Vacation Ideas for Niagara Falls
Wax museums, heart shaped tubs and haunted houses, that is what people picture when they think of Niagara Falls Canada. Things have changed in the twenty first century however and you can find world-class hotels, entertainment and dining at the new and improved vacation destination. Located on the border of the United States and Canada, Niagara falls is only two hours from Toronto. Spend a few days exploring some of these attractions listed below and you will be sure to have a thrill ride and great time on your visit to 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.
Be sure to take a ride on the Maid of the Mist. This world famous ride has been operating for over a century taking tourists to the heart of the Horseshoe Falls. Feel and hear the thunder of water plunge all around you as the falls completely surround you. At the bargain price of $14.50 you are supplied with raincoats and a memory to last a life time.
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.
Think you can only go to a water park in the summer? Well, in Niagara Falls, you can play in the wave pool, plunge down the slides and catch some rays on the sun deck at the Niagara Waterpark. Located on Clifton Hill, it is close to all of Niagara Falls tourist museums and shops. It is a great place for the whole family. You can book either a day pass or a weekend getaway with hotel included.
A little outside of town is the Niagara Glen. Trails, forest and nature await hikers and cyclists. Take in the breathtaking scenery of the Niagara gorge and enjoy a picnic lunch as you watch local rock climbers cling to giant boulders in the deep valley.
Three nights a week you can enjoy incredible fireworks right over the falls. The water is lit up in different colours and the elaborate show goes on for several minutes. It is not to be missed. Luckily many restaurants overlook the falls and you can see them as you dine enjoying entertainment with your dinner.
Niagara Falls has so many things to see and do that it is impossible to list everything. So go ahead and explore on your own, you will find something new with each visit that will keep you coming back again and again.
Tags: Alcohol, canada, hiking, holiday ideas, jet boat, maid of the mist, niagara falls, niagara gorge, ontario, travel, vacation, wine, wine tasting