Niagara-Falls Travel Guide
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Along the Niagara Parkway
The Niagara Parkway, on the Canadian side of the falls, is a gem. Unlike the American side, it abounds with natural wonders, including vast expanses of parkland. You can drive along the 56km (35-mile) parkway all the way from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls on the parkway, taking in attractions en route. Here are the major ones, listed in the order that you'll encounter them:
The White Water Walk, 4330 River Rd. (tel. 905/374-1221): The scenic boardwalk runs beside the raging white waters of the Great Gorge Rapids. Stroll along and wonder how it must have felt to challenge this mighty torrent, where the river rushes through the narrow channel at an average speed of 35kmph (22 mph). Admission is C$7.50 (US$5.25) for adults, C$6.50 (US$4.55) for children 6 to 12, free for children 5 and under.
The Whirlpool Aero Car (tel. 905/354-5711): This red-and-yellow cable-car contraption whisks you on a 1,097m (3,600-ft.) jaunt between two points in Canada. High above the Niagara Whirlpool, you'll enjoy excellent views of the surrounding landscape. Admission is C$10 (US$7) for adults, C$6 (US$4.20) for children 6 to 12, free for kids 5 and under. Open daily May to the third Sunday in October. Hours are from 10am to 4:30pm.
The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture (tel. 905/356-8119): Stop here for a free view of the vast gardens and a look at the Floral Clock, which contains 25,000 plants in its 12m-diameter (40-ft.) face. The new Butterfly Conservatory is also in the gardens. In this lush tropical setting, more than 2,000 butterflies (50 international species) float and flutter among such nectar-producing flowers as lantanas and pentas. The large bright blue luminescent Morpho butterflies from Central and South America are particularly gorgeous. Interpretive programs and other presentations take place in the auditorium and two smaller theaters. The native butterfly garden outside attracts the more familiar swallowtails, fritillaries, and painted ladies. Admission is C$10 (US$7) for adults, C$6 (US$4.20) for children 6 to 12, free for children 5 and under. The school opens at 9am daily. It closes at 8pm in May and June; 9pm in July and August; 6pm in March, April, September, and October; and 5pm from November through February. It's closed December 25.
Queenston Heights Park: This is the site of a famous War of 1812 battle, and you can take a walking tour of the battlefield. Picnic or play tennis (for C$6/US$4.20 per hour) in the shaded arbor before moving to the Laura Secord Homestead, Partition Street, Queenston (tel. 905/262-4851). This heroic woman threaded enemy lines to alert British authorities to a surprise attack by American soldiers during the War of 1812. Her home contains a fine collection of Upper Canada furniture from the period, plus artifacts recovered from an archaeological dig. Stop at the candy shop and ice-cream parlor. Tours run every half-hour. Admission is C$3.50 (US$2.45). Open late May through Labour Day weekdays from 9am to 3:30pm and weekends from 11am to 5pm.
Fruit farms, like Kurtz Orchards (tel. 905/468-2937), and wineries such as the Inniskillin Winery, Line 3, Service Road 66 (tel. 905/468-3554 or 905/468-2187): You'll find peaches, apples, pears, nectarines, cherries, plums, and strawberries at Kurtz; you can tour the 32 hectares (80 acres) on a tractor-pulled tram. Inniskillin is open daily from 10am to 6pm June through October, and Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm November through May. The self-guided free tour has 20 stops that explain the winemaking process. A free guided tour, offered daily in summer and Saturday only in winter, begins at 2:30pm.
Old Fort Erie, 350 Lakeshore Rd., Fort Erie (tel. 905/871-0540): It's a reconstruction of the fort that was seized by the Americans in July 1814, besieged later by the British, and finally blown up as the Americans retreated across the river to Buffalo. Guards in period costume stand sentry duty, fire the cannons, and demonstrate drill and musket practice. Open daily from 10am to 6pm from the first Saturday in May to mid-September, and weekends only to Canadian Thanksgiving (U.S. Columbus Day). Admission is C$7.50 (US$5.25) for adults, C$4.50 (US$3.15) for children 6 to 16, free for children 5 and under.
