Niagara Falls Ontario
Niagara Falls, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, is known for its visual beauty and its display of nature’s power. The 55m high falls are the eastern outlet of Lake Erie and cross the border between the state of New York and province of Ontario. The American and Canadian falls are separated by Goat Island, part of a New York state park.
The American Falls, occupy the 300m between the mainland and Goat Island. The Canadian Falls, which is widely called the Horseshoe Falls, also covers the 300m between Goat Island and mainland Ontario, but the horseshoe shape results in a 700m curved waterfall. Tourism is the primary business of both Niagara, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario. |
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Niagara Falls, Ontario is located about 60km across Lake Ontario from Toronto and 25km from Buffalo, New York. The Canadian falls are at the southern point of what is known as the Niagara Region, which stretches north past St. Catherines and west to the town of Niagara on the Lake. The Niagara region is Canada’s largest fruit growing region, where grapes now dominate as the result a large number of wineries that have located to the region.
Niagara Falls features 2 casinos and over 200 hotels and motels. The area around the Fallsview Casino, know as Clifton Hill, is home to a half dozen 4+ star high rise hotels within a short (400 meter) walk of the casino. |
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Tourism opportunities abound in the areas above and below the falls. From Clifton Hill, above the falls you can take the incline railroad down to viewing areas at the top of the falls and the starting point for the most popular tours in the falls region. Check out the "Behind the Falls" tour where you venture, by foot, to the area behind the bottom of the falls.
Why not check out the oldest tourist attraction in North America? Come sail the Maid of the Mist. This 163 year old attraction will sail you up to and behind the falls. Throughout the city you’ll find restaurants from virtually every US and Canadian restaurant chain ranging from McDonalds to Tony Roma’s ribs and everything in between. If you’re looking for fine dining, there are plenty of opportunities at the top hotels and at a number of wineries within a 30 minute drive of the falls. |
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If you’re looking for other things to do, you’ll find many "Tourist Traps", including both a "Ripley’s Believe it or Not" and "Guinness World Records" museum, the "Louis Tussauds" and the Movieland Wax Museums, plus an IMAX theatre. Just a few minutes drive above the falls is the MarineLand Amusement park with its trained sea animal acts and rides featuring the Sky Screamer and Dragon Mountain roller coaster.
If you’re able to drive a little farther, head out to Niagara on the Lake and stop at the botanical gardens and its butterfly conservancy along the way. If you’re heading for Niagara on the Lake, consider taking in a show at the George Bernard Shaw festival, which offers nearly 20 plays over the July 26th weekend. |
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If you’re a wine lover, a gourmand, or just like to visit wineries, there are dozens of wineries throughout the region. Nearly all have tasting bars where if you’re over 19, you may sample their wares; unfortunately the government requires that they charge you a $1 per taste, though it’s not strictly enforced. The Niagara wine region is known for the quality of German style dessert wines, know as Ice Wine. Ice wine is made from grapes that are harvested after the first big freeze of the late fall/early winter around Christmas. |
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Many wineries feature gourmet restaurants that offer up some very exciting lunch and dinner fare.
Travelling to Niagara from Canada generally means coming from Metropolitan Toronto, via car, bus or train. Get on the QEW East for 107km then Kings Hwy 420 east for 4km and you’ve made it.
From Buffalo head North on I-190 and cross into Ontario via the Peace Bridge and head West/North on the QEW for about 35km to Kings Hwy 420 into town. The US Department of Homeland Securities now requires Americans to present a passport or enhanced ID upon return to the US; though the media reports that enforcement will not begin in full until September 2009.
Useful Links
- Whirlpool jet boat rides
- Niagara Parks - Official site for local parks, Behind the Falls and Maid of the Mist and botanical gardens
- Fallsview Casino Resort - Newer, upscale casino above the falls
- Casino Niagara - Original “Casino Niagara”, below the falls
- Niagara Peninsula Wineries - List of 60+ area wineries with links to the wineries’ homepages
- Niagara Wine Country - Tourism Niagara’s wine tour page
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