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Only In Niagara, Canada … The Winter Family Adventure Edition

Only in Niagara, Canada...

The Winter Family Adventure Edition

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!

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #1:

Plan A Truly Special Sleepover Surprise

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

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #2:

Skate In A Magical Winter Garden

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.

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #3:

Soar Through the Skies at Ontario’s First-Ever Flying Theatre

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.

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #4:

Marvel At Butterflies Emerging From Their Cocoons In The Dead of Winter

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.

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #5:

Have High Tea like Royalty

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.

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #6:

Ride Canada’s Largest Observation Wheel in Cozy Comfort

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.

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #7:

Embrace Your Inner Daredevil

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!

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #8:

Find Cool New Ways To Pump Up Their Passions

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.

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #9:

Make Fresh Tracks at a Winning Winter Hiking Destination

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.

True North Niagara Winter Adventure #10:

Score Designer Deals at Canada’s Largest Outdoor Outlet Mall

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.

Start Planning Your Only-In-Niagara-Canada Adventure

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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Sparkle & Ice and Everything Nice

Discover The Decadence of Niagara’s Winter Wine & Culinary Adventures

Don’t let Niagara’s reputation as a land of world-class grapes, sweet summer fruit, and flavourful garden-fresh veggies fool you. Even as its farm fields and vineyards descend into a deep winter slumber, Niagara’s farm-to-table scene overflows with an incredibly delicious range of food and wine experiences. Whether you’ve got an entire weekend to fill or only have time for a flavour-filled afternoon or evening, here are some winter culinary experiences you’ll want to enjoy while you’re here.

Add A Farm-To-Table Feast To Your Holiday Season

Experience the delicious results that come out of the kitchen when Niagara’s chefs get in the festive spirit. The sleighful of seasonal meals and merry-making celebrations taking place in Niagara this holiday season includes:

Sip Your Way Through Canada’s Largest Outdoor Light Festival

The Winter Festival of Lights, which runs from November 15 through January 5, stirs up excitement across Niagara Falls, including its many restaurants and bars. As you stroll through the twinkling light installations, be sure to stop for a refreshing cocktail, a cozy meal, or a warming mug of hot chocolate. Table Rock House Restaurant, perched on the brink of Niagara Falls, offers a locally sourced and internationally inspired menu with a breathtaking view of the nightly fireworks display over Niagara Falls, which takes place throughout the Festival. Queen Victoria Place Restaurant overlooks the spectacular lighting installations in Queen Victoria Park. The extensive menu here includes creative spiked coffees as well as interesting craft soda selections that any sober sippers or kids in your crew will adore.

Embrace The Chill of Canada’s Coolest Wine Festival

January’s colder temperatures are a cause for celebration across Niagara as local vineyards pull out all the stops to harvest Icewine grapes at the exact moment their precious juices succumb to the big freeze. Purchase a Niagara Icewine Festival Discovery Pass to enjoy delicious Icewine and food pairings and watch the excitement at the wineries for yourself. Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Icewine Village on January 17, 18, 24 and 25 to sip Icewine cocktails in oh-so-Instagrammable Snow Globes, or bring the kids along for special family programming in partnership with Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum. Those who enjoy getting glammed up will want to hit the Cool As Ice Gala, the grand finale of the Icewine Festival, on January 31 at the Niagara Parks Power Station. Should the temperatures not dip beneath -10 degrees Celsius while you’re in town, Peller Estates’ Greatest Winery Tour includes an Icewine tasting in the -10Below Icewine Lounge, an igloo-like lounge constructed out of a mammoth 13,607 kilos of ice and kept at a frosty 10º below zero, to give guests a true sense of just how finger chilling the ideal Icewine harvesting temperature is!

Visit One of Niagara’s Most Eagerly Anticipated New Wineries

The family behind Two Sisters Vineyards and 11th Post on Queen recently unveiled a passion project that, like the hand-carved stone birds guarding its gates, illustrates power, precision, and timelessness in every detail. With its sweeping vineyard views and absolutely exquisite interior details, Stone Eagle Winery is well worth a stop!

Touch Up Your Wine Country Cooking Skills

An afternoon cooking class is a fantastic way to take some fresh new recipes and impressive kitchen skills home as a tasty memory of your trip to Niagara. Strewn Winery’s four-hour Wine Country Cooking School classes offer hands-on instruction where students are responsible for prepping and cooking, but NOT the cleanup! For those who would prefer to taste the work of culinary students over being a student themselves, Niagara College’s Benchmark Restaurant showcases the work of students in the college’s culinary programs through daily lunch service and special dining events.

Go For A Gourmet Glide

Elevate an afternoon or evening skate on an outdoor rink with the addition of a thirst-quenching cocktail, tasty snacks, twinkling lights, and cozy firepits. Both located in the gardens at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s five-star Pillar and Post and The Great One’s Backyard Rink at Wayne Gretzky Estates are picture-perfect choices for chilling.

Dine Like A MICHELIN Guide Inspector

After initial MICHELIN Guide buzz for Niagara’s dining scene in 2024 that generated recommendations for St. Catharines’ Fat Rabbit and Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Trius Winery Restaurant and a MICHELIN Star and Green Star for Niagara Benchlands’ Restaurant Pearl Morissette, the buzz has just kept on building! In the fall of 2025, MICHELIN Inspectors awarded Restaurant Pearl Morissette its second Star, and the restaurant also earned the honour of being crowned the third-best restaurant on the continent on the North America’s 50 Best Restaurants List.

Find A New Brew

For those not quite sure where they want their afternoon to take them, the Niagara Ale Trail offers some tasty touring inspiration. Simply designate a driver and follow the Niagara Ale Trail map to your choice of over 25 craft breweries and cideries sprinkled across the Niagara Benchlands, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Niagara’s South Coast.

Hang With A Celebrity Chef

Mix and mingle with celebrity chef Massimo Capra as he brings the spirit and culinary traditions of Veneto to life on March 6 in a one-night Venetian Carnival event showcasing a refined menu inspired by the region’s iconic flavours paired with fine wines at Massimo’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel.

Chef Massimo’s Cityline friend Chef Jason Parsons is also hosting his own series of dining events at Riverbend Inn and Vineyard in the months ahead. The French-influenced Winter Dining Series includes a Christmas Dinner in December, a Winter In Wine Country meal in January, and additional events in February and March.

Feast in Niagara

Treat yourself to new way to winter in Niagara enjoying an off-season culinary getaway that showcases a deliciously different side of the region’s wineries, craft breweries, distilleries, cideries, wine- and food-focused festivals, and its diverse collection of restaurants and cafés. 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 local accommodations options to find a delightful place to spend the night in Niagara.

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Behind the Scenes

Experience Niagara Like An Insider On Your Next Trip

There’s something extra special about surprising your favourite people with an experience that absolutely exceeds their expectations. Whether you’re aiming to wow your sweetheart or amaze your besties, these experiences are sure to make those you bring along on your next trip to Niagara feel like absolute insiders.

Explore The Bedrock Tunnels Behind Niagara Falls

The winter months are an excellent time to experience Niagara Falls from a whole new perspective. Journey Behind The Falls takes guests deep into the bedrock to navigate the fascinating tunnels that lead behind the Horseshoe Falls past cave-like portals that open behind the falling water. As you breathe in the icy winter air on the lower observation deck, you’ll enjoy a one-of-a-kind view of one of the world’s most beloved natural wonders.

Enjoy Unprecedented Access To The Iconic Niagara Parks Power Station

A whole new experience reveals itself each evening when the sun sets on the Niagara Parks Power Station. The Niagara Parks Power Station At Night experience illuminates every corner of the main generator hall within Niagara’s cathedral of power with state-of-the-art LED lighting, creating a brilliant cast of colours and shadows. Dig deeper into Niagara’s story of power with never-before-shared details of the power station’s phenomenal history, including newly unveiled multimedia storytelling and flexible screenings of Currents, an epic sound and light show. Don’t forget to make your way along the 2,200-foot-long Tunnel to discover new stories shared using brilliant LED lighting technology, projected archival images and immersive sound effects before arriving at the observation platform at the edge of the Niagara River to take in a stunning illuminated view of Horseshoe Falls!

Learn Pasta-Making Secrets At One of Niagara Falls’ Most Beloved Italian Restaurants

Whether you’re mastering the art of shaping plump gnocchi, perfecting your ravioli stuffing skills, or digging into a family-style meal with your classmates, you’ll be made to feel like part of the Casa Mia Restaurant family as a student at Terra Mia. This quaint cooking school is tucked behind the restaurant and run by a husband-and-wife team that is passionate about preserving the authentic Italian pasta-making process.

Descend Deep Into A Winery Cellar

While most Niagara wineries offer a wide range of experiences at their tasting bars, the selection of those that invite guests to step into their storied cellars is significantly smaller. Excellent options for wine enthusiasts keen on being cellar dwellers include The Trius Tour, which takes guests into Canada’s largest underground sparkling wine cellar, Cave Spring Vineyard’s Cellar Experience, a guided walking tour with tastings through the winery’s century-old cellars in historic Jordan Village, and Pillitteri Estate Winery’s Grand Estate Tour, a private 2-hour experience that includes time in a huge underground wine cellar lined with premium French oak barrels.

Do A Nighttime Zoo Drive Through

Should your travels bring you to Niagara between November 21 and December 30, add Safari Lights to your evening agenda. This dazzling holiday lights drive-thru adventure takes place at Safari Niagara, a 150-acre nature park home to more than 1,000 native and exotic mammals, reptiles, and birds. With immersive light tunnels, luminous motion lights, whimsical animal light displays and over 1 million dazzling lights, this is something you have to see to believe!

Dine At The Chef’s Table In North America’s #3 Restaurant

Taste why the culinary world is buzzing about Niagara’s Restaurant Pearl Morissette. After earning its second MICHELIN Star in the fall of 2025, this Niagara Benchlands darling went on to score the number three position on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants List. The Restaurant’s Chef’s Table experience is offered to just one group of six guests per evening. Guided by chefs, a dedicated service team and an in-house sommelier, this exclusive experience showcases an extended tasting menu that offers a glimpse into the Restaurant’s creative process.

Create A Signature Gin

Learn the secrets of award-winning gin from the expert team of spirit artisans at Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers. The 1.5- to 2-hour Craft Your Own Gin Experience includes a welcome gin cocktail, an in-depth lesson on flavour profiles, combinations and how to make the gin that’s perfect for you, and a take-home bottle of your bespoke gin blend. Afterward, enjoy a 15% discount on any purchases made in the Sipping Room.

