August is in full swing and there are a number of great attractions and events to check out while visiting Niagara Falls.
WildPlay MistRider Zipline to Niagara Falls
WildPlay MistRider Zipline to the Falls
One of Niagara’s newest and most thrilling attractions is the WildPlay zipline to the Falls. This is a one of a kind experience that takes you on an exciting ride into the Niagara Gorge while descending from 670 metres high. The ride will take you toward the base of the mighty Horseshoe Falls and give you unparalleled views of the Niagara Gorge.
Night Lights! at Journey Behind the Falls
From August 3rd to September 4th, Journey Behind the Falls will be hosting a new Night Lights event as part of Niagara’s ongoing Canada’s 150th celebrations. Night Lights will give you exclusive nighttime access to the observation deck located at the base of the Horseshoe Falls during the Falls illumination and fireworks show. Night Light at Journey Behind the Falls is running Monday through Friday from 9:30pm to 10:30pm, so don’t miss out.
Jackson Triggs Concert Events
Jackson Triggs Winery Concert Series
One of the most popular musical events this summer, along with the Coca Cola Concert Series in Queen Victoria Park, is the Jackson Triggs Concert Series which invites a number of amazing musicians to play outdoor shows at the winery’s open-air amphitheatre. The Sheepdogs will be playing a show at the amphitheatre on August 18th and you can check out Black & the Rodeo Kings on August 25th.
Niagara Glen Nature Centre
The Niagara Parks has just recently renovated and reopened the Niagara Glen Nature Centre located along the beautiful Niagara Parkway and overlooking the Niagara River. You can stop by the Nature Centre to get all of the information you need about nearby trails and hikes, purchase bouldering permits, sign up for guided hiking tours, pick up refreshments and souvenirs, and explore the Niagara Glen Nature Exchange exhibit, which teaches about nature and the exciting features of the Niagara Glen.
RCMP Meet and Greet
RCMP Meet & Greet
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are an icon of Canada and from now until September 1st you can visit the Table Rock Welcome Centre, located at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, for a special RCMP Meet & Greet. Royal Canadian Mounted Police members will be at the Welcome Centre every Friday from 10am until 3pm.
Niagara Falls is a city with a bustling nightlife and offers a variety of amazing destinations and activities to experience with loved ones of all ages. Here are some of the city’s top nighttime spots where you’re sure to have a great time and make unforgettable memories with your family.
Niagara Skywheel
Located on Clifton Hill and open until 3am on weekends and 1am on weeknights, the Niagara Skywheel takes you on a thrilling ride high above the Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil Falls. Sitting at an impressive 175 feet high, the Skywheel features climate controlled gondolas that will take you on a round trip into the sky high above Niagara Falls for incredible views and an unforgettable night in the city.
Coca Cola Concert Series
Monday through Friday until August 31st, stop by Queen Victoria Park for the annual Coca Cola Concert Series where live bands perform on a stage in the park, followed by a fireworks show over the Falls at 10pm. Check out upcoming bands and musicians like Eric Ethridge, The Moonlighters, The Rasorbax, and Caribbean Festival Entertainment, and get ready for a ton of family fun and entertainment right next to Niagara Falls.
Onguiaahra: Thunder of Waters Show
From now until September 4th you can also stop by Queen Victoria Park for the Onguiaahra: Thunder of Waters sound and light show which tells the amazing story of Niagara with incredible water jets, music, and lights. It’s a unique and totally free show that is both informative and thrilling.
Fireworks & Illumination
Every Monday through Friday you can experience a spectacular fireworks show over the Horseshoe Falls where the sky above the waterfalls is lit up in breathtaking lights and colours. And every night you can also take in the beauty of the Falls as they’re illuminated in a colourful array of LED lights.
Clifton Hill
Niagara Falls’s famous Clifton Hill is known as the Street of Fun because it’s lined with amazing one of a kind destinations like the Adventure City arcade, Niagara Brewing Company, Tim Hortons, Movieland Wax Museum, Sweet Jesus Ice Cream, Niagara Skywheel, Dinosaur Adventure Golf, and much more. Take a walk down Clifton Hill at night and experience first hand what makes this street the most exciting place in the city.
