rainbo ws when the sun hits. O nly when y ou reach the edge of the gorge
can you see and be awed by the immensity that is Niagara Falls.
This is one of the iconic geographical wonders of the world, a unique cr
eation of
nature, car ved into the landscape b y wind, ice, and water o ver 12,000 y ears along the
11km (7 miles) of the N iagara River Gorge. Its an unforgettable experience to watch
2,832 cubic meters (100,000 cubic ft.) of water per second r ush over the edge of the
Falls, as waters fr om the U pper Great Lakes B asin empty o ver the 52m-high (170-ft.)
precipice. To stand at Table Rock, where the first visitors to N orth America must hav e
once stared in wonder, is a potent reminder of the power of nature.
Still, no matter ho w many times y ou may visit, the po wer of these falls nev er fails to
silence conversation. There is a kind of rhythm that synchr onizes between the r ushing
water and the human pulse. Its electrifying.
Yet Niagara has much more to offer. Move back from the Falls and youll find yourself
in the center of a bustling enter tainment zone that ranges from upscale hotels and cafes
to casinos and nightclubs. A fe w miles fr om the F alls, the rhythm changes again and
youll find yourself immersed in some of the finest par klands, gardens, and pathways in
the country. A drive down the Niagara Parkway brings you to wine countr y, with vineyards, wine chateaus, and, in the milder months, roadside stands that sell fresh local fruits
and vegetables for a spontaneous picnic on the banks of the N iagara River.
In historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, often called the prettiest town in Canada, tree-lined
streets invite you to take a leisur ely stroll past elegant Victorian and Edwardian homes.
The village is also a thriving ar ts community, with sev eral galleries and ar tists studios,
not to mention the annual S haw Theatre Festival, presented by the only theater in the
world specializing exclusively in plays by George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries.
And the r egion is steeped in histor y, from the pageantr y of old F ort George, to the
architecture of St. Marks Church, which dates from 1791 and was used during the War
of 1812 as a hospital b y the British and then as a barracks b y the Americans.
The Escarpment, which cradles the N iagara Peninsula, has blessed the ar ea with a
temperate micro-climate that produces the excellent grapes and tender fr uit which have
made the Peninsula famous. It also provides some of the best biking and hiking trails in
the province. There are several small, well-preserved, archetypal southern Ontario towns,
like Jordan, Beamsville, Vineland, and G rimsby, each with its o wn character, each w ell
worth a visit.
In addition, ther e are some intriguing day tours to Welland, Port Dover, St. Catharines, and Hamilton that can expand your visit to Niagara.

THE BEST OF THE NIAGARA REGION

T H E B E S T S P LU R G E H O T E L S

1 T H E M O S T U N F O R G E T TA B L E N I A G A R A
REGION EXPERIENCES
Visiting the F alls: Its the je wel in the
crown and the unmistakable center of
attention for visitors. You havent done
the Falls justice if youve only seen them
once. To see them in bright sunshine,
with a sunbow in the mist, is one kind
of thrill, but seeing the Falls illuminated
at night is a differ ent kind of beauty .
My fav orite vie ws are the winter ones,
when nearb y tr ees turn into ice sculptures fr om the spray , and, in par ticularly cold winters, an ice bridge forms.
You can walk behind the F alls, gaze at
them fr om belo w on the Maid of the
Mist, or fly over them by helicopter. See
chapter 7.
Dining in Wine Country: With more
than 80 differ ent wineries, N iagara has
an embarrassment of gr eat wines. The
area also offers some of the best dining
in the countr y. A casual lunch on a
patio terrace, with vie ws of the vineyards and the lakeperhaps accompanied b y a chilled glass of the Riesling
that N iagara does so w ellis an ideal
way to spend a summer afternoon. S ee
chapter 8.
Walking Through the S pring B lossoms: B lossom S unday is traditionally
celebrated on the Sunday before Mothers D ay, when the or chards ar e aliv e
with coloriv ory, white, and pink
from apple, cherr y, pear , apricot, and
peach blossoms. F ormal gar dens, like
Queen Victoria Park near the F alls, are