Get A Behind-Closed-Doors Look at Ancient Indigenous Artifacts

This February, as part of First Ontario Performing Arts Centre’s Art In Action – Climate programming across Niagara, the Niagara Falls History Museum will host a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s artifact storage room for its Empathic Traditions: Niagara’s Indigenous Legacy exhibit, which showcases objects that reveal the presence of Indigenous peoples, their art and history in the region, extending back hundreds of generations up to the present day.

Experience Extreme Icewine Elegance

January’s Icewine harvest is cause for celebration across Niagara, and a wide range of activities invite those curious about Canada’s liquid gold to immerse themselves in the magic. The Niagara Icewine Festival’s Discovery Pass program, hosted at wineries across Niagara on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from January 16 through February 1, is a perfect way to experience the excitement of the harvest at a collection of top wineries while savouring signature Icewine and food pairings at each stop. Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Village will sparkle with exciting events and activities on January 17, 18, 24, and 25, including the annual Icehaus Cocktail Competition, fun family-friendly programming hosted by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, and cute-as-a-button Snow Globes where guests can enjoy pre-dinner drinks in Old Town. The frosty Icewine fun comes to a crescendo at January 31st’s Cool As Ice Gala, a glamorous evening affair with delicious drinks and tasty wine country cuisine set against the jaw-dropping scenery of the Niagara Parks Power Station.

Adventure in Niagara

Find a new way to winter in Niagara by creating your own signature blend of unique Niagara experiences at area attractions, historic sites, wineries, distilleries, restaurants, and events. 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 local accommodations options to find a delightful place to spend the night in Niagara.

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Escape Winter Weather On An Awesome Indoor Adventure In Niagara

Does Niagara get cold weather during the winter months? Sometimes. Is that a good reason for families who prefer warmer temperatures to postpone their trip until spring or summer? Absolutely not! Niagara’s top-notch indoor attractions make it a snap to enjoy warm and wonderful experiences, with no mittens required! Here are just a few of the fabulous ways that families can enjoy a winter day in Niagara while basking in the comfort of a cozier indoor climate.

Winter Workshops at The Watering Can

For families looking to spark a passion for gardening in their kids, The Watering Can’s winter workshops are a wonderful afternoon activity. Parents can browse the indoor greenhouse, enjoy a tropical-feeling afternoon tea service, or take part in a workshop of their own while the kids make their own artistic arrangement.

Family-Friendly Performances & Shows

An engaging afternoon or evening performance is another heartwarming way to escape winter’s chill for a few hours. Choose from family-friendly Vegas-style magic shows at the Greg Frewin Theatrical Centre and a wide variety of family-focused programming, including Flora & Fauna, an early years contemporary circus show, Splash & Boots, and more at St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

Big-Time Bowling Fun

Be one of the first to hit the lanes at the all-new Kingpin Bowling Centre located within St. Catharines’ Pen Centre shopping mall. When it opens this winter, the 24-lane, 10-pin facility will boast VIP lanes, restaurant-style seating with a full bar, and a high-energy GameworX Arcade. Visiting Niagara before this grand opening? Parkway Social, also in St. Catharines, is another fantastic choice, with 22 bowling lanes, as well as laser tag and an arcade. Those who wish to remain in Niagara Falls can find big bowling fun on Clifton Hill at Strike Game Zone.

Niagara Takes Flight

Ontario’s first-ever flying theatre experience, which just opened in Niagara Falls this past fall, offers an incredible way to take in the beauty of Niagara without having to brave winter weather. Niagara Takes Flight combines storytelling, motion, stunning aerial vistas, music and special effects into an immersive 30-minute experience that takes guests on a flight over the Niagara River corridor. As riders soar across ancient rock formations, historic battle sites, and breathtaking scenery, wind, mist, and scent effects create a lifelike outdoor experience without actually going outside!

Niagara SkyWheel

Give winter winds the slip by stepping inside the Niagara SkyWheel’s cozy, climate-controlled gondolas. The eight- to 12-minute ride aboard one of Canada’s largest observation wheels offers riders unparalleled views of both the Horseshoe and American Falls, the Niagara River, Niagara Parks and other landmarks.

K1 Speed Indoor Karting

Head to St. Catharines and arrive ready to drive K1 Speed’s 100% electric karts. These quiet but blazing-fast electric carts reach speeds up to 45 kph, with zero emissions. Junior racers should be eight years of age or older.

Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory

With over 2,000 free-flying butterflies, trickling waterfalls, and lush vegetation, a visit to the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory offers an instant escape to the tropics! One of the largest facilities of its kind on the continent, this can’t-miss stop boasts an 11,000-square-foot conservatory, video theatres, interactive displays and an emergence window where butterflies emerge from their cocoons and hang to dry their wings before their first flight.

Niagara Helicopters

Soaring through the Niagara sky on a winter day is an extremely fun way to see the sights while escaping the sub-zero chill. Niagara Helicopters’ 12-minute “Classic” tour offers aerial views of iconic Niagara landmarks, including the famous Falls, Sir Adam Beck Power Generating Plant, the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, the rushing Whirlpool Rapids of the Niagara River, Queen Victoria Park, the American Falls, and the Skylon Tower. If it’s a crisp, clear winter day, look for the Toronto skyline to the north and the shores of Lake Erie to the south.

Indoor Waterpark Fun

Niagara boasts not one, not two, but three incredible indoor waterparks, each offering a unique cold-weather escape plan! Families who want to be just steps away from all of the excitement of Clifton Hill can opt for Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. Crews who prefer a stay that offers all kinds of kid-friendly experiences and programming under one roof will adore the vacay vibes at Great Wolf Lodge. Families with younger children will appreciate the toddler-friendly paddling play options at Waves Indoor Waterpark.

Clifton Hill Arcades & Attractions

Your family will immediately forget about any winter weather that’s blowing around outside while enjoying Clifton Hill’s exciting rides, wax museums, miniature golf, arcade games, and more on this famous street of fun!

Indoor Holiday Happenings

Not all of Niagara’s holiday fun requires bundling up and braving the elements! Watch fabulous figure skating at Christmas on Ice at the Avalon Theatre, get a festive blast of pop culture magic at Niagara Falls Comic Con Holiday Edition, or blast the heat in your vehicle and take in the twinkle of the Winter Festival of Lights or Safari Lights from the comfort of your car!

Adventure In Niagara

Show your family a new way to winter in Niagara enjoying the region’s indoor attractions, historic sites, and events. 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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Spark Multigenerational Magic

Forge Even Stronger Connections On A Niagara Family Getaway

For parents wondering whether bringing the grandparents along on a future getaway is a good idea, the research suggests it’s time to book that trip! In a 2024 survey of North American families, 74 per cent of respondents who had previously taken a multi-generational vacation remained excited by the idea of extended family getaways. If expanding your getaway gang to include an older generation is on your travel to-do list, here are some tried-and-true tips to ensure guests of all ages have a great time on your next visit to Niagara!

Schedule A Little Time Travel

Visiting attractions that help children better understand what life was like for previous generations is a wonderful way to inspire conversations between the young and old. The Niagara Parks Power Station’s immersive exhibits, restored artifacts, and interactive storytelling will spark kids’ curiosity about life before the flip of a switch! Take the guided tour to catch The Tesla coil, a marvel of early 20th-century technology, as it demonstrates the raw, captivating force of high-voltage electricity through a mesmerizing light show that dances through the air. Trying on a replica uniform from the War of 1812, or feeling the heft of an ancient musket at the Niagara Falls History Museum, is an engaging way to encourage conversations about family members who may have fought for their country at a different time.

Show The Kids Their Grandparents Still Have Game

It’s not surprising that some of the more low-tech games at Niagara’s arcades are also some of the most popular amongst players. Games like shooting hoops, ring toss, and coin stacking offer a fun way to level the playing field for younger gamers with their elders. Visit arcades like Adventure City, the Great Canadian Midway and Niagara Falls Fun Zone to get some friendly family competition going!

Let The Kids Splash Off Some Steam

Being on their best behaviour for older family members can feel like a big ask for little kids. Reward those marvellous manners with some time for splashing, screaming, and shenanigans at one of Niagara’s three indoor waterparks. Whether they enjoy a well-earned rest in their room, pull up a lounge chair and watch the kids have a blast, or make a splash themselves, grandparents will fit right in at Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge, or Waves Indoor Waterpark.

Find Something Brand New For Everyone To Try

No one wants a family getaway to feel like a past trip put on repeat! Luckily, Niagara has plenty of activity options to ensure no one feels they’re being served up a “been there, done that” itinerary. The all-new Niagara Takes Flight attraction, which just opened this past fall, is Ontario’s first-ever flying theatre experience. Both kids and kids-at-heart will love taking flight on an adventure that blends storytelling, motion, stunning aerial vistas, music, and special effects into an immersive 30-minute experience showcasing the Niagara River corridor through ancient rock formations, historic battle sites, and breathtaking scenery. As minimal walking is required, this is an excellent option for older family members with more limited mobility.

Add Some Peaceful Places Into the Mix

While the kids may have endless energy, older family members may appreciate an attraction or two that offers a little break from the hustle and bustle of your family getaway. Niagara attractions that showcase nature are an excellent solution. Options like the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse, and Bird Kingdom offer little feet plenty of space to roam and explore, while older adults can enjoy a slower pace, stop for breaks, and really take it all in.

Make Time For Some Old-Fashioned Sweet Treats

Whether it’s bonding over some of Canada’s best butter tarts, comparing preferred picks while browsing the aisles of a retro candy shop, swapping spoonfuls of favourite flavours at a popular ice cream parlour, or showing their seniors just how delicious a vegan doughnut can be, there’s something extra special about the sharing of treats between the old and the young.

Let Loose At A Live Performance

From Vegas-style magic and a fun show celebrating Canadian music at the Greg Frewin Theatrical Centre, to family-friendly circus, ventriloquist, and mentalism shows at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines, Niagara’s live arts lineup this winter offers interesting productions that will inspire applause from audience members of all ages.

Get Everyone Feeling The Holiday Spirit

Niagara is home to a heartwarming roster of holiday activities guaranteed to help everyone in your gang have a little festive fun. Events to consider timing your trip around include:

The Shaw Festival’s holiday productions of A Christmas Carol and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas through December 21
Niagara Falls’ Winter Festival of Lights, which runs from November 15 through January 4
Safari Lights, a dazzling holiday lights drive-thru adventure offered in Niagara’s Southcoast between November 21 and December 30
Niagara Benchlands’ Christmas in Jordan Village, featuring a range of holiday events including a village lighting ceremony and Starlight Market, breakfast with Santa, and holiday-themed brunches, lunches and dinners between November 21 and December 31
Holiday Market at Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, from Dec 5 – 14, showcasing a wide range of one-of-a-kind, handmade holiday gifts, ornaments, and decor
Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Candlelight Stroll on December 5
Christmas on the Ridge in downtown Ridgeway on December 6
New Year’s Eve celebrations at Niagara Falls on December 31

Capture The Moment

Snapping some family photos to frame upon your return home is a fantastic way to remind everyone of the fun times shared together. For a photo with a bit of extra pizazz, book a session at Allways Antique Photo or Ripley’s Selfie Studios. Several Niagara Falls attractions also offer photography packages that allow visitors to purchase candid photos of their group enjoying the experience. For those who prefer to take their own pictures, Niagara is overflowing with incredible options for your photo’s backdrop.

