I came across a “Places that are Overrated” list and my heart sank when I saw Niagara Falls right there, front and centre. What? My beloved Niagara? The same that makes one of my favourite day trips (or weekend getaway) from Toronto, where I always find something to do? No way!
After reading the article I said “OK, I get it”.
The crowds, the overpriced restaurants near the falls, and the tackiness of Clifton Hill with its “I am trying so hard to be like Vegas” can touch a nerve. I can relate.
Having said that, do I think it’s an overrated destination? Absolutely not. Because the Niagara region is much more than this, and not every site will make you feel like a sardine inside a can.
Besides wowing you with one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world -with a water flow of up to 100,000 cubic feet per second -, there are many outdoor attractions including beautiful gardens, forests, hiking trails, bike routes, quaint towns, and wineries galore.
You can walk or bicycle along the 56-kilometre Niagara River Recreational Trail following the Niagara River from the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie, connecting Lake Ontario with Lake Erie, with spots to relax or have a picnic savouring the fresh fruit from the local orchards.
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These are my favourite things to do outside in the Niagara Peninsula.
Table of Contents
Enjoy the Best Scenic Views of Niagara Falls
The word Niagara originates from Oniawgarah, meaning Thundering Waters. With a roar that engulfs you before you even see them, the falls live up to their name. They’re the star of the show, attracting millions of visitors every year.
These are my favourite viewpoints:
The Niagara Parkway Walkway
The walkway that runs along this crazy busy road is the most popular viewpoint from where you can see the horseshoe falls and the falls on the American side.
Walk south past the Table Rock Centre – before the river pours down the gorge – for a slightly less crowded tree-lined walk along the river.
The Hornblower Niagara Cruise Boat
The Horseshoe Fall is the most spectacular, and for a truly memorable view, I recommend seeing it at eye level, from the lower river.
You’ll board a medium-sized boat that will take you up close to the bottom of the waterfall.
Seeing the falls from the Niagara Parkway is incredible, but it doesn’t compare to the sense of awe you feel when you look up, from the boat, at the 57-metre tall curved curtain of rushing water right in front of you.
The imposing sight made me feel as tiny as a pea. A soaked one (you’ll get wet despite wearing their disposable poncho, but it’s worth it).
The Journey Behind the Falls Observation Deck
This attraction is worth checking out as you’ll be standing on an observation deck built 38 metres below the top of the falls. Right next to it (you’ll get wet here too). This is as close as you’ll ever be to this natural wonder and it’s almost as amazing as the boat ride.
The Niagara Skywheel
I stay away from Clifton Hill like cats stay away from water, but I make an exception for the Skywheel – Canada’s largest Ferris Wheel -which takes you 53 metres up in the air for an excellent bird’s-eye view of the falls.
Another (more costly) option to see the falls from above is to book a falls-view room in one of the hotels nearby.
See the Falls in Colour at the Evening Light Show
After dark, you can see the falls turn blue, yellow, pink, or any of your favourite colour combinations as they’re lit every night for the light show.
If you’re visiting during the warmer months, you’ll have a chance to see some spectacular fireworks starting at 10PM. They run every night in the height of the summer, and Friday to Sunday (+ holidays) at the beginning and the end of the high season.
Visit The Floral Showhouse
The glass enclosure of these greenhouses blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
If you visit Niagara during the winter you can watch the snow outside while you walk among colourful flowers, orchids, and other tropical plants. I loved stopping here to escape the cold and imagine I was transported to a tropical island in less than a second.
If you stop by during the warmer months there will be more to see as you can enjoy the lovely outdoor garden as well.
Fountains, fish ponds and birds flying left and right complete the manicured environment.
The Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse is within walking distance of the falls, featuring different arrangements and floral shows throughout the year so there is always something new to see.
This attraction is on the small side, but it’s so beautiful it’s worth it.
7145 Niagara Parkway
1.877.642.7275; Hours of operation vary per season; General admission: CAD$7 + tax
Walk around the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
These beautiful gardens, spread over 99 acres, are the practice grounds of the students at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture.