ablaze with tulips, daffodils, fo xglove,

and muscari in the spring, and continue
with vibrant colors right thr ough to
first frost. See chapter 7.
Immersing Yourself in H istory: Fo rt
Niagara, F ort G eorge, O ld F ort E rie,
and Fort Mississauga are testaments to
the War of 1812. A visit to one of these
forts will take you back in time. Lundys
Lane Historical Museum, like the Niagara F alls M useum, contains ar tifacts
from that period, as well as a significant
collection of items fr om the early days
of the Falls. See chapter 7.
Immersing Yourself in C ulture: In
addition to the celebrated Shaw Theatre
Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a variety of niche museums abound, ranging
from a dollhouse collection to a printing museum, as well as artists galleries,
like the Angie S trauss Gallery in N iagara-on-the-Lake. See chapter 7.
Niagara Wine F estival and the H arvest E xperience: There ar e mor e than
100 ev ents including tastings, tours,
concerts, ar tisan sho ws, and family
entertainment as the area celebrates the
grape har vest in late S eptember. Many
of the wineries are eager to welcome the
real aficionado to par ticipate in the
harvestespecially some of the smaller
wineries wher e much of the wor k of
harvesting and sor ting the grapes is
done by hand. See chapter 7.

2 T H E B E S T S P LU R G E H O T E L S
Harbour House Hotel (85 Melville St.,
Niagara-on-the-Lake; & 905/4684683; www.ontariosfinestinns.com):
With its large, light-filled rooms in soft
colors, H arbour H ouse pr ovides a

homey respite for the visitor . Breakfast

is ser ved in the conser vatory, with the
hotels famous homemade granola, and
a complimentary tasting of local wines
is ser ved at 4pm in the librar y lobb y.

3 B E S T M O D E R AT E LY P R I C E D H O T E L S
Doubletree F allsview R esort & S pa
(6039 F allsview B lvd., N iagara F alls,
ON; & 905/358-3817; www.niagara
fallsdoubletree.com): The public spaces
of this hotel r ecall the designs of the
Frank Lloyd Wright era, with the feel of
a National Park Lodge. Ask for a kingbed room with Jacuzzi and a view of the
American Falls. See p. 62.
Black Walnut Manor (4255 Victoria
Ave., V ineland Station; & 905/5628675; www.blackwalnutmanor.com):
There is nothing that compar es with
the Black Walnut in the entir e Niagara
region. An old farmstead pr operty in
the countr y, it is equipped with the
upscale urban amenities of a downtown
boutique hotel. See p. 75.

Keefer Mansion Inn (14 St. Davids St.

W., Thorold; & 905/680-9581; www.
keefermansion.com): A per fect inn for
booklovers. Its located near the largest
book r emaindering depot in N orth
America, and the inn ev en has a Booklovers package that includes a gift certificate to the Book D
epot. This
carefully restored historic home has spacious rooms, each unique, and an excellent dining r oom and a ne w spa. S ee
p. 79.
Old Bank House Historic Inn (10 Front
St., N iagara-on-the-Lake; & 905/4687136): With such an abundance of
intriguing and charming historical pr operties in N iagara-on-the-Lake, choosing
one to highlight seems gr ossly unfair .
However, the Old Bank is a fine example

1
B E S T M O D E R AT E LY P R I C E D H O T E L S

The Sterling Inn & Spa (5195 Magdalen St., Niagara Falls, ON; & 289/2920000; www .sterlingniagara.com): This
boutique inn spoils its visitors with
large r ooms, dar k wood floors, and
oversized sho wers with rain sho wer
heads and body jets, as w ell as twoperson J acuzzis. One is the in-house
spa, and the dining r oom, AG, ser ves
some of the best food in the ar ea. All
the attractions of the F alls ar e a shor t
walk away. See p. 64.
The O ban I nn S pa R estaurant (160
Front St., Niagara-on-the-Lake; & 905/
468-2165; www.obaninn.ca): The inn
began life as a priv ate home in 1824,
and was extensively renovated in 2006.
Rooms ar e decorated in an E nglish
Country style with contemporar
y
accents. There are views of the lake and
of the oldest golf course in O ntario.
The OSpa is a soothing space that
includes a lap pool and an outdoor hot
spring and steam room. See p. 68.