When many people travel they like to include animal-related activities in their schedules. Families traveling with children are likely to devote a day to allowing their children to interact with animals as part of the vacation. After all, when you’re traveling with children you’re sometimes obligated to let them choose an activity they enjoy.
Depending on your vacation destination animal themed activities can vary widely. It may be a trip to a zoo in a new city or a tour to see local wildlife in their natural habitat. There are many ways to incorporate an animal encounter into your itinerary and Niagara Falls gives you ample activities to choose from.
So, as you’re planning your visit to Niagara Falls consider these five fun animal activities that will have the whole family happy to add a bit of nature to the trip.
Safari Niagara
Niagara Falls doesn’t have a zoo, per se, but they do have an animal encounter adventure that is popular with people from Ontario and visitors alike. This is the unique, park-like atmosphere of Safari Niagara. With more than 1,000 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles this interactive park has been open since 2002.
Guided tours are included in the price of admission, you can watch the giraffes and hippos enjoying their daily meals, and there is a petting zoo for the younger children. Safari Niagara also features an amphitheater where summer concerts and events are held and you can also book a behind-the-scenes private tour, if you want a truly immersive experience. This is one of Niagara’s top attractions and for good reason.
The Butterfly Conservatory
As part of the Niagara Parks system the Butterfly Conservatory is another great way to incorporate some nature into your visit. This exhibit is climate controlled to simulate the tropical environment that the more than 2,000 butterflies representing 45 species would call home. The butterflies are free to fly and flit about as they drink nectar from the tropical flowers and they may even decide to land on your head or your arm, which is always a delight for children.
The Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls is a great way for children and adults to learn more about these beautiful and very important pollinators that are vital to our worldwide ecosystem. The exhibit also has an emergence window where you might be lucky enough to see a young butterfly leave their chrysalis, take a moment to dry their wings, and fly away to join the others.
Horseback Riding
One of the best ways to experience the great outdoors is on the back of a horse and you can easily include this in your Niagara Falls itinerary. Whether you and your family are experienced riders or simply want to enjoy the area from the saddle there are many options to choose from.
Horseplay Niagara is one of the most popular stables in the area and their signature ride takes place along the shores of Lake Erie. Children must be older than 6 to ride, riders may not exceed 300 pounds, and the minimum number of riders is two. They offer a number of rides to choose from that range in length from one to three or more hours and reservations are recommended. If you’d like to add a horse ride to your trip this is the place to do it.
Marineland Canada
Marineland Canada is a combination amusement park and aquarium and is a great place to spend a day enjoying both the animal exhibits and the multiple rides. You and your family can get up close and personal with animals like beluga whales, sea lions, walruses, dolphins, and other sea mammals and fish. Interactive exhibits let you and your children get close to the animals and in some cases swim with them or feed them.
Then there’s the amusement park. With rides to suit people of all ages and all levels of adventurousness you’ll want to spend the whole day here just to take it all in. Roller coasters, Ferris wheels, kids’ rides, and many more rides are available here as well as numerous restaurants and areas to relax. It’s one of Niagara’s top attractions and draws people from all over the world.
Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory
Bird Kingdom
Last, but not least, is the home of Niagara’s feathered friends, the Bird Kingdom. Housed in natural habitats these birds represent species from all over the world, including owls, parrots, cockatoos, lorikeets, conures, and more. In addition to birds the facility also houses reptile and other animals.
The layout of the facility means that you’ll be able to see the animals as you would in the wild. The NIght Jungle allows you to see the owls and bats in the dark when they’re more active. Lorikeet Landing allows you to feed these small but beautiful birds. As a Trip Advisor Hall of Fame member this is definitely a Niagara attraction you don’t want to leave out.
Animal lovers will not be disappointed with the attractions in Niagara Falls. Add one or all of these activities to your itinerary and enjoy the fun.
