Wondering how to add a little extra vitamin D to your vacation diet? With an average of about 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, Niagara is an ideal destination for those who like to live life on the sunny side! Here are just a few fun ways to catch some of Niagara’s bright rays on your next trip.
If you’re visiting Niagara in the spring, a trip to pick your own tulips is a wonderful way to soak up some post-winter rays! Local flower farms that roll out the red carpet for flower-loving visitors include Tasc Flower Pick Farm, JP Niagara Tulip Experience, and Roadside Flower Market. Those particularly passionate about flowers and gardening will want to time their trip around the Niagara-on-the-Lake In Bloom event, held each May.
White Meadows Farm keeps its sweet, maple syrup fun going far beyond those winter weeks when the sap is running! Its Sugar Bush Trek experience, which runs through April, includes a 10-minute tractor-pulled wagon ride to the maple trees, a guided 45-minute walking tour where guests learn how maple syrup is made, a maple taffy treat, and more!
The Niagara section of Canada’s oldest and longest footpath offers hikers a beautiful balance of shade and sun. Even in heavily forested areas, sunbeams often filter through the forest canopy covering the Bruce Trail, and there are scenic overlooks that jut out from the shade. Hike kilometres 55 to 60 of the trail, starting at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area and ending at Cherry Avenue, where you’ll be nice and close to lovely patios at Megalomaniac and Tawse Winery to enjoy some post-hike sipping and snacking in the sunshine.
A guided horseback trail ride is a wonderful way to experience a side of Niagara that you simply won’t see from your car. Niagara Riding Stables, just a 15-minute drive from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines, offers trail rides along the Niagara Escarpment, with group sizes limited to no more than six riders. This experience also offers a nice blend of sun and shade.
Touring around Niagara by bike is one of the best ways to cover lots of ground while soaking up the sunshine. The Welland Canals Parkway Trail and Niagara River Recreational Trail are both paved, restricted to non-motorized traffic, and offer hours of stress-free pedalling. Those who could use a little bit of an assist tackling steep Escarpment climbs around the Niagara Benchlands can rent an e-bike or join a group e-bike tour with e-bike The Bench.
Renting a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard is another great way to enjoy the warmth of the sun’s rays on your shoulders on a warm Niagara day. Paddling experiences offered on Jordan Harbour and the Niagara-on-the-Lake section of the Niagara River are both excellent choices for relaxed paddling and convenient equipment rentals.
Lake Erie’s warm, shallow waters make it a hotspot for anglers hoping to reel in Walleye, Yellow Perch, and Rainbow Trout. Team up with an area charter company, like Net Bender Sportfishing, Hall’em In Sportfishing, or Fishin’ Finatics Charters, and spend a sunny afternoon aboard casting for your next big catch.
Soak up some rays on Lake Ontario as you sail a 39’ yacht from Port Dalhousie. Niagara Nautico offers a variety of sailing experiences on its beautiful boat, the Black Diamond. Not enough time for a full-length float? Opt for the one-hour Oysters on the Dock experience, and spend an hour enjoying freshly shucked oysters on the boat at sunset from Port Dalhousie’s West Pier.
Ripping through the Niagara River’s raging rapids on one of Whirlpool Jetboat’s Wet Jets is a guaranteed way to enjoy some rays and cool off from the heat at the same time. The 45-minute tour takes riders straight through the Devil’s Hole Rapids!
The Laura Secord Walk is one of Niagara’s most storied routes. While the full length of the walk the Canadian hero made to warn the British of a potential invasion is 32 kilometres, the route is divided into five shorter stages. Stage 1 is a great option, starting at the historic Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston. As hikers follow the 7.25-km route, they’ll walk along the Niagara Parkway and pass through sunny vineyards with wonderful views of the Escarpment and Brock’s Monument.
Find even more outdoor activities, attractions, and sunny patios at wineries, craft breweries, and restaurants to add some extra sunshine to your next Niagara escape. Spend some time scrolling @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for additional trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Don’t forget to browse local accommodation options for your stay.
A: Educational and interactive activities include Niagara Parks Power Station, Bird Kingdom, WildPlay Niagara Falls Zipline, Fort George National Historic Site and more.
A: AG Inspired Cuisine, Kitchen76 at Two Sisters, Treadwell Cuisine, Restaurant Pearl Morissette and more.
A: Yes. You can hike Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, Jet Boat down the Niagara River and cycle along the Niagara Parkway.
A: Local outfitters provide opportunities to rent paddleboards and kayaks, or particpate in a fishing charter.
A: Yes. You can rent an e-bike or join a group e-bike tour.
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