THE BEST OF THE NIAGARA REGION

Harbour H ouse is in easy walking distance to the theater, restaurants, or shopping, and is a stones throw from the lake
and the sailing boats. See p. 68.
Sheraton F allsview H otel & Conference Center (6755 F allsview B lvd.,
Niagara Falls, ON; & 905/374-1077):
For the ultimate sleepover that includes
the F alls, check into a falls-vie w loft
suite at the S heraton F allsview. Twostory-high windo ws captur e the entir e
dramatic view. See p. 61.
P rince of Wales (6 Picton St., Niagaraon-the-Lake; & 905/468-3245; www.
vintage-hotels.com): O nce a bit too
fussy for most tastes, the P
rince of
Wales H otel has been car efully r ecalibrated and the result is an opulent hotel
with r ooms that ar e rich with natural
light and uniquely designed bedr ooms.
Theres a fresh rose on your pillow each
night. The hotels Chur chill Bar is the
watering hole of choice for actors and
theater people. See p. 70.

THE BEST OF THE NIAGARA REGION

T H E M O S T U N F O R G E T TA B L E D I N I N G E X P E R I E N C E S

of the type of accommodations y ou can

expect to find in the to wn. It has a prime
location close to the theater , shops, and
restaurants, yet its on a quiet str eet steps
away fr om S imcoe P ark and Lake
Ontario. Rooms are furnished in period
decor, and a spacious v eranda runs along
the fr ont of the house. The pr opertys
historical secret is that it was the site of the
first branch of the B ank of Canadathe
original vault (now restored) is still in the
house. See p. 72.
American Lo yalist P eter S ecord I nn
(215 C reek Rd., S t. D avids; & 905/
262-1030): F or an affor dable y et historic stay , book one of the two bedrooms in this authentic stone house
that dates back to 1782, the oldest

home in O ntario. The spar kling-clean

inn comes with co verlets on the fourposter beds so white they almost hur t
your eyes, not to mention the polished
original wide-planked floors. The inn is
a short drive from both Niagara-on-theLake and Niagara Falls. See p. 78.
Three Forty G ate Bed and B reakfast
(340 G ate S t., N iagara-on-the-Lake;
& 905/468-4319; www.threefortygate.
com): You certainly dont feel like youre
sleeping in A unt M arthas back bedroom when y ou stay her e. Three Forty
Gate is sleek and attractiv e, and within
walking distance of the hear t of to wn.
As a bonus, ther es a personal gr eeting
from Trigger, the resident yellow Labrador retriever. See p. 73.

4 T H E M O S T U N F O R G E T TA B L E
DINING EXPERIENCES
De L ucas Wine Countr y R estaurant
(Niagara S tone Rd., N iagara-on-theLake; & 905/468-7900; www.tonyde
luca.ca): This cozy little bistr o, with its
long windows looking out to the vineyards, ser ves r egional cuisine full of
honest flav ors. And each course is
enhanced with a suggested N iagara
wine pairing. See p. 91.
AG (5195 Magdalen St., Niagara Falls,
ON; & 289/292-0000; www .sterling
niagara.com): Tucked inside the only
boutique hotel in Niagara Falls is arguably the city s best r estaurant. Chef
Cory Linkson creates traditional French
cuisine by harnessing the myriad flavors
of local ingr edients. An all-V QA wine
list carries some ex ceptional offerings
from regional vineyards. See p. 84.
Treadwell Farm to Table Cuisine (61
Lakeport Rd., Port Dalhousie; & 905/
934-9797; www.treadwellcuisine.com):
Voted one of the 10 best ne w r estaurants in Canada the y ear it opened,

Stephen Treadwells Farm to Table Cuisine is an homage to locality . H is elegant cooking style is married beautifully
to his commitment to using the freshest
local ingredients. See p. 94.
Elements on the F alls (6650 N iagara
Pkwy., Niagara Falls, ON; & 905/3543631; www .niagaraparks.com): Chef
Paul Pennock prepares inventive cuisine
in a comfor table and r elaxing dining
room. But its the view here that counts,
as you wont find a better place to dine
in style this close to the edge of the
Falls. Even if y ou dont have dinner, sit
at the bar for a mar tini and tapas at
sunset and watch the colors change on
the water. See p. 84.
Terroir La C achette (1339 Lakeshor e
Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake; & 905/4681222): Although Terroir La Cachette s
cuisine focuses on r egional wines and
ingredients, the F rench Provenal style
that Quebecois chef Alain Levesque has
perfected r emains at the hear t of the

that set the pace and style for many of

the other wineries to follo w. I t is still
one of the prettiest places to dine in the
Peninsula, especially outside on the
patio on a fine day . The menu is seasonal and local, and the vie ws of the
vineyards, especially at sunset, ar
e
enchanting. See p. 102.