They’ve been taught well.
I loved the Herb Garden, arranged around a circle framed by hedges in a square formation.
The Parterre Garden is a gorgeous anteroom for the Hornbeam Allee, with its giant trees guarding the shady path that will throw you into a wide-open space with even larger trees, including a humongous willow tree, surrounding the ponds.
Thousands of roses look like colour dots in the Rose Garden. Not only did I find the flowers delightful, but also the arrangement of the whole section.
The Legacy Prairie Garden is a nice spot to take a walk among tall grasses with wildflowers, which rely on the wind for pollination.
More formal gardens, an arboretum, and a butterfly conservatory (entrance is additional) filled with more than 2,000 butterflies add to the beauty of this quiet spot in the Niagara region.
2565 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls
Hours of operation vary per season; General admission (Butterfly Conservatory): CAD$16 + tax
Check the Time at the Floral Clock
If you have time for a quick stop on your way between the falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake check out the Floral Clock. The complex designs on the round face come to life thanks to nearly 20,000 plants which are replaced twice a year.
The clock has been a feature of Niagara since 1950 and its 40 feet diameter makes it one of the largest in the world.
14004 Niagara Parkway
Stroll along Niagara-on-the-Lake
From all the towns I’ve visited in Ontario, I haven’t seen any that can rival the flower display on the streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The carefully crafted aesthetic of its small buildings seems to have been arranged for a magazine photoshoot.
I like to stop here on a trip to Niagara to walk the tree-lined streets after breakfast (try the scrumptious buffet at the Prince of Wales Hotel) or after having pastries in the afternoon at one of the many bakeries and cafes.
A nice way to end (or begin) your visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake is at the park on Mississauga Beach. You’ll enjoy great views of Lake Ontario and the distant Toronto skyline on a clear day.
Hike the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve
This sweet spot is in close competition with the falls for my number one thing to do in Niagara.
Eight trails traversing a Carolinian forest will take you among ancient trees and alongside the Niagara River.
Right after taking the stairs at the top of the cliff to descend into the nature reserve, you’ll find an environment so different from anything else you see around that it’s easy to forget where you are.
As we walked from one trail into another (the trails are colour-coded and they cross paths), we were dwarfed by giant boulders and trees so tall that you lose sight of the top.
The River Path, with views of the strong currents of the Niagara River, served as a quick reminder of where we were. Some sections took us right next to the shore for a closer look at the waterfowl chilling out on the rocks.
This is a fantastic place to submerge yourself in nature and explore the other side of Niagara, away from the crowds.
3050 Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Bike Along the Scenic Niagara Wineries and Check Out the Outdoor Events
You don’t have to be into vino to have a wonderful time in Ontario’s Wine Country. In addition to the scenery, there are cultural events that will make your visit an enjoyable experience.
Let’s start with the landscape: endless rows of grapevines form a scenic backdrop as you drive through the vineyards or as you take a bicycle ride along the Niagara Wine Bike Route.
Many wineries overlook Lake Ontario, with beautiful vistas from terraces and lounges where you can have a glass of wine. Most estates have a restaurant or a café.
What else do the wineries offer? With so many around (more than 80), you’ll probably find something you like: either ice skating, summer outdoor concerts, or art exhibits.
Try the award-winning icewine, a delicious dessert wine that is made from grapes that freeze on the vine. I love it!
Explore the Trails at Short Hills Provincial Park
Just a 20 to 30-minute drive away from the falls you can hike several trails running along the Niagara escarpment, including a section of the famous Bruce Trail, which can take you all the way to the Bruce Peninsula.
The park, covering 750 hectares, has three different entry points.
We accessed the Palaeozoic Path (Trail #3) from Roland Road. The informative plaques along the trail described in detail the formation process that took place here millions of years ago resulting in the landscape we see today. The artifacts found in the park have confirmed that people inhabited this land as far back as 8,000 BC.