Among the most unrecognized of Niagara’s attractions — and there are plenty of amazing sights, events, and activities that tourists to the area miss — are the Niagara region wineries. While vineyards throughout Italy, France, and California are known the world-over and visited by millions every year, Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries, many of which have won global awards for taste and innovation, do not enjoy nearly the international acclaim they deserve.
Niagara Falls is for lovers, and a weekend of wine tasting is just another romantic way to enjoy the area. However, wineries are also excellent destinations for big groups, especially bachelor and bachelorette parties. Regardless of whom you’re going with, here are a few unique and exciting ways to experience Niagara’s remarkable wineries on your next Niagara trip.
The Traditional Winery Tours
If you are a winery wiz, you have probably already experienced a few group winery tours. These excursions put a group of wine-minded strangers together on a bus and shuttle them from winery to winery, with organized tours and tastings at designated spots. The Niagara region boasts more than a few of these familiar, traditional winery tours, and you can easily sign up for more than one to fill a week or weekend with wine tasting fun.
There are pros and cons to this winery tour format. When you register for a tour like this, you can be certain you will have time to stop at a few of the best wineries in the region, and there will be knowledgeable experts on hand to explain the history of different vineyards and vintages. Plus, the bus itself serves as your safe transport from place to place — as well as back to your Niagara Falls hotel headquarters.
On the other hand, these traditional tours often lump your group in with 10 or more other tourists, whom you may or may not get along with. Further, you rarely get the option of choosing which wineries to visit in a single tour, which means you might have to register for several tours to reach the wineries you care about, and you’ll likely visit one or two you couldn’t care less for. If these sound like deal breakers, you might consider another option on this list.
Self-Guided Winery Crawl
Of course, you can organize your own winery tour using online information about Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries and your own vehicle to carry you from one to another. This way, you see all the vineyards that excite you and none that don’t, and you can move along at your own pace. Additionally, you are surrounded only by those people you traveled to Niagara with.
Still, there are some downsides to this plan as well. First, by choosing your own winery stops, you might miss out on a hidden gem or never learn some fascinating information about certain vineyards. Second, there is no guarantee that your plan will bear fruit; perhaps your chosen winery is booked up for the day, closed for the season, or otherwise inaccessible. Finally, you must consider safe driving practices: Who in your party is willing to stay sober while so much good wine is passed around? A self-guided trip might save some bucks, but it also might dramatically impact your experience.
Wine Bicycle Tour
If you love the outdoors, enjoy stretching your legs, and can’t get enough fine wine, perhaps a wine bicycle tour is right for you. On these excursions, a tour company will provide a bicycle (as well as appropriate safety gear) and a tour guide to lead you through Niagara’s gorgeous wine country, visiting important wineries on your way. The ride is scenic, taking you through some of Niagara wine country’s most stunning grape fields as well as quaint towns and verdant forests. Plus, the ride tends to help you sober up between tastings, so you can enjoy your full day of wine and outdoor fun with a clear head.
Niagara on the Lake Vineyards
Niagara Wine Class
Wine tasting tours tend to provide information on individual vineyards and wines, with precious little background for wine tasting novices. If you want to delve deep into wine culture before you are let loose on wineries, you might consider signing up for a wine-related course. In the Niagara region, some wineries host classes to educate the public on proper wine tasting, pairing, and crafting techniques, but there are also independent courses taught by wine experts around the valley.
Alternatively, if you find it likely that you’ll leave a few wineries with bottles in hand, you can sign up for a wine cooking course. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, Wine Country Cooking School is dedicated to teaching any level of cook about the delicate art of cooking with and around wine. You’ll have hands-on instruction in building multi-course meals around different styles of wine, so you can leave Niagara with a skill bound to impress friends and family — at least those who didn’t attend the class with you.
A number of amazing musicians and bands will be gracing stages all across Niagara this summer, offering unforgettable live entertainment in beautiful and picturesque settings. Check out any of these destinations for wonderful live performances, making your next trip to Niagara Falls an experience you won’t soon forget.