5 THE MOST ROMANTIC NIAGARA MOMENTS

no better way to dine than outdoors in
the fresh air. A summer br eeze, a glass
of fine wine at your fingertips, and your
amorethey all add up to a memorable
experience. Try Peller Estates on a summer evening, where there are rosebushes
at the end of each r ow of vines and the
terrace twinkles with candlelight, or
Vineland Estates on a warm J une afternoon, with the r olling vineyards spread
out before you. Some of the hotels and
restaurants in wine country will provide
you with a picnic lunch that y ou can
enjoy in one of the many par ks. S ee
Dine Among the Vines in chapter 6.
A Concert Under the Stars in the Vineyards at J ackson-Triggs: Each y ear the
lineup of per formers gets better . S it in
the amphitheater , sip a glass of wine,
dine al fr esco at the casual mar ket grill,
or just nibble some tapas and enjo y the
music of Canadas bestChantal Kreviazuk, R ufus Wainright, B ruce Cockburn, the Canadian Tenors, Colin James,
and Jesse Cook to name a fe w who have
performed here. See p. 208.

6 T H E B E S T T H I N G S TO D O F O R F R E E
(OR ALMOST)
View the Falls from Both Sides of the
Border: The best vie ws of the F alls are
enjoyed in N iagara Falls, O ntario, but
you are free to str oll up and do wn the
sidewalks along the N iagara G orge on

both sides of the N iagara River to view

both sets of falls. O n F riday, S unday,
and holiday ev enings at 10pm fr om
May to S eptember, spectacular fir eworks light up the Falls. See p. 206.

1
T H E B E S T T H I N G S TO D O F O R F R E E ( O R A L M O S T )

Awakening to a P erfect View of the

Falls fr om Your Bed: The high-rise
hotels on F allsview Avenue in N iagara
Falls, Ontario, have spectacular views of
the Falls from many of their rooms. Try
the K onica-Minolta Tower Centr e,
which has an angled floor-to-ceiling
wall of windo ws and king-siz e beds, or
the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel & Conference Centr e, which has stunning loft
suites with a two-story wall of windows.
Order breakfast in bed, throw open the
curtains, and luxuriate in the spectacular views. See p. 65 and p. 61.
A H orse-Drawn C arriage Ride in
Niagara-on-the-Lake: The historical
streets are a picture-perfect setting for a
romantic carriage ride in summer, when
the gar dens and hanging baskets ar e
filled to o verflowing with color ful
blooms, or on a crisp, sunny winter day,
bundled up under a blanket.The guides
are kno wledgeable and enter taining.
See p. 54.
A Leisurely Meal on a Winery Patio,
Overlooking the Vineyards: Ther e is

THE BEST OF THE NIAGARA REGION

restaurants dishes. Its a perfect partnershipFrench sensibilities and the best

local ingr edients. The dining r oom
overlooks the vineyards. See p. 102.
Vineland Estates Winery R estaurant
(3620 M oyer Rd., Vineland; & 888/
846-3526): This was at one time the
flagship winer y dining r oom, the one

THE BEST OF THE NIAGARA REGION

B E S T A C T I V I T I E S F O R FA M I L I E S

Watch a S hip Go Through the Locks

on the Welland C anal: Lock 3 and
Lock 7 ar e the best vie wing locations.
See p. 123.
Hike or B ike the B ruce Trail on the
Niagara Escarpment: The B ruce Trail
is an 850km (528-mile) meandering
path o verlooking the N iagara Riv er.
The trail passes thr ough countless
orchards and wineries, yet feels secluded
and wild. Hikers can experience fantastic views, waterfalls, steep inclines, and
lush fauna and flora. The southern terminus of the B ruce Trail is located in
Queenston H eights P ark. F ollow the
white blazes as the trail winds along the
Niagara Escarpment, a prominent ridge

