For years people have thought of Niagara Falls as the Honeymoon Capital of the World, but recently it has evolved into a world class destination full of excitement and adventure. Located just two hours from Toronto Canada it is worth a weekend getaway from the city or even as a vacation destination unto itself. There is so much to do and you can always find new attractions opening every year. Here are some of the top attractions that you must not miss when traveling to Niagara Canada.
A thrill ride that will get your blood pumping is the Jet Boat Tour. Take a 1500 horsepower Jet Boat upstream to the Whirlpool downstream from the Falls in Class VI, yes I said it Class VI rapids. You will be tossed and turned, doing 360s in the middle of Devils Hole. These boats are powerful and you have to wear headsets if you want to hear anything that your tour guide has to say. For $57 you can ride either the Wet Jet or Jet Dome. On hot days, the wet dome is a great choice because you are going to get soaked. On cool days, early or late in the season, the Jet Dome is a great option. Plus, it is super for capturing photos or videos and you can actually see the water going over you instead of having it splash in your face.
An oldie but a goody is the Maid of the Mist boat tour. It has been operating since 1846 shuttling people across to the US border. In 1885 they started running as tourist attractions to take passengers to an up close and personal view of the falls. It is another thrilling experience being so close to the falling water. The Maid of the Mist goes right inside the horseshoe and thundering water surrounds you. It is a thrill ride for only $14.50.
Gaining in popularity each year is tours of international award winning vineyards. Jackson Triggs, Pellar Estates and Inniskillin to name a few, are all located at Niagara on the Lake just outside of Niagara Falls. A tourist destination in its own right, you can stay at bed and breakfasts to boutique hotels and resorts. Tours are offered daily to the wineries where you can taste and buy vintage bottles of wine. Try renting a bicycle or hiring a horsecart to take you to the wineries as you take in the view of the beautiful Niagara gorge.
Night time offers excellent entertainment at two different casinos located in Niagara Falls. The Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara. Whether you are looking for slots, tables, low or high stakes it has it. Fallsview Casino is as big as three football fields and as well as gaming, it also features A-list entertainment in its 1500 seat theater.
Want to get your blood pumping again? Nightmares is one scary haunted house. Located near Clifton Hill, the famous street filled with wax museums, haunted houses and restaurants, Nightmares is a must for anyone that loves a good scare. It is scary alright, legend has it that it was built on the site of an old coffin factory. The proprietor was killed in a prank gone bad and has haunted the halls ever since. If you become too scared inside the maze of nightmares you can chicken out. Don’t feel bad if you do, over 95,000 people have chickened out over the years.
Whether you visit in the winter or summertime, you can enjoy wild water fun year round at Niagara’s Indoor Water park. Complete with water slides, wave pools and sundeck, pretend you are in the Caribbean as you sip a Pina Colada. Enjoy it as a day on your own, or book a hotel package for unlimited use.
For nature lovers there is hiking at the Niagara Glen. Take in a view of the incredible gorge and you hike through woods and trails witnessing gigantic boulders. You may even see avid rock climbers bouldering routes on these mammoth rocks. You will have a birds eye view of the Whirlpool and all of this is free.
Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday witness the spectacular fireworks over the falls. Each night the falls are lit up for an amazing view so make your way down for an evening stroll. If you decide to have a late dinner, make sure to eat at one of the many restaurants that overlook the falls and you can enjoy the show from the comfort of your dining table.
The list goes on and on of adventures and activities that can be done in Niagara Falls. It could take days to explore everything that the area has to offer, so what are you waiting for? Go ahead and book your trip you will find that there is more to Niagara than meets the eye.
Debra Corbeil
