Does keeping everyone happy on family trips sometimes feel like a tall order? If competing travel priorities have made past family trips feel more like a to-do list to complete rather than a relaxing time of connection, here’s a simple twist that can help everyone have more fun together. Before planning your trip around the individual activities everyone wants to do, start your getaway plan by determining a common goal or two you’d like to achieve together as a family. Those goals can then serve as a compass to help everyone get on the same page regarding the activities you’d like to enjoy as a group. To put your travel crew on the right path for your best getaway yet, choose from the five family travel goals below.
It’s hard to get excited about something you’ve already experienced. Fortunately, Niagara’s filled with so many exciting attractions and experiences, do-overs are never required! If your family has already experienced the excitement of Niagara Falls firsthand, Niagara Parks’ new Niagara Takes Flight attraction offers guests an immersive, 56-km indoor 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. Flying like a bird over Niagara is sure to wow everyone.
Other excellent options to offer your family a fresh perspective on the famous Falls include Niagara City Cruises’ Falls Fireworks Cruise, Journey Behind The Falls, and White Water Walk.
Taking a timeout to discover something that makes everyone in your crew say, “I had no idea!” is a refreshing reminder that learning isn’t limited to the classroom. Make time for a little touring at attractions that excel at experiential learning, like Niagara Parks’ Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara Falls History Museum, the Welland Canals Centre, and Fort George National Historic Site. Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum’s self-guided audio walking tours are another fun way for families with older kids to get their steps in while learning about Black History in the area or the fascinating tale of the burning of the village of St. Davids.
Your family’s cumulative adrenaline score is sure to spike after braving WildPlay Niagara’s Zipline To The Falls or sky-high Whirlpool Adventure Course. Those looking to test their bravery on the water instead of over it will scream with delight while getting soaked on a Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour. Niagara’s three indoor waterparks are an excellent option for catering to varying degrees of bravery, with rides ranging from toddler-friendly slides at Waves Indoor Waterpark to Great Wolf Lodge’s Wolf Tail, a high-speed slide with a floor drop and a 20-foot freefall and Fallsview Indoor Waterpark’s Extreme Racing Slides.
Families looking for a challenge that’s more about endurance than adrenaline can opt to hike their way to earning one of the Niagara Bruce Trail Club’s kid-friendly badges, like the Young Trail Blazer Badge for a three-kilometre hike, or the Young Nature Blazers Badge for a 90-minute hike.
Does your crew still get starry-eyed when they share stories from a particularly memorable trip to the zoo, a popular amusement park, or the theatre? Let that excitement inspire an all-new adventure in Niagara. Animal lovers will adore the up-close-and-personal experiences at Safari Niagara, a 150-acre nature park home to over 1000 animals, reptiles, and birds. Fans of movies, pop culture, and amusement park excitement will love getting to meet the epic lineup of celebrity guests at June’s Niagara Falls Comic Con, followed by a night of excitement on Clifton Hill, when the fireworks show lights up the sky every night at 10 pm beginning May 15. For some extra parent points, keep the fireworks a surprise and time a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel to coincide with the fireworks magic! Kid-friendly show options, including Vegas-style magic at Greg Frewin Theatrical Centre, the Shaw Festival’s The Wind in the Willows, and Dino Light by Lightwire Theatre at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, are great options for families who adore the excitement of a live performance.
Families with a little competitive edge have endless options for friendly challenges in Niagara. Some can’t-be-beat activity ideas include:
● Miniputt courses on Clifton Hill like Wizards’ Golf, Dinosaur Adventure Golf and SkipArrr’s Pirate Putt.
● Family-friendly bowling at Strike Game Zone in Niagara Falls, or Kingpin St. Catharines, and Parkway Social in St. Catharines.
● Axe throwing and archery at BATL Axe Throwing in Niagara Falls or AeroSports in St. Catharines.
● Go-karting at Niagara Speedway and Niagara Go-Karts in Niagara Falls or K1 Speed in St. Catharines.
Build your family’s best blend of attractions, historic sites, outdoor activities, and entertainment for your next visit to Niagara. 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.
A: There are amusement attractions, animal parks, interactive museums, boat tours, and safe walking areas.
A. Niagara Takes Flight, Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara Parks Power Station, Hornblower Cruise, Niagara Jet Boats and more!
A. Great Wolf Lodge, Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, Fallsview Indoor Waterpark Resort.
A. The tourist areas are very safe and heavily patrolled. Families should still follow normal travel safety (watch crowds, keep kids close).
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