Connect As A Family In Niagara

Show every generation a new way to winter in Niagara, experiencing the area’s attractions, historic sites, outdoor activities, and events. 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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Get To Know Niagara’s Live Arts Venues and Their Spa & Shopping Neighbours

Visitors who flock to Niagara to experience its world-wonder natural attractions, award-winning wineries, buzzed-about farm-to-table dining scene, and The Shaw Festival’s seasonal shows are often surprised to discover that the live arts scene here thrives all year long. Adding a performance at a new-to-you live arts venue to your itinerary is a fun way to experience a whole new side of Niagara on your next trip, especially when you take advantage of nearby spa and shopping options. Here are several venues to consider as you plan your next Niagara getaway.

Big Fun In The Falls

OLG Stage, a world-class 5,000-seat theatre with state-of-the-art technology and outstanding acoustics, was built to wow music fans. Every seat in the house offers fantastic views to catch an impressive roster of touring musicians, which this winter includes acts like Matthew Good, I Mother Earth, Crash Test Dummies, The Northern Pikes, Lisa Loeb, Raymond Lam, Sarah Brightman, Johnny Reid, Arkells, Blue Rodeo, The Trews, The Watchmen, Skydiggers, Tom Cochrane, The Guess Who, Queensrÿche, Quiet Riot, Boy George and Culture Club, Glass Tiger, Trooper, Sawyer Brown, and more. The Avalon Theatre, an even more intimate 1500-seat venue just a short stroll away, also attracts a fantastic assortment of entertainers. This winter’s lineup includes Legends Live, a critically acclaimed tribute show, All-Star Vegas, featuring America’s Got Talent star and long-standing Las Vegas headliner Piff the Magic Dragon, and comedian Brad Garrett.

Be sure to build in some time for browsing before or after your show at the Fallsview Casino’s Galleria Shops, where you’ll find a delightful collection of boutiques filled with the latest styles, accessories, gifts, toys, and specialty foods. The nearby Canada One Outlets is a must-shop destination for those on the hunt for name-brand deals on labels like L.L. Bean, Coach, and other popular retailers. Those who prefer a pre- or post-show spa treatment will find themselves spoiled for choice in Niagara Falls! The Damara Day Spa, located right inside the Fallsview Casino Resort, offers a diverse range of treatments from relaxing massages and rejuvenating facials to scalp-nourishing head spas, kids spa fun, and full-body treatments. Burning Springs Spa and Thermal Pools, located just a short walk from OLG Stage, boasts three outdoor thermal pools providing a hydrotherapy journey in the original location of the spectacular natural spring that first drew the spa-seeking set to Niagara Falls! In addition to a luxurious assortment of spa treatments, Christienne Fallsview Spa, currently the top-rated Ontario spa on TripAdvisor, boasts the only hydrotherapy infinity tub with a spectacular view of both the American and Horseshoe Falls.

Encore-Worthy Experiences In Niagara-on-the-Lake

While The Shaw Festival wrapped its official season in early November, it offers theatre lovers one final holiday hurrah in November and December before pressing pause for the winter. Catch A Christmas Carol and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas until December 21. Then the cast and crew will focus on preparing for the 2026 season, which will feature an impressive array of productions, including Funny Girl, One For The Pot, Amadeus, Sleuth, Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, The Wind In The Willows, Heartbreak House, and Ohio State Murders. Tickets to The Shaw’s 2026 season go on sale to the general public on December 6.

Whether strolling the streets and browsing the shops of Old Town or scoring designer deals at Outlet Collection at Niagara, a few hours of shopping in Niagara-on-the-Lake before or after your time at The Shaw is an excellent way to get a head start on holiday shopping or get a few things for yourself after the holidays. Those in need of a little pre- or post-holiday relaxation will find a wonderful assortment of options in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Bundle up and enjoy some fresh air self-care beside one of the cozy outdoor firepits at The Outpost at Pillar and Post, a Monet-inspired garden space that gets a winter glow-up, complete with an outdoor ice rink, twinkling lights, a cocktail and gourmet snack bar, and more. The award-winning spa at White Oaks is another sensational space to catch your breath. Ranked as the #1 spa in Niagara, #2 spa in Canada, and #23 spa in all of North America by Spas of America, The Spa at White Oaks invites its guests to enjoy the on-site indoor pool, steam rooms, and saunas as part of their spa experience, making it a wonderful place to escape for an entire morning or afternoon!

Delightful Surprises In St. Catharines and Niagara Benchlands

St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is celebrating its tenth year with a bevy of birthday programming in the months ahead, including performances by Soweto Gospel Choir, Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie, Dallas Smith, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Stars, Jann Arden, Sam Roberts Band, Dwayne Gretzky, the Girls Night Out Comedy Troupe, and many more. The Art In Action: Climate experience is Niagara’s first-ever multi-day arts and climate festival, offering ten days of climate-focused programming from January 30 through February 8. Don’t miss In the Wake of Progress, a powerful immersive multimedia experience by renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky. Other events include captivating performances by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and Avanti Singers, thought-provoking films, gallery exhibitions, educational programs, and a one-day climate symposium.

Just down the street, indie music fans will adore the vibe at Warehouse Concert Hall, an intimate venue with an impressive winter lineup that includes acts like Hawksley Workman, Virginia To Vegas, The Dears, Terra Lightfoot, and many more.

While Downtown St. Catharines is home to a winning selection of record shops, vintage retailers, and niche boutiques that show-goers will definitely want to check out, a shopping stop in nearby Jordan Village is also highly recommended. Grab a coffee at Restaurant Pearl Morissette’s partner property, RPM Bakehouse, and browse the village’s interesting selection of galleries, clothing, gift shops, and more. Spa on the Twenty, located in a historic building right on the main street, offers spa-goers a selection of distinctive and seasonally-inspired treatments.

Understated Excellence In Niagara’s South Coast

During the winter months, Port Colborne’s Roselawn Theatre, the Niagara base for the Lighthouse Festival Theatre, serves up a delightful selection of shows, including author readings, tribute bands, comedians, and Canadian musicians. Fun shows to time a trip around in the coming months include the heartwarming A Charlie Brown Christmas Live, Canadian Celtic rockers, Mudmen, and Epic Eagles with their definitive Eagles tribute.

Downtown Port Colborne offers an interesting assortment of shops, cafés, and restaurants and its Niagara’s South Coast neighbour, Fonthill, is another lovely destination for some pre-concert exploring. Sneak in a little self-care time at The Yard Social Club, a creatively crafted boutique wellness space offering yoga, hot and cold contrast therapy, and more.

If a night out in a friendly small town complete with its own concert venue, craft brewery, and restaurants for a pre-show meal sounds like the perfect way to spend a winter evening, Ridgeway delivers on all accounts. The Sanctuary Centre for the Arts is a community-based event and concert space with stellar live concerts, theatre plays and comedy shows, including upcoming performances like Aysanabee, Tim Baker, and Paul Anthony’s tribute to Johnny Cash. Before sipping a pre-show pint at Brimstone Brewing Company, be sure to browse Ridgeway’s distinctive downtown retailers. Check out the schedule of drop-in classes, workshops and special events at The Yoga Dome, to see if there’s something interesting happening at this cozy country yurt before or after your show.

Play, Discover & Relax In Niagara

Discover a new way to winter in Niagara on a getaway that blends live entertainment, shopping, and some well-deserved spa time. 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 local accommodations and restaurant suggestions to find delightful options to add to your itinerary.

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Niagara After Dark

9 Experiences That Are Even Better After Sunset

While the sunset may serve as a signal to start to wind down the day in some places, that’s certainly not the case in Niagara! The sun’s daily dip below the horizon offers an invitation to discover a whole new array of ways to play. Here are some favourite ways to spend an evening enjoying Niagara after dark.

#1: Float Away on a Niagara Falls Fireworks Cruise

Enjoy the best seat in the house for Niagara Falls’ nightly fireworks extravaganza on a Fireworks Cruise! This 40-minute experience, offered through Canadian Thanksgiving, delivers starry skies, panoramic skyline views, stunning illuminations, and fireworks that light up the sky, all on the brink of Niagara Falls!

#2: Have An Electrifying Power Station At Night Encounter

Niagara Falls’ historic power station feels even more magical in the dark! Niagara Parks’ Power Station At Night experience invites guests to wander this cathedral of power’s beautifully lit main generator hall, where state-of-the-art LED lighting creates a brilliant cast of colours and shadows. Afterward, be sure to follow the 2,200-foot-long underground path to a one-of-a-kind Niagara Falls view on an observation platform perched on the edge of the Niagara River.

#3: Take Flight At Night

Although Niagara Parks’ all-new and incredibly popular Niagara Takes Flight experience is offered during daytime hours too, securing tickets for this fully-immersive flying theatre adventure during the evening is a wise way to avoid the new attraction rush. Enjoy a little extra elbow room in the pre-show media rooms, where an audiovisual experience sets the stage with powerful storytelling that blends geology, culture, and time.

#4: Enjoy A Skywheel Spin

Soaring 175-feet high in the sky in one of the Niagara Skywheel’s climate-controlled gondolas is one of the most magical ways to experience the beauty of Niagara Falls at night. For even more drama, time your tickets to coincide with the nightly fireworks show at 10 pm through October 13.

#5: Get Spooked In A Historic Haunt

Take a candlelit tour through Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Fort George and hear ghostly accounts of the many spirited encounters that have occurred in this War of 1812 landmark. Ghost tours are offered on Sunday evenings through September, and Halloween tours are available on October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, and November 1 and 2. Should that scare leave you looking for even more spine-tingling fun, Niagara Falls’ Haunt Manor, Canada’s largest haunted attraction, boasts a horror-filled hayride, Bayou trail, and a collection of terrifying haunted houses to explore.

#6: Gather Around The Trius Harvest Table

Spend a fall evening connecting with fellow wine and food enthusiasts around an outdoor harvest table under the covered walkway at Trius Winery, indulging in a dinner showcasing Niagara’s passionate local farmers and growers. The Trius Harvest Dinner Series is an excellent way to taste for yourself why the MICHELIN Guide has recommended Chef Frank Dodd’s farm-to-table cuisine.

