Attractions of Ontario's Niagara Region
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Niagara Region, Ontario.
Ontario's Niagara Region, located just over an hour and a half from Toronto, is rich in history, beauty and visitor attractions. The area features abundant green spaces, many historic sites, and plenty of opportunities for family fun and adult entertainment—including the Niagara wine region.
INTERESTING PLACES
Travellers will find some of the area's most exciting sights and sounds on such streets, avenues and boulevards as the trendy Falls Avenue in Niagara Falls with its 8-ha (20-acre) shopping, entertainment and dining complex or the exhilarating district of Clifton Hill, which features numerous attractions, shopping and restaurants. For a change of pace, visitors can travel the picturesque Twenty Valley route and take in the numerous boutiques, galleries, spas and natural attractions found along it. A stop at Market Square, one of Ontario's oldest farmers' markets, in downtown St. Catharines is an excellent way to spend a few hours shopping for local goods and fresh produce.
Holidaymakers looking to get away from the crowds and bustle can meander down the Niagara River Parkway and enjoy views of the picturesque Niagara River and countryside vineyards. Of great economic importance and impressive in sight, the man-made Welland Canal bypasses the Niagara Falls with a series of eight locks between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
PARKS, LAKES & WATERFALLS
When people think of the Niagara Region, the Niagara Falls are generally first to come to mind—not surprising given the awesome power and beauty of these falls as they move almost 600,000 litres (158,503 gallons) of water every second. For an up-close experience, visitors can descend to the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, a distance of 40 m (150 ft) by elevator, to view the deluge from the observation plaza at the Journey Behind the Falls. A short distance downriver, holidaymakers can take the awe-inspiring White Water Walk.
As well as being home to the impressive Niagara Falls, this region stakes claim to two of the most sizeable lakes in Canada: Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Lake Erie, the shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes, is the 11th largest lake in the world and offers excellent swimming from its many sandy beaches in communities such as Long Beach, Crystal Beach and Port Colborne. While only slightly smaller in area, Lake Ontario—the easternmost of the Great Lakes—is a much deeper, cooler lake with charming communities, including Niagara-on-the-Lake and Grimsby, along its shores.
Travellers will have plenty of opportunities to take in some fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature in the region's many parks and green spaces. Bird lovers will enjoy a stroll through Niagara Falls' Bird Kingdom, home to 500 free-flying birds in a large tropical rainforest facility. While in the area, adults and children alike will be amazed by the various sizes and colours of butterflies found in Niagara Parks' Butterfly Conservatory. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers and cyclists, the Friendship Trail offers a vista of Lake Erie, which runs parallel to the trail and ends at Old Fort Erie. Situated in Thorold, the Battle of Beaverdams Park gives visitors a place to play as well as learn about an important part of local history, the 1813 Battle of Beaver Dams.
FAMILY FUN
An excellent family vacation spot, the region offers attractions for both the young and young at heart with numerous amusement parks, theatres and specialty attractions. Thrilling and educational is Niagara Parks' famed attraction, the Niagara Fury. No ordinary show, the 4-D experience takes place in a 360-degree theatre where participants experience a 20-degree drop in temperature, a moving floor and even snowfall. For excitement of another kind, visitors can visit the medieval world of the Mystery Maze in an attempt to locate the mystery sword while navigating the castle's corridors.
Children can experience the wild while in Stevensville at the Safari Niagara Zooz, which has plenty to see and do with more than 400 exotic and native animal species, playgrounds, an outdoor amphitheatre, paddleboats and a picnic area. Come evening, families can head to Fonthill to take in a drive-in movie at the Canview Drive-In.
HISTORY & LEARNING
The region's rich—and at times violent—history is remembered and passed on to new generations at the area's abundant museums and historical sites. The Battlefield House Museum in Stoney Creek takes visitors back to the 1813 Battle of Stoney Creek and provides an intimate look at the life and trials of the Gage family. Holidaymakers can learn about the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman, an important figure in the abolition of slavery, at the Salem Chapel in St. Catharines, while the Mahoney Dolls' House Gallery showcases over 140 doll houses that date from 1780 to 1980, including rare masterpieces from North America, England, Europe and the Orient. History buffs and genealogists will find a trip to the Grimsby Historical Society and Archives enlightening with displays that feature historical family documents, diaries, photographs, books and publications.
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
A thriving cultural centre, the Niagara Region offers abundant entertainment and enriching experiences. Travellers can visit Port Colborne's famous Roselawn Centre for the Living Arts or view a show put on by the popular Gypsy Theatre in Fort Erie. Visitors may also enjoy a stroll through Welland to see the Welland Murals, which in some cases reach nearly 25 m (82 ft) high, or a trip to the Thorold Murals that are found between locks six and seven. Alternatively, after an exciting afternoon at the Fort Erie Race Track and Slots or the Merrittville Speedway, adults can visit one of the local casinos such as the Niagara Fallsview Casino.
A fertile growing region, this area is home to numerous vineyards and wineries, as well as a number of award-winning wines, found in centres such as Beamsville, Jordan, Vineland and Winona. Travellers can stop in at many of the wineries such as the Stoney Ridge Estate Winery to enjoy a tour or wine tasting. An excellent location for special events and a producer of world-class wines, the Hillebrand Winery has been making wine for over 30 years and offers group tours and a restaurant.
