Niagara Falls
Whether you simply want to escape the city or have always wanted to see these spectacular falls, I highly recommend a trip to Niagara Falls!
As with many other tourist attractions, I recommend going on a weekday.
Logistics
The drive from Toronto takes anywhere from an hour (if you leave before 6 a.m.) to two and a half - pending traffic. I have to assume you can book tours and not worry about a thing. So far, I have been twice and always drove; this page tells you how to self-organize a trip to Niagara.
If you are doing only the Falls, you can make it a daytrip. We bought our tickets for the Maiden of the Mist online ahead of time and both times we walked straight onto the boat. Parking is not cheap; you can gamble for a very rare street parking spot or use one of their large parking lots from which you can either take a long walk to the falls or buy an all-day bus ticket to get around and save your energy.
You WILL get wet if you walk to the open top level of the boat. I prefer to stay downstairs behind the glass and step out for pictures. Either way, you will be given a poncho which keeps you partly dry. The boat ride takes 20 minutes and once you return, I LOVE grabbing a cold beer at the little bar between the boat ramp and elevators. As you can tell, I have only been in summer ;)
Know that the city of Niagara Falls is designed for tourists. My first impression was that of a miniature Las Vegas with high-rise hotels, wax museums, go kart courses, ferris wheels and all sorts of attractions that are geared toward children.
During the summer months, the city organizes fireworks every night at 10 p.m. - worth seeing!
As with many other tourist attractions, I recommend going on a weekday.
Logistics
The drive from Toronto takes anywhere from an hour (if you leave before 6 a.m.) to two and a half - pending traffic. I have to assume you can book tours and not worry about a thing. So far, I have been twice and always drove; this page tells you how to self-organize a trip to Niagara.
If you are doing only the Falls, you can make it a daytrip. We bought our tickets for the Maiden of the Mist online ahead of time and both times we walked straight onto the boat. Parking is not cheap; you can gamble for a very rare street parking spot or use one of their large parking lots from which you can either take a long walk to the falls or buy an all-day bus ticket to get around and save your energy.
You WILL get wet if you walk to the open top level of the boat. I prefer to stay downstairs behind the glass and step out for pictures. Either way, you will be given a poncho which keeps you partly dry. The boat ride takes 20 minutes and once you return, I LOVE grabbing a cold beer at the little bar between the boat ramp and elevators. As you can tell, I have only been in summer ;)
Know that the city of Niagara Falls is designed for tourists. My first impression was that of a miniature Las Vegas with high-rise hotels, wax museums, go kart courses, ferris wheels and all sorts of attractions that are geared toward children.
During the summer months, the city organizes fireworks every night at 10 p.m. - worth seeing!
Niagara-on-the-Lake
A short 30-minute drive north of the Falls is where you find the quaint little town of Niagara-on-the-Lake! Make sure to take the Niagara Parkway for a beautiful drive along the river and wine country (see below).
Pillar and the Post
I love stopping by the Pillar and the Post for breakfast or lunch. It's a charming 5-star country inn with affordable lunch fare and great service. Stop by for a hearty meal and enjoy the rustic interior. If you can afford it, by all means, spend the night!
Downtown
Possibly the prettiest down town that I have seen here in Canada. Park your car and take your time to stroll through all the little shops and cafes along main street.
Pillar and the Post
I love stopping by the Pillar and the Post for breakfast or lunch. It's a charming 5-star country inn with affordable lunch fare and great service. Stop by for a hearty meal and enjoy the rustic interior. If you can afford it, by all means, spend the night!
Downtown
Possibly the prettiest down town that I have seen here in Canada. Park your car and take your time to stroll through all the little shops and cafes along main street.
Wine country
Who knew?
I was surprised to find vineyards this far north but here they are! If you're driving you will soon notice vineyards left and right. I have stopped at
I was surprised to find vineyards this far north but here they are! If you're driving you will soon notice vineyards left and right. I have stopped at
- Konzelmann Estate Winery with a fantastic view of the lake and an idea of Toronto on the other side
- Inniskillin Wines
- Peller Estates