#7: Order Dinner With A Side of Fireworks over The Falls

Through October 13, time your dinner reservation to coincide with Niagara Falls’ nightly 10 pm fireworks display at a restaurant that boasts a great Falls view. Excellent choices include Watermark Fallsview Dining, Table Rock House Restaurant, Prime Steakhouse, and Massimo’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant. After a short hiatus, nightly fireworks displays return during the Winter Festival of Lights, from November 15 through January 4.

#8: Chill Out On A Vibey Rooftop Patio

Grab that cute, cozy sweater! Fall is an ideal time to find your way to one of Niagara’s picture-perfect rooftop patios to sip something delicious and snap a few sensational autumn selfies! In Niagara Falls, head to La Favella, where a heated rooftop with a fully retractable roof ensures a comfortable evening hang in any kind of weather! The Sheraton Fallsview’s Premium Cabanas on the rooftop heated pool and bar area offer a luxe way for up to six people to soak up an evening view of the Falls. In St. Catharines, Lounge Six Sky Bar offers an incredible nighttime view of the Garden City as well as delicious food and drinks. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, Oast House has a two-story patio that provides a perfect perch for craft beer fans to take in the panoramic vineyard view in a seated bar area while sipping great drinks and enjoying delicious barbecue dishes and pizza.

#9: Get Spellbound By The Sparkle of Canada’s Largest Free Outdoor Light Festival

Each year, as the late autumn days begin to get darker, the Winter Festival of Lights brightens up the night with breathtaking displays across Niagara Falls. From November 15 through January 4, take in the larger-than-life displays, twinkling lights, and nightly “Sparkling Winter Lights” Falls Illumination, showcasing the subtle and sometimes harsh movements inspired by winter in the north. Don’t forget to grab your passport for the festival’s Hot Chocolate Trail to sip your way through a selection of naughty and nice steaming drinks at participating Niagara Falls bars and restaurants.

Adventure In Niagara

Design your ideal after-dark adventure in Niagara, enjoying the region’s many attractions, historic sites, events, and restaurants. 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 local accommodations options to find a delightful place to spend the night in Niagara.

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From Ho-Hum to Home Run!

From Ho-Hum to Home Run

Top Tips To Win Your Kids Over On A Family Getaway To Niagara

As children get older, convincing them to press pause on school friends and weekend fun for a few days can seem like a hard sell for adults wanting to enjoy some family time away. Fortunately, making your way to a destination that offers just the right blend of unique adventures, fun places to stay, and cool things to bring back home makes building the business case for a family getaway much easier. Here’s how to check all those boxes on a family trip to Niagara.

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #1:

Add an overnight stay with some unexpected fun

Whether it’s a hotel room that’s just steps away from an amazing waterpark, like Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge, or Waves Indoor Waterpark, a suite set amongst the excitement of Clifton Hill, a hotel with its very own bowling alley, or a tricked out themed suite that pays homage to your family’s love of football, golf, Christmas, or bicycling, surprising your gang with an overnight stay that goes above and beyond their expectations is a great way to get your getaway going on a high note!

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #2:

Find an activity to try that’s new for EVERYONE

For families with a full passport of already-enjoyed adventures, finding an activity that doesn’t feel a little “been there, done that” is a must. Luckily, a new attraction that is the first of its kind in Ontario has just opened in Niagara Falls, which will knock everyone’s socks off! Niagara Takes Flight is a cutting-edge, flying theatre experience that combines storytelling, motion, stunning aerial vistas, music and special effects into an immersive 30-minute experience that takes guests on a flight over the Niagara River corridor. As riders glide over ancient rock formations, historic battle sites, and breathtaking scenery, the addition of wind, mist, and scent effects makes the flight feel even more lifelike!

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #3:

Make time for fun and games

Kids love seeing their grown-ups forget they have grown up! Whether it’s challenging each other to a cut-throat game of skee-ball at a Clifton Hill arcade, like Great Canadian Midway or Niagara Falls Fun Zone, getting spooked as a family on a candlelit Ghost Tour at Fort George, or racing each other around a Niagara Falls or St. Catharines go-kart track, be sure your schedule includes a few hours for everyone to play like kids together!

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #4:

Celebrate the season

There’s always something to celebrate in Niagara, and the fall brings cozy harvest activities, spirited Halloween fun, and sparkling celebrations that kickstart the festive season as early as mid-November. Check our events calendar to find activities that coincide with your trip, like Howell’s Adventure Farm’s Fall Fest, Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, Haunt Manor, fireworks over the Falls, and the Winter Festival of Lights, which kicks off on November 15.

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #5:

Get everyone active on an outdoor adventure

Enjoying outdoor activities as a group, like hiking or cycling, is a fun way to spend time together as a family. The Niagara Bruce Trail Club offers various badges for children aged 15 and under to earn by achieving specific Bruce Trail hiking milestones, such as completing a three-kilometre hike or a 90-minute hike. Niagara’s also home to excellent off-road and paved cycling paths, including the Welland Canals Parkway Trail and the Niagara River Recreational Trail, that make for stress-free family bike rides.

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #6:

Find meals everyone will adore

Niagara’s red-hot culinary scene makes it easy to find meals that are both foodie- and family-friendly! Fans of the award-winning series The Bear will adore devouring Italian favourites at Chef Matty Matheson’s Rizzo’s House of Parm in Ridgeway. Families with only certain members who are seafood lovers will appreciate the choice between freshly shucked oysters and a kids’ menu at Tide & Vine. Decadent Sunday brunches at restaurants like Niagara Benchlands’ The Lakehouse, Queen’s Landing’s Tiara Restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Niagara Falls’ The Flour Mill Restaurant are an excellent option for families who need a lot of choices to suit specific preferences.

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #7:

Keep the adults well caffeinated

Keeping energy levels consistent across all those in your travel pack can be a key factor in ensuring everyone has a great time. For parents who find themselves in need of some extra oomph, Niagara is home to a collection of excellent independent coffee shops. When everyone is ready for a bit of downtime, consider hopping in the car and finding your way to some of these off-the-beaten path finds: Welland’s Black Sheep Coffee Roasters, Jordan’s Plant No. 01, Brindle Food Co. in St. Catharines, Hummingbird Coffee Co. in Niagara Falls, Stoke Deli Bar in Fonthill, Mellow Yellow Sips in Crystal Beach, or Little Red Coffee in Fort Erie.

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #8:

Let tweens and teens score some big brand deals

Brand-conscious big kids will have a blast sourcing savings on favourite labels like Nike, Lululemon, Ugg, Aritzia, and dozens more at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Outlet Collection at Niagara. In Niagara Falls, outlets at Canada One that younger shoppers will appreciate include American Eagle, Coach, Urban Planet, and Aéropostale.

From Ho Hum To Home Run Trip Tip #9:

Pick up a taste of Niagara to enjoy on the ride home

Make the ride back home a little more appealing by stocking up on some grown- and made-in-Niagara treats to snack on during the drive. Can’t-miss fall flavours include freshly picked apples from a roadside stand or farmer’s market, buttertarts that have earned a reputation for being some of Canada’s best, or a box of buzz-worthy Beechwood Doughnuts.

Adventure in Niagara

Hit your next family getaway out of the park, enjoying Niagara’s attractions, historic sites, outdoor activities, and events. 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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Only In Niagara, Canada … The Autumn Family Adventure Edition

Only in Niagara ... Autumn Adventure Edition

10 Made-In-Canada Autumn Experiences

If you need a reminder of just how unique Niagara, Canada is to visit at any time of year, our original Only In Niagara, Canada and Only In Niagara, Canada …Kids Edition articles are a great place to start. But for families specifically seeking the kind of one-of-a-kind adventures that can only be found in Niagara during the autumn, read on!

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #1:

Attend a 50-year-old Thanksgiving Festival

A turkey dinner with all the trimmings isn’t the only tradition to enjoy on Thanksgiving weekend. The Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, which runs from October 10 – 13, is a time-honoured Thanksgiving weekend tradition for families across Ontario. This picture-perfect fall festival offers something for everyone, including a beautiful waterfall, lovingly maintained historical buildings, a marketplace filled with talented craftspeople, birds of prey demonstrations, craft beverages, and delicious food.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #2:

Soar like a bird from the shores of Lake Ontario to the edge of Lake Erie

Experience Ontario’s first-ever flying theatre experience that just landed in Niagara Falls earlier this fall. Niagara Takes Flight is a cutting-edge new attraction that combines storytelling, motion, stunning aerial vistas, music and special effects into an immersive 30-minute experience that takes guests on a flight over the Niagara River corridor across ancient rock formations, historic battle sites, and breathtaking scenery. The addition of wind, mist, and scent effects makes the flight feel even more lifelike for riders.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #3:

Take trick-or-treating to the next level

Leave knocking on doors in your neighbourhood for October 31st! A pre-Halloween trip to Niagara allows your kids to get into the Halloween spirit a little early by trick-or-treating in some very cool locales! Safari Niagara’s Boo at the Zoo, on October 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12, is a spooky, fun-filled event with over 100 local vendors handing out treats, as well as costume contests, Halloween-themed activities, pumpkin painting, seasonal photo ops and more! Fort Erie Race Track’s Track-o-Lantern is a free event on October 13 where kids in costumes can collect candy at festive stations around the track, enjoy horse-themed games, and snap photos with spooky decorations.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #4:

Watch The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe come to life

Catch The Shaw Festival’s incredible production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe with the kids before the season ends on October 4. For a behind-the-scenes look at how the talented cast brings this C.S. Lewis classic to the stage, reserve your family seats for the kid-friendly pre-show workshop offered before every performance.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #5:

Brave North America’s most interactive horror festival

Families with older children who can’t get enough horror movies won’t want to miss Frightmare In The Falls at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre on October 25 and 26. The event will feature more than 50,000 square feet of all things horror, including memorabilia, panels, celebrities, movies, autographs, displays, movie cars, cosplay, special effects props, and much more!

