Families overwhelmed by the prospect of booking a Canadian summer vacation can find instant relief by relying on a simple three-step approach to getaway planning. School may be out for summer, but taking it back to the ABCs can help you build a Niagara getaway that guarantees big fun and lasting memories for everyone in the family!
Building your vacation foundation starts with choosing just one amazing attraction that everyone in your family will want to experience. If you’re making the trip to Niagara, an attraction that showcases the magic of Niagara Falls in a one-of-a-kind way is an excellent place to begin. Choose from fun like:
→ A Voyage To The Falls Boat Tour, which allows families to choose how wet they want to get based on the time of day they choose to cruise! Opt for a before-sunset boat tour to sail into the heart of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls for a full-mist experience. After sunset, boat tours only sail to the outer edge of the Falls for regulatory reasons, so it’s a lighter mist experience.
→ Journey Behind The Falls, which takes guests 125 feet down to explore 130-year-old tunnels dug through the ancient bedrock. Watch from viewing portals cut through the rock and the observation deck at the foot of the Falls as one-fifth of the world’s fresh water comes crashing down in front of you.
→ Wildplay’s Zipline To The Falls experience, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will have you soaring past the American Falls and landing atop the base of the Horseshoe Falls courtesy of a 2,200-ft zipline.
→ Whirlpool Jetboat Tour’s thrilling adventure into the Niagara Gorge and through the Devil’s Hole Rapids!
While the attraction you choose in advance likely won’t fill your whole day, you’ll pass lots of other interesting activities and experiences on your way to and from it. Leaving some unplanned time in your day will allow you to pick and choose some additional fun based on how everyone is feeling.
When adults recall fond family vacation memories from childhood, the places where their family called it a night often make the highlights reel. Make your evenings equally as memorable for your kids by booking a place to stay that offers fun perks for everyone.
→ Niagara Falls’ three waterparks are a perfect way for families to add some water-fueled fun to their Niagara hotel stay. Choose from Great Wolf Lodge, Americana Resort, and the three-acre Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, which can be easily accessed by guests staying at these four area hotels.
→ Embassy Suites by Hilton Niagara Falls’ Fallsview Family Fun Package includes dining vouchers and passes for four to your choice of fun family activities like Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf, Galaxy Quest Lazer Tag, Haunted Hallways and Mystic Maze of Mirrors.
→ Howard Johnson Plaza By Wyndham By The Falls’ Family Fun Package includes dining vouchers and two adult six-attraction passes to Clifton Hill favourites like the Niagara SkyWheel, Ghost Blaster Dark Ride, Movieland Wax Museum, and Wizards’ Golf OR Dinosaur Adventure.
→ Best Western Plus Cairn Croft’s Family Fun Package includes meal vouchers and a gift card to the hotel’s all-new rCade!
→ Holiday Inn & Suites St. Catharines Conference Centre has a huge on-site bowling alley, arcade, and the added bonus of having a trampoline park just a short stroll away!
→ Hotel Philco in Crystal Beach offers individual room themes that kids will adore. Imagine the look of surprise on their faces when you walk into a fully decked out Christmas Room, or the Golf Room complete with a 75″ big screen TV and PlayStation!
After a day experiencing the excitement of Niagara Falls and Clifton Hill, and a fun-filled night at a hotel, opt for something completely different on your second day. Warm summer days call for a family splash, and Niagara’s unique location between two Great Lakes means it is home to some really incredible beaches! Favourite stretches of sand on Lake Ontario include Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie and Sunset Beach in St. Catharines. On Lake Erie, popular sunny day splash spots include Bay Beach in Crystal Beach and Nickel Beach in Port Colborne, which is also home to Splashtown Niagara, an incredible inflatable park.
For families who prefer to skip the sand, opting for a hotel with a great outdoor pool is another fun option for scheduling a summer splash. In Niagara Falls, the Sheraton Fallsview boasts the only rooftop pool overlooking Niagara Falls. The Howard Johnson Plaza by Wyndham by the Falls is another lovely Niagara Falls hotel with an outdoor pool. Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Pillar and Post Inn is also home to a beautiful outdoor pool and patio area.
Plan a perfect Niagara summer getaway for your family by browsing our Family Fun, Attractions, History & Heritage, Naturally Niagara pages and following @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, scroll through accommodations and dining options to discover family-friendly options for your trip!
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