When it comes to unique cold-weather getaway destinations, Niagara’s options for blustery outdoor fun and one-of-a-kind indoor adventures make it a winter winner. Ready to arm your kids with a fresh array of exciting stories for show and tell? Read on!
Spending a night at a hotel is a treat for any kid, but waking up to discover the place you’ve landed has even more surprises in store creates the kind of unexpected delight that makes memories pure magic. Here are a few fun options everyone will adore:
Book a stay at one of Niagara’s three incredible indoor waterparks:
– Great Wolf Lodge
– Fallsview Indoor Waterpark
– Waves Indoor Waterpark
Wow them with a themed suite:
– Choose from golf, football, bicycle, Christmas or tropical suites at Hotel Philco in Crystal Beach.
– Port Dalhousie’s The Juniper Inn has an Arizona-themed room and a zebra-themed room, both of which can sleep up to four guests.
Enjoy breakfast with a view. Staying in your pyjamas and eating breakfast in bed while watching the mist billow off Niagara Falls is a spectacular way to start a winter day! Excellent options include:
– Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel & Suites
– Sheraton Fallsview
– DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton – Niagara Falls
Each winter, Niagara-on-the-Lake’s luxurious Pillar and Post hotel transforms its six-acre Monet-inspired garden into a winter wonderland, complete with firepits, hot drinks, twinkling lights, and a skating rink. The space is open to hotel guests and the general public, with skate and helmet rentals available.
Santa Claus isn’t the only one who gets to enjoy a birds-eye view of Niagara! Niagara Parks’ recently launched Niagara Takes Flight attraction offers guests an immersive, 56-km flight experience from the shores of Lake Ontario to the edge of Lake Erie with motion-based seats and sensory effects like wind, mist and scent to create the exhilarating illusion of free flight.
There’s something extra magical about catching a butterfly breaking through its cozy cocoon when it’s snowing and blowing outside. Niagara Parks’ Butterfly Conservatory’s Emergence Window showcases a variety of butterfly species as they transition through this fascinating stage of their lifecycle. Bird Kingdom, which is just down the road, is another fun, tropical-feeling stop where kids can enjoy up-close experiences like parrot encounters and hand-feeding Lorikeets.
There’s no better place to show the kids how to sip like a Brit than the first capital of Upper Canada! The Prince of Wales Hotel, named in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit in 1901, hosts an afternoon tea complete with ornate tea sets, delicate desserts, and regal décor that will transport your little sippers back to Victorian times. Other two-pinkies-up options for afternoon tea include The Watering Can, the Fallsview Tearoom, and Welland’s The Fox and Hummingbird Tea Room.
Heated gondolas make a winter ride on the Niagara SkyWheel to take in the fabulous and frosty views of the Horseshoe and American Falls feel extra special! Afterward, treat the kids to piping-hot pastries at Beavertails or freshly made sweet treats at Fudge Factory.
Head to Skylon Tower’s Daredevils Barrel Museum to check out the actual barrels used by those who once braved the Falls in them. Wandering amongst the custom-built barrels and discovering the stories of the triumphs, near misses, and ingenious fixes that fueled each plunge, inspires a whole new appreciation for the word determination! Don’t forget to take the elevator to the observation deck while you’re there. If what you see leaves the kids curious about the courage it takes to complete a feat like this, visit the Niagara Falls History Museum, where they can try a simulated tightrope-walking experience with their very own toes!
Taking time to remind the kids that you’re supportive of and interested in their passions is an incredibly easy thing to do on your Niagara adventure. Whether your crew has a budding foodie, devoted dancer, sports nut, bookworm, or magic maven, here are some activities to consider.
– Wow kids who are into cooking with a meal at a Niagara restaurant associated with a celebrity chef they’ve seen on screen. Matty Matheson’s Rizzo’s House of Parm, Massimo Capra’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant, or Jason Parson’s dining rooms at Peller Estates Winery and Riverbend Inn are all excellent options.
– Treat your tiny dancers to a trip timed with one of this winter’s incredible dance performances at St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, like Swan Lake (January 26), SKéN:NEN by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (January 30), or Ten Thousand Hours (April 21).
– Kids who are happiest with their nose buried in a book will adore checking out some of Niagara’s awesome independent bookstores and comic shops, like Port Dalhousie’s Thistle Bookshop and Cafe, St. Catharines Someday Books, or Freakshow Comics on Niagara Falls’ Lundy’s Lane.
– Surprise young sports fans with tickets to a Niagara IceDogs game, or time your trip to coincide with the Harlem Globetrotters‘ February stop in Niagara.
– Amaze aspiring magicians with a family-friendly Vegas-style magic show at Greg Frewin Theatrical Centre or one of multiple winter magic performances at St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
A winter hike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski hits different when you realize you’re making tracks on one of Canada’s oldest and longest footpaths! The Bruce Trail’s Niagara section begins at Queenston Heights Park and winds along the Niagara Escarpment to Grimsby. Niagara Geosites, including Ball’s Falls Conservation Area, Louth Conservation Area, and Short Hills Provincial Park, also provide easy access to the Bruce Trail.
Outlet Collection at Niagara offers a shopping experience that is a breath of fresh air for those who believe that being cooped up in a shopping mall on a snowy day is a waste of winter weather! Covered open-air walkways keep shoppers snowflake-free while walking from shop to shop, and outdoor eating and activity areas are perfect for younger kids who need to blow off a little steam.
Browse through Niagara’s attractions, historic sites, outdoor activities and events to create a winter adventure that reflects your family’s one-of-a-kind vibe. Be sure to check out @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for additional trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, scroll through suggestions for local accommodations and restaurants to round out your trip to Niagara.
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