The trail consists of an easy walk through a forest of white pine, maple and walnut trees, with open fields.
There is one tall friend that stands out: an ancient White Oak tree, several hundred years old, that was spared when the colonists cut the forest to make room for farms. It’s the largest tree in town, impressive, beautiful and it dwarfs everything else that was planted around as part of reforestation efforts.
After completing the Palaeozoic Trail, we drove to the entrance located on Pelham Road and started on the Very Berry Trail. It shares the first section (used in the past by farmers) with the Black Walnut Trail and then continues on the left side of the fork until you reach a street where you turn around to make your way back.
My favourite sections are the ones that run parallel with the Twelve Mile Creek.
Short Hills is great for a half-day trip from Niagara Falls for a change of scenery and for learning a bit about the region’s history.
The Palaeozoic Trail is 0.8 km long. Level of difficulty: easy. It requires 30 minutes.
The Very Berry Trail is 2.6 km long, Level of difficulty: moderate. It requires one hour.
Short Hills has no facilities or services (no bathrooms or camping areas). Just a sign at the entrance where you park, and a large map marking the trails.
No entrance fees.
Pelham Road, Thorold
Best Way to Travel to and around the Niagara Peninsula
Niagara is approximately a 90-minute drive away from Toronto, making it an ideal day trip from the city. But with so much to do, I recommend staying around three days in the region.
If you’re planning to venture out of the falls area the most convenient option is renting a car, which will also allow you to find cheaper accommodation away from the tourist hub.
If you’re staying around the falls the best option is to take public transportation, as parking and traffic can be more complicated than giving a pill to an angry cat.
Visiting during weekdays will give you some relief from the crowds and from the bumper-to-bumper traffic returning to Toronto.
If you want to use public transportation, take the GO train from Union Station to Niagara Falls. Your Presto Card works on the GO as well as the TTC.
From the Niagara Falls station, you can take the WEGO, a hop-on-hop-off bus that stops along the main attractions, including a seasonal shuttle to Niagara- on- the-Lake. You can buy a 24-hour or a 48-hour pass, for sale at the transit terminal in Niagara Falls and at major retailers.
Best Time to Visit Niagara Falls
My favourite season in Niagara is the summer. Hands down. Everywhere you walk you see manicured gardens and buckets of flowers.
Fall paints the dense forests with warm hues. Fewer crowds and less humidity make better conditions.
But I must admit that, despite the frigid temperatures, winter delivers some truly magical images. The mist freezing over the trees and the iron rails turns the landscape into a crystal village. Add the lights, and you have a postcard picture.
Besides the concerts and some of the best fireworks I’ve seen, the sparkling ice formations are the most vivid memory from my New Year’s Eve at the falls.
There are many other things to do in the Niagara peninsula beyond hanging around the over-commercialized area near the falls. Not too far away, you’ll find gardens, trails, parks, and wineries hosting outdoor events. Did you know about all the things to do in Niagara? Share this post with someone who is planning a trip to this part of the world, or plan your own trip!
DON’T MISS THESE NEARBY DESTINATIONS
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- Great Escape: it combines the listings from Expedia, Kiwi, Kayak, and Skyscanner (on the premium service) to find the best airfares.
- Hotwire: the first site I check when we plan to stay at a hotel for a few nights. You can save anything from 20% to 60%. Use the search filter to find what you want and you’ll end up with three listings that match your criteria. You’ll know which one you’ll get after you book. If you can handle a little bit of uncertainty you can score big savings.
- House Sitting: you take care of people’s pets and house for free while staying for free. It’s the closest thing to experiencing a place “like a local”. But it comes with responsibilities. Are you an animal lover? You may want to give it a try.
- Momondo: we check Momondo to find great deals to book our flights.
- SafetyWing: travel medical insurance gives us peace of mind knowing that we’re covered in case of emergency. It’s convenient, affordable, and great for digital nomads who spend a long time outside their home country.
Check my Resource Page to learn about the brands I use and trust during my travels and how they can save you time and money. More sightseeing and more cocktails for you!
