What to do and see in Niagara Falls

 

Parks, wineries, and a famous theater complete the visit to this wonder of nature in Canada.

As you admire the immense volume of foaming whitewater that falls through Horseshoe Falls in Ontario, one of the waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls, it is astonishing to think that some have refrained from going to the observation deck to feel to this wonder from inside a barrel that they launch from the edge of the waterfall.

The falls' famous story draws the daredevils - including Annie Taylor, who threw herself downstream on a barrel in pursuit of fame in 1901 - and the falls have been a favorite destination for tourists and honeymooners for more. 150 years. Niagara Falls is also incredibly beautiful with its three waterfalls that come together to create a constant mist. A rainbow is often reflected in the water, forming an ethereal bridge between the United States and Canada.

The Niagara River separates the two countries, and the towns on both banks are called Niagara Falls. The falls are in the middle, the Canadian side has the Horseshoe Falls and the American side has the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Niagara Falls

The Ontario side, which is just over an hour's drive from Toronto and 30 minutes from Buffalo, New York, reportedly offers better views than the New York side. It is also almost totally accessible, as many of the attractions, hotels, and restaurants are suitable for tourists with mobility problems. Plus, going to the Canadian side gives you an automatic 25% discount on everything from tickets to wine tastings, thanks to the favorable exchange rate.

And if the falls don't amaze you like others, fear not: there's so much more to do besides seeing 681,000 gallons of water rushing 170 feet per second. Here are some ideas for spending two or three days on the Niagara Peninsula.

Niagara Falls

To do

Know the history.  A good place to start is the  Niagara Falls History Museum, whose exhibits explain how the falls and the river formed during the last ice age - about 12,000 years ago - as well as the role the region played in the War of 1812 (the museum in the center is near the Lundy's Lane Battlefield, where one of the bloodiest battles of the war was fought).

Live the falls to the full.  To immerse yourself in the falls experience, put on a plastic raincoat and take the elevator down to the Niagara Escarpment on the Journey Behind the Falls Tour ($ 12.40 US) behind the curtain of water. You will enter tunnels drilled into the bedrock at the base of Horseshoe Falls to feel the thunderous vibration and hear the incessant roar of water falling over the edge. Dare to go out to the upper observation deck, which is accessible, and let yourself be kissed (rather, soaked) by the spray of the waterfall that is behind you.

Those with a tendency to claustrophobia may prefer a catamaran ride with  Niagara City Cruises by Hornblower  ($ 25). These large, stable vessels pass American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls to dive into the spray below Horseshoe Falls. Close your eyes and imagine what Annie Taylor felt after her feat, considering she was in her 60s when she got into the barrel. Wheelchairs are available on the catamaran and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis (lower deck only) and can be ordered from the funicular house at the base of Clifton Hill.

Niagara Falls

Explore the Niagara parks.  In either direction from the falls, you will find preserved green areas that run parallel to the Niagara River. Active visitors can hike or bike the Niagara River Recreation Trail, which stretches 33 miles between Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake. You will pass tourist attractions, such as Niagara Glen Park, with 2.5 miles of trails that descend from the upper end of the Niagara Escarpment to a temperate deciduous forest in which tulip trees (a type of magnolia) grow close to the shore from the river.

Along the trail are accessible tourist spots for people with disabilities, such as the Whitewater Walk, a quarter-mile wooden walkway with interpretive signs, adjacent to the terrifying Class VI rapids that plow through the Niagara Gorge. This is the site from where Lois Lane jumped into the river to entice Clark Kent to reveal his superhero identity in  Superman II.

Nearby is also the  Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Wide, flat brick walkways cross 99 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, and there are also plenty of places to sit and admire the flora. In addition, it has a butterfly conservatory ($ 13.60), where more than 2,000 butterflies, such as the red butterfly ( Cethosia bibles ) and the blue morpho butterfly ( Morpho Menelaus ), fly among blooming tropical plants and Romanesque statues. Both attractions allow you to enjoy a quiet moment away from the crowds of the falls.

Tour wineries.  In the past 20 years, the number of  Ontario wineries regulated by VQA, the appellation of origin authority, has grown rapidly from 44 to 185, of which 95 are on the Niagara Peninsula. It is very entertaining to spend the afternoon in two or three wineries tasting cool-climate varietals such as Riesling for lovers of white wine and Cabernet Franc for those who prefer robust reds.

Vineland Estates, less than 30 minutes drive from Niagara Falls near the town of Jordan, combines the charm of a historic Mennonite farmhouse from the 1840s with the trendy farm-to-table cuisine of its restaurant. . This small winery makes just 52,000 cases per year and you will taste its varieties in the restored 1877 barn, which doubles as a tasting room and shop.

Niagara Falls

For a more comprehensive guided tour and tasting experience, try Peller Estates Winery near Niagara-on-the-Lake, just 13 miles north of the falls. The Guided Greatest Winery Tour ($ 29) is a comprehensive educational experience, beginning at the vineyard, touring the winery, and ending at the 10Below Icewine Lounge igloo bar. You can't leave Canada without trying ice wine, a sweet wine made by pressing grapes that were frozen on the vine. (Modified tours are offered for visitors in wheelchairs. For a full list of accessible warehouses, visit accessibleniagara.com).

Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake.  This historic town on the south shore of Lake Ontario is a song of the past with its horse-drawn carriage rides and antique shops such as an apothecary and candy store. Take time to walk to see the colonial buildings and the statue of playwright George Bernard Shaw on Queen Street, the three-block main street.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is also home to the Shaw Festival Theater, the second-largest theater in Canada. This year there are shows from May through December in three theaters, plus an outdoor amphitheater, with wheelchair accessible seating.