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #6:

Experience the magic of a maple sugar bush as the leaves change colour

For a sweet fall experience on Saturdays and Sundays through October, visit White Meadows Farm for their Discover Maple Sugar Bush Tour. This amazing autumn adventure includes a tractor-pulled wagon ride through the heart of the forest, a stroll through the sugar bush, a maple syrup tasting, and time to relax under the mighty maples and enjoy a tasty treat.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #7:

Explore the Niagara Escarpment on an autumn hike

Set out on a hike with a real sense of history as the Niagara Escarpment shows off the radiance of its fall wardrobe! Woodend Conservation Area offers sweeping vistas of Lake Ontario and steep Escarpment slopes that are believed to have served as army observation points during the War of 1812. The forest here is composed mainly of hardwood trees, offering amazing fall colours in scattered Carolinian species, like Black Cherry, Black Oak and Sugar Maple.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #8:

Hear real stories of the Underground Railroad’s brave passengers

As a terminus of the Underground Railroad, Niagara is home to rich Black history, including Fort Erie’s Freedom Park and St. Catharines’ Salem Chapel, which Harriet Tubman once attended. Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Voice of Freedom Park is an experiential art installation designed to engage, educate, and challenge visitors about Black history in Canada. The audio walking tour that is available for download is an excellent tool for families eager to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake’s significant Black history sites in a more interactive way.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #9:

Step into the sparkle of Canada’s largest free outdoor lights festival

Each year, as the late autumn days begin to get darker, the Winter Festival of Lights lights up the night with three million lights displayed in breathtaking installations across Niagara Falls. From November 15 through January 4, take in the larger-than-life displays, twinkling lights, and nightly “Sparkling Winter Lights” Falls Illumination, showcasing the sub-zero splendour of winter in the north. And what better way to warm chilly fingers on a brisk fall night than strolling your way to a series of decadent hot chocolate stops? As part of the Winter Festival of Lights, a diverse collection of Niagara Falls restaurants join in on the fun by offering signature hot chocolate drinks on a Hot Chocolate Trail. While this year’s chocolatey concoctions are still being dreamed up, last year’s options included steamy sipper flavours like peanut butter, butter pecan, mango, and sprinkled waffle.

True North Niagara Autumn Adventure #10:

Take a candlelit tour of a historically haunted War of 1812 barracks

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Fort George has earned the reputation of being one of Ontario’s most haunted places. The bloody battles and deaths that took place here during the War of 1812 have led to hundreds of reports of paranormal activity, like sightings of soldiers, family members, and spirits. Hear the ghostly accounts of the many spine-tingling encounters that have occurred in this War of 1812 landmark on Ghost tours offered on Sunday evenings through September, and Halloween tours that are available on October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, and November 1 and 2.

Adventure In Niagara

Surprise your family with some only-in-Niagara autumn fun, enjoying the region’s attractions, historic sites, and events. 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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Leaves, Lager, Lattés, and Lore

Can’t-Miss Fall Hikes With A Hint of History & Delicious Sips Nearby

For those who prefer their fall hikes served with something delicious to sip and a thought-provoking story or two on the side, Niagara delivers colourful autumn options in spades. Here are six very different fall day itineraries that each reveal very different sides of Niagara.

Destination: Niagara Falls

HIKING TRAIL: THE NIAGARA GLEN
Deep within the Niagara Gorge, the Niagara Glen offers hikers four kilometers of rugged hiking trails winding through lush Carolinian forest past fascinating rock formations to incredible Niagara River views.

THE LORE: Rekindling All Our Relations is a free, self-guided Indigenous audio tour of the Niagara Glen that allows hikers to listen as they walk to discover the Indigenous connections to the nature surrounding them. Download the podcast to your mobile device, or visit the Niagara Glen Nature Centre to receive a handheld audio device with the tour pre-loaded on it.

Hikers who prefer to follow a guide will want to get on the guest list for Niagara Parks’ Twilight Tales: Autumn Nature Hike in the Niagara Glen, which will take place just before dusk on October 25 & 26. Hikers will learn about the dark history of the Niagara Gorge and the fascinating seasonal changes that occur here.

NEARBY LATTÉS & LAGERS: Those seeking a pre-hike caffeine kick will be happy to discover Hummingbird Coffee Co. From smooth espressos to refreshing iced lattes, each cup is crafted to perfection to capture the heart of Peru’s rainforests in a cup. If a post-hike lager is in order, make your way to Niagara Brewing Company. Choose from the original brewery, which is just 200 metres from the Falls, or the brewery’s taproom located within The Fallsview Casino’s Galleria.

Destination: Niagara-on-the-Lake

HIKING TRAIL: THE BRUCE TRAIL; Southern Terminus at Queenston Heights Park
Feel the history underfoot as you explore the southernmost end of Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath. The Bruce Trail winds its way hundreds of kilometers along the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, all the way to Tobermory.

THE LORE: While at Queenston Heights Park, take some time to explore the various components that make up the Landscape of Nations Memorial, which include The Memory Circle, The Longhouse, and a walkway commemorating the Two-Row Wampum Belt. The Memorial is dedicated to the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) Confederacy and Indigenous allies that played a vital role in the War of 1812.

NEARBY LATTÉS & LAGERS: Take in a stunning view of Fort Niagara while sipping an Iced Canadiano at Balzacs’ Niagara-on-the-Lake location. The Exchange Brewery pours a wide range of American styles along with sour and funky Belgian-style beers and ales.

Destination: St. Catharines

HIKING TRAIL: MERRITT TRAIL
Named after William Hamilton Merritt, the person who originally conceived the idea for the Welland Canal, the Merritt Trail is an 11-km stone dust pathway that takes hikers past remnants of former canal locks from the region’s first, second, and third sets of historic lift locks.

THE LORE: Pair your stroll with some storied cinema at The Film House, located within the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, which is just a short walk from the Merritt Trail. This fall, catch Retro Reel matinee screenings of Halloween favourites like Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

NEARBY LATTÉS & LAGERS: Grab a buzzed-about Matcha from Bright Pours Café to sip while you stroll this scenic path that runs along the Twelve Mile Creek. This cute little coffee shop is just steps from the Martindale Road entry point to the trail. When you reach downtown St. Catharines, stop for a thirst-quenching pint at Merchant Ale House.

Destination: Niagara Benchlands

HIKING TRAIL: TWENTY VALLEY TRAIL, Jordan
Tucked away behind the Lincoln County Museum and Cultural Centre, hikers will find a steep staircase that they can follow down into the woods to access the scenic Ellis Property section of the Twenty Valley Trail.

THE LORE: Lincoln County Museum and Cultural Centre’s permanent Fraktur exhibition offers a glimpse into the culture and everyday lives of the area’s early German-speaking settlers through this exquisite folk-art tradition.

NEARBY LATTÉS & LAGERS: When visiting Jordan Village, a stop at RPM Bakehouse is a must! All coffee beans are sourced from Canadian roasters who work with small producers, and flours for the bakery’s delicious pastries are sourced responsibly through strong relationships with local farmers and millers. The friendly Jordan House Tavern is another can’t-miss sip stop, where local craft brews are always available.

Destination: Niagara’s South Coast

HIKING TRAIL: SONS AND DAUGHTERS WINERY, Fonthill
A visit to Sons and Daughters Winery, the first winery located on the Fonthill Kame Delta, offers so much more than wine. The Fonthill Kame Delta is a unique geological feature formed by retreating glaciers after the last ice age. The winery, perched atop the highest point of land in the Niagara area, invites guests to explore its rolling hiking trails as part of their visit.

THE LORE: Catch Canada’s oldest Sugar Maple during its gorgeous fall glow-up! The Comfort Maple is a symbol of Canadian strength and tradition, towering about 24.4 metres at its crown with a trunk circumference of 6 metres!

NEARBY LATTÉS & LAGERS: In addition to serving up tasty wines, Sons and Daughters boasts an incredible on-site coffee bar, where Fieldnote Coffee is used to create delicious espresso, lattés, and other coffee-based drinks. After your hike, keep the geology lesson going at Fonthill’s Kame & Kettle Beer Works, where an ever-rotating tap list of flavours has something for everyone.

Destination: Grimsby

HIKING TRAIL: BEAMER MEMORIAL CONSERVATION AREA
Follow the hiking trails to the viewing platform for one of Niagara’s most breathtaking and panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario.

THE LORE: Visit the Grimsby Museum to explore the story of Lake Lawn, a distinctive heritage home in Grimsby, through original photographs, clothing, toys, and personal belongings from the house and its descendants.

NEARBY LATTÉS & LAGERS: 416 Coffee Co.’s Grimsby location is the perfect place for a pre- or post-hike pick-me-up. In addition to lovely Belgian- and German-influenced brews, Newark Brewing’s warm pretzels and hand-breaded Schnitzel sandwiches deliver delicious notes of Oktoberfest!

Wander In Niagara

Curate an amazing outdoor adventure in Niagara this fall by blending the region’s many nature-based attractions, cycling routes, outdoor sports options and campgrounds. 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 local accommodations and restaurant suggestions to find delightful options to add to your itinerary.

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The Sky’s the Limit!

The Sky's the Limit!

9 Niagara Views That Are Simply Too Spectacular To Miss

There’s something extra magical about looking down at the world from above when you’re a child. Whether it’s riding on an adult’s shoulders or sailing as high into the sky as the swing will go, getting a bird’s-eye view, even just for a brief moment, always seems to inspire big grins.

From all-new attractions to time-tested classics, parents looking to treat their kids to the wow-inducing pleasure of a sky-high view have plenty of amazing options to choose from in Niagara. Here are just a few favourites!

Niagara Takes Flight

Ontario’s first-ever flying theatre experience swooped into Niagara Falls at the end of the summer. Niagara Takes Flight is a cutting-edge new attraction that combines Indigenous storytelling, motion, stunning aerial vistas, music, and special effects into an immersive 30-minute experience that takes guests on a flight over the Niagara River corridor. Gliding over ancient rock formations, historic battle sites, and breathtaking scenery becomes even more lifelike with the addition of wind, mist, and scent effects.

Niagara Helicopters

Niagara Helicopters’ Classic Tour offers riders so much more than a fabulous view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The 12-minute ride provides aerial views of other beloved Niagara landmarks, like the Sir Adam Beck Power Generating Plant, the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, the rushing Whirlpool Rapids of the Niagara River, Queen Victoria Park, the American Falls, the Skylon Tower, and, if it’s a clear day, the outline of Toronto to the north and the shores of Lake Erie to the south.

Whirlpool Aero Car

Soaring 3,500 feet above the Niagara River’s raging Class 6 Whirlpool Rapids in the historic Whirlpool Aero Car provides a rush that has been leaving riders speechless since 1916! The car is meticulously maintained to protect the integrity of the original design and ensure the safety of the over 100,000 guests who enjoy the ride each year!

Niagara SkyWheel

Whether you’re five or 95, no trip to Niagara Falls’ Clifton Hill is complete without a spin on the iconic Niagara SkyWheel. One of Canada’s largest observation wheels, the SkyWheel treats riders to unsurpassed views of the Horseshoe and American Falls, the Niagara River, Niagara Parks and other landmarks. Even on the chilliest days, climate-controlled gondolas keep things nice and cozy on the eight- to 12-minute ride.

Wildplay Niagara

Wildplay Niagara’s two Niagara Falls attractions offer adrenaline-pumping aerial views that kids and kids-at-heart will adore. Zipline To The Falls is a 2,200-foot zipline that takes riders soaring past the American Falls before landing atop the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Just a bit further down the Niagara River, the Whirlpool Adventure Course, suitable for kids ages five and up, offers games, obstacles, ziplines, and challenges elevated between 20 and 40 feet in the air.