Niagara Parks Coca Cola Concert Series
Coca Cola Concert Series
Every Friday night this summer you can stop by Queen Victoria Park for Niagara Parks’ annual Coca Cola Concert Series where local bands will be performing live shows followed by a fireworks display at 10pm. Experience awesome live entertainment in a beautiful setting and get ready for a totally unique Niagara Falls activity that people of all ages will enjoy.
Ontario Live Series
The Ontario Live Series is a new addition to the popular Coca Cola Concert series, adding live shows to the lineup every Wednesday night in Queen Victoria Park. Great bands and musicians from all across the province will be performing live throughout July and August, so don’t miss out on all of the fun and excitement.
Niagara Brewing Company & Hard Rock Cafe Patios
Enjoy great beer, food, and live music while soaking up the sun on the outdoor patios at Niagara Brewing Company or the Hard Rock Patio, both located just steps away from the beautiful Horseshoe Falls. Both Niagara Brewing Company and the Hard Rock Patio feature live music from local musicians and offer a wide range of food and drinks for you to enjoy with friends and family.
Matthew Good
Matthew Good
There are still a number of exciting Canada 150 celebrations to enjoy this summer in Niagara Falls, including a free concert by Matthew Good, lead singer of the popular Canadian alt-rock band, Matthew Good Band. The show is taking place on August 26th at 7pm at the Scotiabank Convention Centre, but seats are limited so make sure to get there early to secure a spot at what’s sure to be an incredible live music experience.
Matt Andersen
Juno award-nominated musician Matt Andersen will be performing a live show in Niagara on July 14th at the beautiful Jackson Triggs Amphitheatre. Matt Andersen is an amazing Canadian singer-songwriter and blues guitarist and you can pair your tickets to his show with a delicious and one of a kind Cellar Dinner at Jackson Triggs Winery.
Niagara Falls is home to a number of fantastic dining destinations that offer amazing food and wine for couples, families, and people of all ages. From Fallsview fine-dining to casual food on the go, Niagara Falls has something wonderful for everyone to enjoy.
Niagara Heirloom Tomatoes with this salad of roasted baby eggplant and herbed mascarpone.
Windows by Jamie Kennedy Fresh Grill & Wine Bar
Windows by Jamie Kennedy Fresh Grill & Wine Bar offers some of Niagara’s best Fallsview dining with an extensive seasonal menu that currently features dishes like J.K. Short Rib Poutine, Rainbow Trout, Cumbrae Pork Rack Chop, and Ontario Lamb Shank featuring delicious Niagara Brewing Company beer braised lamb. Enjoy these fresh and innovative dishes in direct view of the breathtaking Niagara Falls through the dining room’s floor to ceiling windows and get ready for a Niagara Falls dining experience unlike any other.
The Rainbow Room by Massimo Capra
For modern and delicious Italian dishes served in a stunning atmosphere in direct view of Niagara Falls, visit the Rainbow Room by Massimo Capra inside the Crowne Plaza Fallsview hotel. The restaurant’s seasonal menu will give you a true taste of Italy right here in Niagara Falls with dishes like Milli-Strato Lasagna made with 87 layers of hand rolled pasta, Sweet Potato Cannelloni prepared with Ontario goat cheese, and Maple Mustard Crusted Ontario Lamb Rack. And with the Rainbow Room’s extensive wine list you can pair your meal with the perfect glass of wine from award-winning Niagara wineries and beyond.
Fallsview Buffet Restaurant
With live action food stations and an unbeatable view of Niagara Falls, the Fallsview Buffet Restaurant is the place to go to find a vast array of amazing food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Fallsview Buffet is a great dining destination for people of all ages and offers a wonderful dining experience that’s both interactive and delicious.