that cuts thr ough the N iagara r egion

from east to west. See p. 145.
Taste W ine at a W inery T asting
Room: Some wineries charge a nominal
fee for each sample but will wave the fee
if you buy a bottle of wine, and a fe w
ask for a donation to charity . M any,
however, ar e fr ee. S everal of the small
wineries have patios wher e you can sit
outside to enjo y your wine. S ome also
have walking paths or ar e adjacent to
the Bruce Trail. See p. 165.
Stroll Through the N iagara P arks
Commission Botanical Gardens: These
gardens are open all year. The displays of
flowers, shrubs, and trees are an inspiration to gardeners and a delight to ev eryone who enters. See p. 136.

7 B E S T A C T I V I T I E S F O R FA M I L I E S
Maid of the Mist (www.maidofthemist.
com): One of the oldest tourist attractions in North America, this is still the
most popular activity for visitors to the
Falls. Aim for one of the first sailings,
which star t at 9am in high season, to
avoid long lines, or wait for a late day
sailing after 7pm, when the light is
softer. Find a place on the upper deck if
you want the best views and if you dont
mind getting a bit w et. This is wher e
you will r eally feel the po wer of the
Falls. The big blue raincoats will keep
you relatively dry. The Maid of the Mist
tours start on both sides of the bor der.
See p. 110.
Cave of the Winds: A wooden boar dwalk takes visitors to the base of the
American Falls, where they get up close
with the F alls. S ouvenir non-slip sandals and lightw eight r ecyclable rain
ponchos are provided. Tour hours have
been extended so visitors can see the
fireworks displays fr om v antage points
on the boardwalk. See p. 115.

Niagaras F ury: ( Table R ock, 6450

Niagara Pkwy ., N iagara F alls, ON;
www.niagarasfury.com): V isit Table
Rock for this ne w experiencethe r ecreation of the bir th of N iagara, complete with the sights, sounds, and
movements of glacial action, as glaciers
calve and water r ushes to cr eate the
Falls. Youll have a whole new appreciation for the F alls after y ou experience
this 3-D sensor y-surround experience.
Dont miss the handmade chocolates at
Pop & Lollys. See p. 111.
Butterfly Conser vatory: The conser vatory, on the Niagara Parkway in Ontario,
is a bright and airy rainforest-like environment, with a multilev el pathway (str oller
and wheelchair accessible) that winds its
way through the lush foliage. Two thousand tr opical butter flies, representing 50
different species, live freely in the conservatory. The trick is to walk slo wly and
pause often, because the most r ewarding
sights ar e usually found thr ough quiet
observation. E ven boister ous kids will

winerys excellent Black Sheep Riesling.

See p. 178.
Niagara F reefall I ndoor S kydiving
(www.niagarafreefall.com): F or an
extreme adv enture, consider flying
without a plane. I n this wind-tunnel
experience, you can experience fr eefall,
do tumbling tricks, and float on a current of air. The staff will train y ou and
supply the helmets and equipment.
Theres also Laz er B all and a climbing
wall. See p. 134.
Take a Ride on the O rchard Express:
Puddicombe Estate Farm invites kids to
take a ride on a miniatur e train that
tours the orchards, while the grown-ups
try out the winery. Theres also a petting
zoo. See p. 134.

THE BEST OF THE NIAGARA REGION

enjoy the soothing atmospher e of this

magical jungle. See p. 113.
Carousel at Lakeside Park: One of the
largest and best-preserved examples of a
Looff menagerie car ousel, the car ousel
at Lakeside P ark on Lake O ntario in
Old Port Dalhousie is a fantastic sight.
Built in 1898, ther e ar e 69 car ousel
animals, arranged in four rings; and it
costs only a nickel a ride! S ee p. 132.
Sheep at Featherstone Estate Winery:
If you are visiting wineries in J uly and
early August, dont miss a visit to Featherstone. The vintners found a solution
to thinning the grape vines. F
or 6
weeks, they send in dozens of contented
sheep to munch on the lo wer grape
leaves. Come watch and interact with
the wooly wor kers, as w ell as tr y the

1
B E S T A C T I V I T I E S F O R FA M I L I E S