Skylon Tower

When it comes to treating kids to a meal with a view, the Skylon Tower offers one winner of a dinner that’s 775 feet above the Falls! Meals in the revolving dining room include complimentary access to both indoor and outdoor observation decks, and the Ride-to-the-Top in the famous Yellow Bug Elevators.

Public Star Nights at Heartland Forest

While this Niagara Falls option encourages guests to look up instead of down, it offers an equally impressive view. Once a month, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s Niagara Chapter descends on Heartland Forest just after sunset, allowing guests to use their professional telescopes to look at the moon, planets, stars, galaxies, and more!

Niagara Falls isn’t the only place to score sky-high views in the Niagara region. Here are a few other options for families keen to discover an elevated perspective in different parts of Niagara!

Skydive Burnaby

Tandem skydiving with Skydive Burnaby is an excellent option for those at least 18 years of age (or 16 years with parental consent) who are interested in trying skydiving for the first time. Guests can choose from a jump from up to 10,500 feet on weekdays or 14,000 feet on weekends. The experience includes a 20-25 minute plane ride with beautiful views of the Lake Erie coastline and the mist of Niagara Falls.

Beamer Memorial Conservation Area Viewing Platform

The breathtaking and panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario at this off-the-radar conservation area may be one of Niagara’s best-kept secrets! Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is beloved by birdwatchers who flock here each spring to observe the annual hawk migration from elevated viewing platforms.

Adventure In Niagara

Design your family’s ideal sky-high adventure in Niagara, enjoying the region’s fantastic attractions, historic sites, and events. 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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Glasses Up!

9 Delicious Ways To Show Canadian Makers in Niagara Some Extra Love

From meticulously manicured gardens to the friendly warmth locals extend to visitors, examples of the intense Canadian pride felt by those living in Niagara abound. During harvest season, there’s even more evidence of the strong connection that those in Niagara feel toward their country as proud growers, chefs, winemakers, and craft beverage makers take what’s grown here and work tirelessly to transform it into something even tastier. Here are just a handful of ways to experience that Canadian harvest season pride and support local makers on your next visit to Niagara.

Find A New Favourite at an Award-Winning Winery

Each summer, Wine Align’s National Wine Awards of Canada judges taste their way through close to 2000 different wines from 250 Canadian wineries. In addition to identifying the winners for individual wine varietals, the awards recognize Canada’s leading wineries with award categories that include Winery of the Year, Best Performing Small Winery, Top 25 Wineries in Canada, Top 10 Ontario Wineries, Top 10 BC Wineries, and Top 10 Small Wineries. This year’s Top 10 Ontario wineries are ALL proud to call Niagara home, making it really easy to create a tasting trip with a stop at each winner. The top-ten winners located with the Niagara Benchlands were:

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s top-ten winery winners were:

Get To Know a New-To-You Wine Region On A Touring Weekend

Seasonal touring events are a wonderful way to discover Canadian wine regions, wineries, winemakers, and wine country chefs that may not yet be on your radar. On weekends in November, for example, the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake host Taste the Season, a touring program that invites passport holders to visit participating wineries to enjoy eight carefully curated holiday-inspired food and wine pairings. Those tight on touring time have the option of purchasing individual pairings at the number of wineries that best suits their schedule. Niagara Benchlands Wineries also host a November touring event. Get Wrapped Up, running on November 8, 9, 15, and 16, offers visitors the chance to select their preferred weekend for festive food and wine pairings at eight wineries, all for just $49.95.

Join The Club To Score Insider Winery Perks

While joining a subscription-based wine club provides the convenient perk of regular shipments of wines delivered right to your door, wine club members are on the receiving end of some other fabulous advantages when they can make a visit to the winery as well. Many wineries, including Vineland Estates, Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Creekside Estate Winery, and Jackson-Triggs, treat wine club members to complimentary wine pairings at on-site restaurants, complimentary tastings at the tasting bar, and exclusive access to amazing club member events.

Follow The Food Critics

While Niagara’s wineries have long been on the radar of the world’s wine critics, more recently, the region’s restaurants have also really started feeling the love! Read our Fanning The Flames and A Star In Born articles for all the details about Niagara culinary standouts, like Restaurant Pearl Morissette, Fat Rabbit, and Trius Winery Restaurant, that all received noteworthy nods of approval from MICHELIN Guide Inspectors in 2024 and again in 2025, when Restaurant Pearl Morissette was also recognized with a second MICHELIN Star!

Dine Where Local Flavours Steal The Show

In addition to enjoying a delicious meal, reserving a table at a restaurant that has earned Feast ON certification offers the tasty assurance of flavours sourced from local growers and makers. In fact, the average menu at a Feast ON-certified restaurant consists of 54% Ontario-grown food. Excellent options for enjoying a meal at a Niagara restaurant with Feast ON certification include:

In the Niagara Benchlands:

In St. Catharines:

Fat Rabbit

In Niagara-on-the-Lake:

In Niagara Falls:

Niagara’s South Coast:

The Smokin’ Buddha

Shift Your Dining Window

Arriving in Niagara a little earlier in the day offers diners an entirely different range of culinary experiences to try at restaurants with stand-out breakfast, brunch, and lunch menus. Can’t-miss mid-day options to add to your next Niagara trip include Vineland’s Revalee Brunch Café, St. Catharines’ King Street Pantry, and Sunday brunch in Niagara-on-the-Lake at Tiara Restaurant or in Ridgeway at 335 On The Ridge.

Sink Your Teeth Into A Different Niagara Dining Destination

Each of Niagara’s many different communities offers diners something deliciously different. Switch up your restaurant routine by trying a new-to-you dining destination and let the passionate chefs there wow you. Excellent options include:

Odd Bird, Pharmacii, or Bolete in St. Catharines
KaiserHaus or Patio Andaluz in Port Dalhousie
Rizzo’s House of Parm in Ridgeway
Just Cooking Rustic Italian in Vineland

Stack Your Wine & Food Experiences

Since not all Niagara wineries are large enough to offer on-site restaurants, pairing up a tasting at a smaller winery with a lunch or dinner at a winery with its own restaurant is a fantastic way to experience the best of both worlds. Here are a few creative combinations:

In the Niagara Benchlands, pair a tasting at Watchful Eye Winery, Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, or Wending Home Estate Vineyards and Winery with a meal at Redstone Winery, Megalomaniac, The Good Earth Food & Wine Company, or Honsberger Estate Winery.

In Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country, blend a tasting at a smaller property, like Ferox, Lailey Winery, or Marynissen Estates, with a meal at The Farmhouse Café at Caroline Cellars, Barrelhead at Pillitteri Estates Winery, or Queenston Mile Vineyard.

Broaden Your Craft Beverage Horizons

Niagara’s not only home to over 100 world-class wineries. There’s a buzz-worthy craft beer, cider and distilled spirit scene that’s well worth getting to know a little better, too. Spending some time exploring the Niagara Ale Trail is an excellent way to discover the distinctive craft breweries and cideries that call Niagara home. Adding a stop at Niagara Benchlands distillers like Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, and Tawse Winery & Distillery, Niagara-on-the-Lake spirit makers, like Limited Distilling and Spirit In Niagara, or Niagara Falls’ Niagara Distillery, is another fun way to taste the creative ways local makers are putting a unique Niagara spin on locally made liquors. Bar Barista in the Fallsview Casino offers up contemporary cocktails and expertly curated beverages.

Feast in Niagara

Create your ideal culinary getaway in Niagara, enjoying the region’s vineyards, wine tours, craft breweries, distilleries, cideries, wine- and food-focused festivals, and its diverse collection of restaurants and cafés. 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 local accommodations options to find a delightful place to spend the night in Niagara.

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5 Terrific Trios of Shows, Shopping & Spa Treatments To Enjoy In Niagara

When it comes to incredible and affordable live music and theatre, Niagara earns a standing ovation. But making your way to Niagara and only seeing a show seems just wrong in a region that’s also home to fabulous shopping and so many world-class spas. This fall, create your perfect mix of live shows, shopping, and spa time in Niagara. Here are some winning combinations for inspiration.

Destination: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls’ OLG Stage is proving to be very popular with a wide range of big-name talent. Artists appearing on the OLG Stage this fall include Steve Winwood, Gipsy Kings, Il Divo, Three Dog Night, John Legend, and Patti Labelle. Time your trip for Matthew Good’s November 21 show to take advantage of one of Ontario’s most anticipated holiday shopping markets. The fifteenth annual HandMade Market opens its doors at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre from November 21 through 23, offering those eager to get a head start on made-in-Canada holiday shopping 1000s of one-of-a-kind handcrafted items all at one location. Bring some friends, and in between your show and shopping, head to Burning Springs Spa & Thermal Pools, which was recently recognized as one of the top 25 spas in Canada. The spa’s Celebration Package treats six or more guests to a reserved area with refreshments.

Destination: Niagara-on-the-Lake

The Shaw Festival’s 2025 season keeps going strong right through October 5, with a full slate of shows including Wait Until Dark, Tons of Money, Major Barbara, and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Then, after a short break, the Shaw’s fabulous cast returns for the holiday season from November 1 through December 21, to bring two fabulously festive favourites to the stage: White Christmas and A Christmas Carol.

Shaw showgoers can find outstanding deals on favourite brands like Coach, Michael Kors, Ugg, Lululemon, North Face, and more just down the road at Outlet Collection of Niagara. On Saturdays through October 4, shop the Little Hearts Market Series to find fabulous items from small businesses. Celebrate Niagara’s grape harvest season with the signature Grapeseed Body Wrap treatment at OSpa, which is located within Niagara-on-the-Lake’s historic Oban Inn.

Destination: St. Catharines

Music lovers looking to squeeze in one last outdoor festival for the season are in luck! St. Catharines’ annual Cicada Music and Arts Festival, on October 3 and 4, brings fantastic Canadian bands, including Sam Roberts Band, Broken Social Scene, 54-40, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Hollerado, and many more to Port Dalhousie’s Henley Island. St. Catharines is a real live music hub this fall, with a long list of other renowned acts arriving to perform downtown, including Bryan Adams, Ron Sexsmith, Tom Morello, The Tenors, and Soweto Gospel Choir.

While in downtown St. Catharines for a show, be sure to check out the downtown core’s excellent selection of vintage and consignment stores and record shops. Best bets include Out Of The Past, Pink Bubblegum Vintage Boutique, Roly Poly Records & Vintage, Studio Shop, and Mindbomb Records. In addition to a fantastic range of spa treatments, St. Catharines’ beautiful Oggi Spa offers the thoughtful option of a salon hair blowout following your service, so you can head to your evening show looking freshly styled after your afternoon at the spa!