Terrace Food Court
The Terrace Food Court, conveniently located in the Casino Niagara Atrium between the Crowne Plaza Fallsview and Hard Rock Cafe, is the perfect place to find quick and tasty food at Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, The Great Canadian Burger Company, and Subway. There’s no better place to stop for food during a busy day of sightseeing, and with a number of different choices, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy.
Morton’s Grille Filet Mignon.
Morton’s Grille
The newly-opened Morton’s Grille is Fallsview dining at its finest, offering a unique steakhouse experience that combines high-quality ingredients with a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. This beautiful Fallsview restaurant is located inside the Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa and features delicious menu items like AAA Canadian Beef Steak, Blackened Mahi Mahi, Double Stacked “Ravenous Style” Burger, and Morton’s Midwest Prime Beef Steak.
Milestones on the Falls
For an incredible lunch and dinner experience in direct view of the thundering Niagara Falls, make sure to visit the Milestones on the Falls restaurant inside the Marriott on the Falls hotel, where you’ll find amazing food and wine in an unforgettable atmosphere. Indulge in dishes like Butternut Squash Ravioli, Brie and Mushroom Burger, Stacked Chicken Parmesan, Slow Roasted Prime Rib. And don’t forget to try the Milestones Original Bellini, White Chocolate Cheesecake, and other great items on the bar and dessert menus.
Niagara’s newest and coolest ice cream shop is officially open at the bottom of Clifton Hill and Falls Avenue. With only a handful of locations throughout Ontario, Sweet Jesus offers soft serve creations that push the boundaries of ice cream and feature incredible ingredient combinations that you’ve never seen before.
Dig into the Bangin’ Brownie, made up of chocolate soft serve, caramel, chocolate sauce, brownie bits and chocolate cookie crumble, the Bounty Killah with coconut soft serve, shredded toasted coconut and dark chocolate sauce, the Red Rapture with vanilla soft serve, red velvet cake, cream cheese icing, raspberry puree and meringue crumble, or the Krusty the Kone which is a colourful combination of vanilla soft serve, cotton candy pieces, cotton candy sauce and rainbow sprinkles.
There are plenty of other unique and delicious flavours to check out on the menu, and if you’re looking for a classic soft serve experience, you can also find favourites like caramel, chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and chocolate and vanilla twist. So take a break from sightseeing around Niagara Falls and stop into Sweet Jesus for a sweet and refreshing summer snack unlike any you’ve ever had before.
There are many ways to get spectacular views of Niagara Falls while visiting the city this summer, like by walking right up to the brink of the Falls at Table Rock, exploring the tunnels behind the rushing waters of the Horseshoe Falls, and venturing into the mist from below on an iconic boat ride. But if you want to take in the beauty of this remarkable natural wonder from above, here are some of the best ways to do it.
Niagara Helicopters Ride
Niagara Helicopters is one of Niagara’s most exciting aerial attractions. Embarking on a helicopter tour will allow you to experience a one-of-a-kind scenic flight that begins over the Sir Adam Beck Generating Plant, continues over the Niagara River, whirlpool and rapids, and finishes off by taking you directly above the magnificent Bridal Veil, American, and Horseshoe Falls.
Fallsview Hotel Room
You can experience world-class accommodation in direct view of the magnificent Niagara Falls by booking a Fallsview room at one of Niagara’s many amazing hotels like the Sheraton on the Falls, Crowne Plaza Fallsview, Marriott Fallsview, and Marriott on the Falls. You can have a comfortable and luxurious stay while also taking in direct views of the Falls from floor-to-ceiling windows for a truly magical experience right in your hotel room.
Whirlpool Aero Car
Operating in Niagara Falls since 1916, the Whirlpool Aero Car is an antique cable car suspended above the Niagara Whirlpool that offers unparalleled views of the Niagara River, whirlpool, and rapids from above. A round trip on the cable car is about one kilometre in total and the entire journey is both thrilling and unforgettable.
Niagara SkyWheel
Located on Clifton Hill in the heart of the city’s tourist district, the Niagara SkyWheel is Canada’s largest observation wheel standing 175 feet high. A ride on the SkyWheel will give you fantastic aerial views of Niagara Falls from fully air-conditioned and heated gondolas, offering a great activity both day and night for people of all ages.