INTERESTING PLACES
Travellers will find some of the area's most exciting sights and sounds on such streets, avenues and boulevards as the trendy Falls Avenue in Niagara Falls with its 8-ha (20-acre) shopping, entertainment and dining complex or the exhilarating district of Clifton Hill, which features numerous attractions, shopping and restaurants. For a change of pace, visitors can travel the picturesque Twenty Valley route and take in the numerous boutiques, galleries, spas and natural attractions found along it. A stop at Market Square, one of Ontario's oldest farmers' markets, in downtown St. Catharines is an excellent way to spend a few hours shopping for local goods and fresh produce.
Holidaymakers looking to get away from the crowds and bustle can meander down the Niagara River Parkway and enjoy views of the picturesque Niagara River and countryside vineyards. Of great economic importance and impressive in sight, the man-made Welland Canal bypasses the Niagara Falls with a series of eight locks between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
PARKS, LAKES & WATERFALLS
When people think of the Niagara Region, the Niagara Falls are generally first to come to mind—not surprising given the awesome power and beauty of these falls as they move almost 600,000 litres (158,503 gallons) of water every second. For an up-close experience, visitors can descend to the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, a distance of 40 m (150 ft) by elevator, to view the deluge from the observation plaza at the Journey Behind the Falls. A short distance downriver, holidaymakers can take the awe-inspiring White Water Walk.
As well as being home to the impressive Niagara Falls, this region stakes claim to two of the most sizeable lakes in Canada: Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Lake Erie, the shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes, is the 11th largest lake in the world and offers excellent swimming from its many sandy beaches in communities such as Long Beach, Crystal Beach and Port Colborne. While only slightly smaller in area, Lake Ontario—the easternmost of the Great Lakes—is a much deeper, cooler lake with charming communities, including Niagara-on-the-Lake and Grimsby, along its shores.
Travellers will have plenty of opportunities to take in some fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature in the region's many parks and green spaces. Bird lovers will enjoy a stroll through Niagara Falls' Bird Kingdom, home to 500 free-flying birds in a large tropical rainforest facility. While in the area, adults and children alike will be amazed by the various sizes and colours of butterflies found in Niagara Parks' Butterfly Conservatory. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers and cyclists, the Friendship Trail offers a vista of Lake Erie, which runs parallel to the trail and ends at Old Fort Erie. Situated in Thorold, the Battle of Beaverdams Park gives visitors a place to play as well as learn about an important part of local history, the 1813 Battle of Beaver Dams.
FAMILY FUN
An excellent family vacation spot, the region offers attractions for both the young and young at heart with numerous amusement parks, theatres and specialty attractions. Thrilling and educational is Niagara Parks' famed attraction, the Niagara Fury. No ordinary show, the 4-D experience takes place in a 360-degree theatre where participants experience a 20-degree drop in temperature, a moving floor and even snowfall. For excitement of another kind, visitors can visit the medieval world of the Mystery Maze in an attempt to locate the mystery sword while navigating the castle's corridors.
Children can experience the wild while in Stevensville at the Safari Niagara Zooz, which has plenty to see and do with more than 400 exotic and native animal species, playgrounds, an outdoor amphitheatre, paddleboats and a picnic area. Come evening, families can head to Fonthill to take in a drive-in movie at the Canview Drive-In.
HISTORY & LEARNING
The region's rich—and at times violent—history is remembered and passed on to new generations at the area's abundant museums and historical sites. The Battlefield House Museum in Stoney Creek takes visitors back to the 1813 Battle of Stoney Creek and provides an intimate look at the life and trials of the Gage family. Holidaymakers can learn about the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman, an important figure in the abolition of slavery, at the Salem Chapel in St. Catharines, while the Mahoney Dolls' House Gallery showcases over 140 doll houses that date from 1780 to 1980, including rare masterpieces from North America, England, Europe and the Orient. History buffs and genealogists will find a trip to the Grimsby Historical Society and Archives enlightening with displays that feature historical family documents, diaries, photographs, books and publications.
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
A thriving cultural centre, the Niagara Region offers abundant entertainment and enriching experiences. Travellers can visit Port Colborne's famous Roselawn Centre for the Living Arts or view a show put on by the popular Gypsy Theatre in Fort Erie. Visitors may also enjoy a stroll through Welland to see the Welland Murals, which in some cases reach nearly 25 m (82 ft) high, or a trip to the Thorold Murals that are found between locks six and seven. Alternatively, after an exciting afternoon at the Fort Erie Race Track and Slots or the Merrittville Speedway, adults can visit one of the local casinos such as the Niagara Fallsview Casino.
A fertile growing region, this area is home to numerous vineyards and wineries, as well as a number of award-winning wines, found in centres such as Beamsville, Jordan, Vineland and Winona. Travellers can stop in at many of the wineries such as the Stoney Ridge Estate Winery to enjoy a tour or wine tasting. An excellent location for special events and a producer of world-class wines, the Hillebrand Winery has been making wine for over 30 years and offers group tours and a restaurant.
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