Destination: Niagara Benchlands

Niagara Benchlands’ fall festivals are a show in themselves! Head to Charles Daley Park on October 4 and 5 for live bands, DJs, and tonnes of foodie fun at the annual Sip Niagara. On Thanksgiving weekend, the beloved Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival hosts live music, heritage demonstrations, a vendor village, and so much more.

Browsing the unique shops of Jordan Village is the perfect before- or after-festival activity. Whether you’re finding a fresh fall outfit at Tintern Road & Jack Style Collective, Pamela’s, or Oak and Honey, a festival-worthy hat at Frankie Sez Hatters, or an interesting piece of art at Northern Expressions Inuit Art Gallery or Jordan Art Gallery, this is shopping that’s miles apart from any shopping mall! The talented specialists at Spa on the Twenty are ready and waiting to help visitors achieve their festival season glow! Visit on a weekday to take advantage of special pricing on two-treatment packages.

Destination: Niagara’s South Coast

Niagara’s South Coast is the place to be for intimate shows that are sure to inspire considerable Canadian pride. The Lighthouse Festival’s production of Norm Foster’s Here on the Flight Path will have audiences at Port Colborne’s historic Roselawn Theatre in stitches through September 28. Later this fall, Ridgeway’s The Sanctuary Centre for the Arts will welcome Aysanabee and his band for an intimate stop on his The Way We’re Born tour.

Both Ridgeway and Port Colborne’s downtown districts are home to a unique collection of shops and galleries that are well worth an afternoon browse, like Lasting Impressions Gifts and Clothing, Lovely Day Gift & Home, Rookley’s Canadian Art, Harmony on West, and The Picket Fence. Complement your show and shopping with a Nordic-inspired soak! Fire & Ice Therapy at The Yard Social Club uses the contrasting elements of sauna and cold plunge to promote a deep sense of well-being that will linger long after the session ends.

Play, Discover & Relax In Niagara

Create an autumn getaway that combines live entertainment, shopping, and some well-deserved spa time. 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 local accommodations and restaurant suggestions to find delightful options to add to your itinerary.

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Nature It Up Niagara Style! 8 Summer Adventures Your Kids Will Love

Nature It Up Niagara Style

8 Summer Adventures Your Kids Will Love

Families looking to check an all-new outdoor adventure off their summer bucket list have plenty of options for creative nature-based play in Niagara. Beyond the bustle of the famous Falls, Niagara is filled with off-the-radar finds that offer the added excitement of discovering exciting new landscapes and fresh ways to play. Here are some can’t-miss outdoor playdates in Niagara to surprise your family with this summer.

Discover A Hidden Waterfall Together

While there’s no arguing the wow-factor of Niagara’s Horseshoe and American Falls, exploring a little further afield can also reveal some wonderful waterfall surprises. Kids will feel like they’ve stumbled upon their own private oasis as they scale giant boulders to arrive at Rockway Conservation Area’s 19.5-meter and 12.2-meter cascades. There are at least a dozen waterfalls to spot at Shorthills Provincial Park, but the biggest of the bunch is Swayze Falls. For families with little ones who are not up for hiking the entire Swayze Falls Loop, the Paleozoic Path is an easy-to-stroll gravel trail that offers a platform with a great view of Swayze Falls.

Check The Box On A Really Big Family Bike

Hitting an off-road trail for a long and leisurely family bike ride is a fun way to explore Niagara’s nature. Bring your bikes along, or rent your ride from an area outfitter like Zoom Leisure, Tour de Vine, or County Cycle and pedal a path like the Waterfront Trail, Welland Canals Parkway Trail, Friendship Trail or Niagara River Recreational Trail. Be sure to make frequent stops along the way at fruit stands, ice cream shops, and bakeries to keep little legs powered up!

Have A Family Bounce-Off At The Beach

It’s hard to beat a family beach outing, but you’ll score an even bigger win with the kids when you surprise them with a trip to a floating inflatable park! Splashtown Nickel Beach offers guests access to inflatable attractions that float right on top of Lake Erie. Kids and adults alike will love navigating inflatable obstacles and racing down the water slides. For a beach day that’s a little more “chill,” stretch out in the sand at Lakeside Park Beach or Sunset Beach on Lake Ontario, or Lake Erie’s Bay Beach or Centennial-Cedar Bay Beach. Time your trip with Port Dalhousie’s Tuesday night Supper Market or Crystal Beach’s Thursday night Supper Market and wrap up your day of beach play with a casual supper on the sand.

Feel The Rush of Some of North America’s Wildest Rapids

The sheer power of the Niagara River’s Devil’s Hole and Whirlpool Rapids is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Choose from an adventure ripping through them on a Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour, or strolling right beside them on the White Water Walk.

Set Out On A Family Float

Families who prefer an experience on the water that’s on the gentler side have plenty of options for a fabulous float. Toddlers can come aboard pedal boats that are available for rent for families eager to explore Welland’s Recreational Canal. Paddle Niagara’s Stand-up Paddleboard lessons in Niagara-on-the-Lake are a great way for families with older children to discover a new sport that everyone can enjoy together. Sugarloaf Marina offers free kayak and paddleboard rentals for children under the age of 13 with the purchase of an adult rental. Renting a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard to explore Jordan Harbour comes with the added benefit of spotting wildlife, including eagles, beavers and jumping fish.

Cache In On Hidden Treasures

Geocaching is a creative way to encourage screen-obsessed kids to consider an outdoor adventure. Both Niagara Parks and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority properties are supportive of safe and responsible geocaching activities.

Find a Nature-Based Playground

For families with eager little explorers, Niagara’s Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site offers a winning way to while away a few hours. In addition to walking trails and a pond filled with fish that kids can easily spot from a viewing boardwalk, the site features a thoughtfully designed outdoor classroom equipped with a weather station, sundial, replica solar system, climbing rocks, and kid-friendly earth mound tunnels designed to encourage movement between various activities. Be sure to climb up to the scenic overlook, which offers a stunning view all the way across Lake Ontario to Toronto!

Pick Niagara’s Freshest Fruit

Summer in Niagara offers visitors direct access to some of Canada’s very best peaches, plums, cherries and berries. Teach the kids where their groceries come from with an adventure at a pick-your-own farm. Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Parkway Orchards is a great option for picking cherries, peaches, plums, and nectarines. Pelham’s Mathias Farms has excellent cherries, raspberries, and blackberries. Smith Two Century Farm in Grimsby is known for its cherries and peaches.

Inject some fresh air fun into your family’s summer routine!

Browse our Naturally Niagara, Outdoor Sports, Cycling, and Family Fun pages and follow @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, browse through accommodations and dining options to discover family-friendly options that are the perfect fit for your trip!

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Summertime = Showtime in Niagara

Summertime = Showtime

8 Ways To Experience One Of Canada’s Hottest Live Arts Destinations

Live arts lovers looking for a summer road trip destination with a fantastic range of music, theatre, and comedy will discover plenty to love in Niagara. With incredible concerts, live music festival fun, stand-up shows, and world-renowned theatre performances, showtime in Niagara lasts all summer long. Here are some of our favourite ways to get in on the act!

Experience the Awe of the Shaw

The Shaw Festival’s 2025 season is a delightful collection of familiar classics given fresh energy, mixed with less-familiar plays that are sure to leave a lasting impression! From the beloved musical Anything Goes, to an exciting new spin on the family classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the nail-biting thriller, Wait Until Dark, the hilarious Tons of Money, the Shaw masterpiece Major Barbara, and the whodunit Murder-on-the-Lake, there really is something for everyone. There are also eclectic Studio shows, fun options for interactive Beyond The Shaw experiences, and more.

Get Even Closer To The Music At One Of Canada’s Top Small Venues

Don’t let the small number of seats at Niagara Falls’ OLG Stage fool you. This intimate 5,000-seat venue attracts some big-name acts, and guests have the added bonus of never being more than 150 feet away from the action!. This summer’s concert lineup includes Dustin Lynch, Randy Houser, 98 Degrees, Charlotte Cardin, The Black Crowes, The Killers, Train, Babyface, Cole Swindell, Kool & The Gang, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Steve Winwood.

Have Some Music With Your Wine

See for yourself why catching a concert at the Jackson-Triggs Amphitheatre has become a cherished summer tradition for so many. This year’s Jackson-Triggs Summer Concert Series lineup includes Canadian favourites like Stars, Chantal Kreviazuk, Matt Anderson, The Trews, Donovan Woods, Jim Cuddy and Dwayne Gretzky. On the other side of Niagara wine country, Redstone Estate Winery is also hosting some standout performances in a concert series that includes Joel Plaskett, Ron Sexsmith, Pretzel Logic, and John Neudorf.

Inject Some Big Laughs Into Your Summer

Top comedians continue to show their love for Niagara Falls right through summer 2025. Between OLG Stage and the Avalon Theatre, this season’s standup roster includes Jerry Seinfeld, America’s Got Talent winner Terry Fator, Jeff Dunham, and Jo Koy. Interested in catching comedy’s next breakout star before they’ve made it big? Head to amateur night at Yuk Yuk’s in Niagara Falls. St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre also has some fun comedy shows on tap, including Howie Mandel and an all-new Golden Girls show.

Join The Fun of Niagara’s Growing Music Festival Scene

Last summer’s Born and Raised Festival landed Niagara on the radar of music festival fans, and this year is delivering even more fantastic concert collabs. The all-new Misty City Music Festival will bring together a collection of amazing country and rock artists, including Kaleo, Stephen Sanchez, Riley Green, and The Reklaws. There will also be lots of local food and craft beverage vendors serving up a fun festival vibe on the Fallsview Event Grounds in Niagara Falls. September’s Grape & Wine Festival will kick off its Montebello Park festivities with a double-bill concert featuring Lowest of the Low and The Watchmen. Cicada Music and Arts Festival returns to Port Dalhousie’s Henley Island for two days of shows from bands including Sam Roberts Band, Broken Social Scene, 54-40, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Hollerado, and more.

Find Your Way To Free Live Music

Niagara’s event organizers know that music makes everything better and inject community events and festivals with lots of free, live performances. Weekly summer Supper Markets in Port Dalhousie, Thorold, Pelham, Welland, and Crystal Beach invite guests to snack on food truck fare and sip beverages from local craft producers to a soundtrack of live local music. Port Colborne’s Community Concert Series fills the city’s waterfront with live music from talented tribute bands on several nights throughout the summer. Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival treats guests to free concerts at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park in Port Colborne throughout the August long weekend. Local craft breweries, including Niagara Brewing Company, Merchant Ale House, Decew Falls Brewing Company, Taps Brewhouse, Oast House Brewers, and Newark Brewing, regularly offer live music.

