Niagara Falls Day Trips

If you are in the area for more than a couple of days, why not venture out of the Falls? There are several town and cities with a half and hour drive that shouldn’t be missed.

Niagara on the Lake

Niagara on the Lake is just a short drive down the Niagara Parkway from the falls. Niagara on the Lake is often called one of the most picturesque towns in Canada. It certainly is the most historic of all the towns in the Niagara Region, and much of this history has been preserved very lovingly.

If history is your thing, make sure to check out Fort George, a place that was a hub of activity during the war of 1812. Actors in period costumes bring this living history site to life. Fort George is open daily from 10am to 5pm with tours being offered every hour on the hour. If you are into a slightly scarier bit of history, why not go on a ghost walk of Fort George? Web Site Fort George is supposedly one of the most haunted places in the region, and many very strange things have been witnessed on these walks.

Other historic sites that you should be sure not to miss are: Butler’s Barracks, Queenston Heights, and the Laura Secord House.

Niagara on the Lake is also home to the Shaw Festival, a theatre company that puts on the works of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. Web Site If theatre is your bag, the productions at Shaw Festival are world class! They put on everything from musicals to drama.

Whirlpool Jet Boats

A jet boat ride is another way to experience the power of the mighty Niagara River. You can choose to ride in a covered jet boat or an uncovered jet boat…and if you choose the uncovered, you are most definitely going to get wet. Prices for this thrill ride are $47 for a child and $56 for an adult. It is a great ride, and most definitely worth the money!! You get great views all along the Niagara River, and you get a thrilling white water ride on top of that! Check out their web site here.

Niagara on the Lake is also a lovely town to just wander through. There are tons of shops, restaurants, galleries, parks and interesting architecture that line the street, so it is very easy to just spend a day taking it all in. Hanging out in the park and taking in the beautiful views of the lake is a perfect way to spend a summer day.

This You Tube Video takes you on a wild and wet ride with a Whirlpool Jetboat. Set to music you get to watch people having the time of their lives while getting really wet.

20 Valley

20 Valley is made up of the communities of Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan. This is definitely a day trip worth taking, especially if you are interested in Niagara as a wine region. Web Site These towns are great small towns to wander through, and they are full of natural beauty, history, culture and shopping.

Jordan is a cute little village nestled in amongst some of Niagara’s many vineyards. The small little street has everything you need for a nice day out. Restaurants, museums, art galleries, shopping and wineries are all there for your enjoyment. Jordan is a great place to get a taste of wine country.

St. Catharines

Another city you may want to venture into on your trip to Niagara, is St. Catharines. Although not a tourist mecca like Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake, St. Catharines has many different things to offer tourists who happen upon it. St. Catharines was the birthplace of the Welland Canal, and the way the city is structured now is a testament to that. The main street downtown follows the twists and turns of what once was the first and second Welland canal. The canal is now in its fourth incarnation, and no longer runs through the downtown, but if engineering is an interest of yours, St. Catharines Downtown will provide you with a nice history of a canal town, in which the engineers of the Welland Canal dreamt, slept, ate and walked.

St. Catharines’s Downtown, like so many downtowns in North America is in a state of change. It no longer functions as the commercial centre that it once did, but is slowly evolving into a cultural centre. St. Catharines Downtown is full of small little art galleries and independent theatre groups just waiting to be discovered. St. Catharines Downtown also boasts one of the oldest farmers markets in all of Canada, and vendors and shoppers gather there every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The Mansion House, one of the oldest pubs in the country, definitely deserves a visit. It was after all, the old stomping grounds of William Hamilton Merritt.

St. Catharines also has unique living history site in Morningstar Museum. It is a working grist mill, which volunteers give free tours of. You can see the process the flour goes through, and even buy your own bag of flour to take back with you. In addition to being a nice little piece of history, Morningstar Mill is located right on Decew Falls, and next to the Bruce Trail. If you have time to make a day of it, the Bruce Trail can lead you right down into the gorge where you can swim or picnic in the waterfall. Note however that the hike down into the gorge is sometimes treacherous, so make sure you are wearing proper clothing and shoes if you are going to attempt the walk. It is well worth it once you get down to the bottom and are swimming in the thundering falls, but you should exercise extreme caution. It is not a hike you want to take small children on. The path however does lead off in other directions, so if you were wanting to hike, but not necessarily hike down into the gorge that is also possible.

Port Dalhousie

Port Dalhousie is another little village that owes its creation to the Welland Canal. It remains today quite picturesque, and it is the perfect place to spend the day lounging on the beach, or taking a walk down the pier while eating ice cream. Port Dalhousie also has the world famous Luft Carousel, the animals on which date back to the origin of the carousel. The animals are lovingly restored by volunteers after each season. Rides on the carousel remain at five cents, a price that really can’t be beat! Port Dalhousie also has many different restaurants and bars to choose from. In amongst the village, you may even catch a glimpse of Anna Olson, whose bakery is located right in the heart of the village. Make sure you stop by her shop and load up on baked goods!

Map of Niagara Falls Day Trips

Niagara on the Lake Whirlpool Jet Boats 20 Valley St. Catherines Port Dalhousie

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