A summer visit to Niagara Falls isn’t complete without a visit to wine country in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and there are plenty of unique festivals and events happening throughout the summer that will connect you with the best wine experiences that Niagara has to offer.
Sip & Sizzle
Running from May 5-28, the Sip & Sizzle winery event in Niagara-on-the-Lake will be offering guests a unique summer wine experience with over 20 wineries serving up delicious grilled food with specially selected VQA wine pairings. You can expect pairings like Inniskillin Wines’ 2013 Reserve Shiraz Cabernet served with a grilled chicken taco, and Chateau des Charmes’ 2016 Sauvignon Blanc paired with a grilled prawn, shoot, and sprout salad, and many more.
You can experience a guided Sip & Sizzle aboard a luxury tour bus with Magnificent Tours of Niagara, Niagara’s largest tour company:
Jackson-Triggs Winery will be hosting their Savour the Sights event on May 13 and June 3, featuring five courses of remarkable cuisine and fine wine served in beautiful locations throughout the winery grounds.
Decked Out at Creekside Estate Winery
Visit Creekside Estate Winery on June 2 for their Decked Out event which will feature wine, food, and live music along with special early access to June’s Creek Freek shipment. The winery’s covered deck offers expansive views of the winery’s vineyards and this evening will be the perfect chance to experience it in style.
Graze the Bench
Over 8 Niagara wineries will be participating in this year’s Graze the Bench event, taking place from June 3-4. These wineries will be pouring their favourite vintages, both old and new, and serving them alongside delicious culinary dishes. There will also be live music to enjoy and lively atmospheres, making for a wonderful weekend event for wine lovers and foodies.
Niagara Homegrown Wine Festival
Homegrown Wine Festival
This year’s Niagara Homegrown Wine Festival will be taking place from June 7-8 in Niagara-on-the-Lake and is a great place to celebrate the start of summer with friends. Participating wineries include:
13th Street Winery
Colaneri Estate Winery
Creekside Estate Winery
Fielding Estate Winery
Inniskillin Wines
and more. The festival will allow guests to experience amazing seasonal wines and features special events like the TD Tailgate Party where over 35 Niagara wineries will be serving up incredible food and wine pairings.
Niagara Falls is brimming with adventure and offers a number of amazing destinations and attractions where you can experience excitement and thrills to the fullest. A visit to Niagara Falls is never truly complete without a Hornblower Niagara Cruises boat ride, which is a famous Niagara Falls experience that takes visitors deep into the mist and up close and personal with the thundering Horseshoe Falls. You’ll be able to feel the power of the rushing waters from below the brink and take in the beauty of this world-famous landmark from a totally unique vantage point.
Thrilling Across Niagara Falls
WildPlay MistRider Zipline to the Falls
You can find another unique vantage point on the WildPlay MistRider Zipline to the Falls, which is one of Niagara’s newest attractions. This aerial adventure allows you to dangle and zip along the edge of the Niagara Gorge right in front of the Horseshoe and American Falls. You’ll zip from 670 metres high, going as fast as 70km/h and experience a unique and adrenaline-filled activity that you’re sure to never forget.
Whirlpool Jet Boat
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
After flying high above the Niagara River on the zipline, you can head deep into the Niagara Gorge on a Whirlpool Jet Boat ride through class 5 rapids, to the edge of the Niagara Whirlpool. This high-speed activity is great for groups and will bring you up close to a phenomenal natural whirlpool in one of the most thrilling ways possible.
Fallsview Indoor Waterpark
And if you’re on the lookout for some indoor thrills that people of all ages can enjoy, then make sure to check out the 3-acre Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. This waterpark offers 16 waterslides, a full-size wave pool, 1,000 gallon tipping bucket, and much more.
Adventure awaits in Niagara Falls, so start planning your action-packed getaway today!
Niagara Helicopters Ride