Support Sensational Smaller-Scale Theatre

Niagara’s live theatre options don’t stop at The Shaw Festival. Each summer, The Foster Festival, inspired by the work of Canadian playwright Steven Foster, showcases the heart and humour of his writing in a series of productions across Niagara. Port Colborne’s historic Roselawn Theatre, a partner site of the Lighthouse Festival, is also hosting four comedic productions over the course of the summer.

Discover Some Perfect Live Arts Pairings

An afternoon or evening concert or theatre performance offers arts enthusiasts an ideal opportunity to spend a few hours before or after the show taking in Niagara’s many other cultural attractions, including heritage sites and museums, galleries, studios, and arts centres. Strolling Niagara’s signature shopping districts, like Jordan Village, Ridgeway, Port Colborne, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, to browse at local shops is a fun way to discover the work of local artisans and craftspeople.

Plan Your Art-filled Summer Escape in Niagara

Find your way to your ideal live arts escape in Niagara by browsing our Restaurants, Arts and Entertainment, History and Heritage, Wineries, Craft Beer pages and @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, browse through accommodations and dining options to discover even more delightful places to add to your trip.

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8 Smart Ways To Save On Family Fun In Niagara This Summer

Play More. Pay Less.

8 Smart Ways To Save On Family Fun In Niagara This Summer

Finding vacation savings on your family’s summer getaway offers benefits beyond more money in the bank! Having more fun for less can create extra funds for extending your adventure, lead you to activities you may not have otherwise uncovered, and help send an important message to kids that being on a budget doesn’t have to be boring! Here are some of our favourite tips and tricks for scoring significant savings on your family’s summer vacation in Niagara.

Summer Savings Tip #1: Bundle Your Fun

With so much to see and do in Niagara Falls, area travel partners understand the advantages of creating value-added attraction bundles for visitors. Niagara Parks offers three unique bundles with potential savings of up to 59% on popular attractions, including Journey Behind The Falls, the Butterfly Conservatory, and the White Water Walk. The Clifton Hill Fun Pass is an excellent savings tool for families looking to enjoy popular activities, such as Niagara SkyWheel, Dinosaur Adventure Golf, and Movieland Wax Museum.

Summer Savings Tip #2: Find Free-For-Kids Attractions

This summer, Canada is doing its part to fuel patriotic pride by offering free admission to Parks Canada sites for those under the age of 17. In Niagara, this includes Fort George, Butler’s Barracks, Fort Mississauga, Queenston Heights, and Mississauga Point Lighthouse. Other area museums that offer free admission for those under the age of 18 include the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum and Fort Erie’s five museum sites. While Port Dalhousie’s historic carousel in Lakeside Park may not be free, at just five cents a ride, it still offers one of the best deals on old-fashioned fun in the region!

Summer Savings Tip #3: Clip Those Coupons

Taking the time to source some local coupons can deliver surprising savings for those who make the effort. Niagara Falls Tourism curates local deals and coupons into one central coupons page on its website, making it easy to scan for savings as you plan your excursions.

Summer Savings Tip #4: Pass On Parking

Summer Savings Tip #5: Go On And Take A Free Ride

Bringing your family’s bikes along is another affordable way to explore Niagara. Miles of free bike trails, including the Niagara River Recreational Trail, Welland Canals Parkway Trail, Friendship Trail and Waterfront Trail, make it easy to wheel your way through Niagara, enjoying spectacular scenery for free.

Summer Savings Tip #6: Grow Your Travel Gang

Sharing the cost of a larger hotel room with another family is a creative way to slice your accommodation bill in half. Super-sized suites at the Embassy Suites Niagara Falls Fallsview can sleep up to 12 guests. Great Wolf Lodge’s premium suites can accommodate between six and 10 guests, and its cottages up to 10.

Summer Savings Tip #7: Feed The Kids For Free

Knowing the right restaurants to frequent can serve up some tasty savings on vacation meals when you take advantage of kid-friendly dining deals. Do a little research before your trip to find attractive promotions like:

→ Kids under 12 receive a child buffet dinner free with the purchase of an adult buffet dinner at Fallsview Restaurant from 5:00-6:00 pm (Niagara Falls)

→ Children 5 and under eat for free with the purchase of an adult entree at Frontier BBQ and Smokehouse (Niagara Falls)

→ Kids Eat Free on Mondays at Johnny Rocco’s Italian Grill (Niagara Falls and St. Catharines), Cracker Jacks (Thorold) and Next Kitchen & Bar (Fonthill)

→ Kids under 10 eat free with the purchase of a regular-priced entree at The Commercial Roadhouse in Fort Erie

→ Kids eat free with the purchase of a regular-priced entree at The Forty Public House in Grimsby

Summer Savings Tip #8: Camp or Glamp

Setting up camp at a Niagara campground or glamping park is a fun way to have a multi-day family adventure without the expense of a hotel stay. Families with their own camping gear can pitch their tents at excellent area campgrounds like Chippawa Creek or Long Beach Conservation Areas, and Windmill Point Park and Campground. In addition to having tent and RV sites, parks like Bissell’s Hideaway, Jellystone Park Niagara Falls, Campark Niagara Falls, and Niagara Falls KOA Holiday offer comfortable cabins for those who would rather not have to bring all their camping gear along.

Plan your best summer family getaway yet!

We’re here to help you make even more memories! Browse our Family Fun, Attractions, History & Heritage pages and follow @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, browse through accommodations and dining options to discover family-friendly options that are the perfect fit for your trip!

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8 Romantic Summer Dates in and Around Niagara Falls

Feel the Love

8 Extremely Romantic Summer Dates In and Around Niagara Falls

There’s something incredibly romantic about exploring Niagara in the summertime with your favourite plus one. Restaurants with waterfall and vineyard views, spectacular scenery to take in on leisurely strolls, and unique activities that have a special way of nudging couples out of their typical date routine make Niagara the perfect place for couples to enjoy time together. Whether you’re looking for a first date that wows, an encounter that will help seal the deal on your relationship status, or a romantic reminder that you’re thrilled to be in the forever zone with them, here are eight Cupid-approved date ideas to consider this summer.

Have Some Retro Honeymoon Hip Fun

As far back as the mid-1800s, Niagara Falls’ spectacular scenery has been attracting the newly I-Do’ed! Even if nuptials are nowhere in sight for the two of you, following the lead of the original honeymoon hipsters is a fun way to experience the Falls and secure a frame-worthy couples photo while you’re at it! Skip the lines with Niagara City Cruise’s exclusive First on the Boat Niagara Falls Tour and Journey Behind the Falls experience. The three-hour adventure is limited to just 20 people, and offers VIP perks, like the best possible boat views of the Falls, an expert Niagara Falls storyteller who shares insider details like the very restaurant view enjoyed by Princess Diana, and a pre-booked time slot to climb right down the stairs into the rocky caves behind Niagara Falls. For a retro date with a sky-high view, head to the historic Whirlpool Aero Car, which has been wowing riders with spectacular views of the swirling Niagara Whirlpool and the Class 6 whitewater rapids of the Niagara River for over 100 years!

Enjoy A Meal With Some Real Fireworks

Savouring a late-night dinner with a view of the Niagara Falls skyline is an excellent way to enjoy the added romance of a stunning summer fireworks show. Every night at 10 pm between May 16 and October 13, the Niagara Falls skyline explodes with sound and colour as Canada’s longest-running fireworks series lights up the sky. Extra-romantic restaurant options with an excellent view of the skyline include Watermark Fallsview Dining, Table Rock House Restaurant, Prime Steakhouse, and Massimo’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant. Can’t wait that late for dinner? Treat your date to a Falls Fireworks Cruise and set sail for panoramic skyline views, stunning illuminations, and a fabulous floating fireworks experience.

Surprise Them With Flowers

What’s even better than giving your sweetheart a bouquet of flowers? Inviting them to step into an immersive experience filled with thousands of blooms. Grab some iced coffee to-go and make your way toward Niagara-on-the-Lake along the scenic Niagara Parkway to visit Niagara Parks’ famous Floral Clock. The 40-foot clockface, filled with 100s of colourful plants, is the perfect place to tell your date you’ve got nothing but time for them! Niagara Parks’ Floral Showhouse is another excellent bloom-filled date destination. Just a short walk from the Falls, the facility’s South House overflows with stunning tropical plants, including an incredible collection of orchids. The North and Centre houses host a rotation of themed floral exhibits throughout the year.

Follow A Secret Tunnel To A Stunning View

Why take your date to a movie when you can stroll through a historic tunnel to take in one of the most romantic views of Niagara Falls? Niagara Parks Power Station at Night and Tunnel After Dark experience offers unprecedented access to this iconic Niagara Falls landmark. After making your way along the Power Station’s 2,200-foot-long underground tunnel, take in an illuminated nighttime view of the Horseshoe Falls from an observation platform at the edge of the Niagara River. If you’ve got a big question to ask your sweetheart, this is a sensational spot to do it!

Have Your First Kiss on a Carousel

Inject some young-love energy into your Niagara Falls visit with a romantic ride on the Niagara SkyWheel. As you rotate on one of Canada’s largest observation wheels, you’ll soak in unparalleled views of the Horseshoe and American Falls, the Niagara River, Niagara Parks and other landmarks. If you can take your eyes off the scenery for a moment during the eight-to-12-minute ride, it’s the perfect place to plant that first kiss!

Share Some Spa Time

Booking a couples treatment at one of Niagara’s world-class spas is a creative way to add some self-care for two to your date. Excellent destination spa options in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake with couples treatment options include Christienne Fallsview Spa, The Spa at White Oaks Resort, Sterling Inn and Spa, 100 Fountain Spa at Pillar and Post, Burning Springs Spa and Thermal Pools, and Five Lake Spa Aveda.

Catch A Niagara Falls Sunrise Together

Early risers should absolutely make a date of watching the sun rise over Niagara Falls together. Table Rock Centre and Niagara Parks Incline Railway are both excellent options for catching this one-of-a-kind view. Not an early bird? Swap the sunrise for afternoon rainbow hunting. Late afternoon, when the sun’s angle is lower in the sky, is an ideal time to watch for rainbows that stretch across Niagara Falls.

Savour a Meal In A Vineyard

Dining with a view of the vines is the ultimate way to wrap up a day with someone special in Niagara. Dining destinations known for their vineyard views include the MICHELIN Guide-recommended Trius Winery Restaurant, as well as Vineland Estates Winery Restaurant, The Good Earth Food & Wine Co., Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Westcott Vineyards, Megalomaniac, and Two Sisters Vineyards’ Kitchen 76. For the ultimate escape, book an overnight stay at a winery that offers accommodation options, like Lundy Manor’s luxurious suites or Honsberger Estate Winery’s cozy cottages.

Plan A Romantic Summer Escape in Niagara

Browse our Attractions, Arts and Entertainment, History and Heritage, Wineries, pages and @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, browse through accommodations and dining options to discover even more delightful places to add to your trip.

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