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Been there, done that
"Okay, we've seen the Falls—now what do we do?" is an all-too-familiar refrain for visitors to the area, especially among younger members of the family. And non-honeymooners!
Well, truth is the Falls, awesome and inspiring as they are and definitely the single most-important attraction, aren't a one-trick pony by a long shot. From historical museums to fun-house mausoleums, wine tastings to winery tours, golf courses to freshwater fishing, botanical gardens to world-class theater, the Niagara Region is rich with attractions that draw people back time and again.
Heck, even saying you've "seen the Falls" doesn't really do justice to the number of ways you can look at them. Sure, you can stand on the edge and stare down or take the Falls Incline Railway and gaze across at them from Table Rock. But what about a Journey Behind The Falls for a wet thrill of a lifetime? Or a trip on the Maid of the Mist to the rocky base of the mighty cataracts? Better yet, why not a helicopter ride over the Falls? And what about the Falls at night when they're all lit up? Or in the winter during the spectacular Festival of Lights?
Of parks and aero cars
Surrounding the Falls for miles in each direction along the Niagara River lie parks and recreational trails administered by the Niagara Parks Commission. You'll find such delights as the Niagara Parks Greenhouse, the Butterfly Conservatory with more than 3,000 flying around at any one time, Queenston Heights Park with its Brock monument and Floral Clock, the Great Gorge Adventure, and the Niagara Spanish Aero Car, a marvel of engineering as it travels over the Whirlpool Rapids.
Golf fanatics can whack the little white ball around at the 18-hole Whirlpool Course or the 9-hole Oak Hall Course—with the Falls roaring their approval (or misgivings)! Sports of a different kind gather at the Casino Niagara to wager on that lucky spin of the wheel, flip of the card, or toss of the dice.
It's only appropriate that Clifton Hill right next to the Casino is lined with "dare you to walk through" horror chambers such as Screamers Haunted House and NIGHTMARES Fear Factory. Once you have joined the long line of those who have chickened out before the last mummy rushes out of the wall, you can relax a bit at Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum, Louis Tussaud's Waxworks, and the Guinness World Of Records Museum.
And no vacation in Niagara Falls would be complete without a trip to the Daredevil Hall of Fame and The Daredevil Adventure at the IMAX Theatre. For kids and the young at heart, there's the thrill of Adventure Dome, Ride Niagara: The Ultimate Thrill, and Niagara Go-Karts & Mini-Putt.
Making wine while snow swirls
After a night on Clifton Hill and environs, you might be more than ready to escape into the countryside where peace reigns supreme and all you can hear is the wind soughing through the vineyards. The Niagara region is wine-making country with about 40 wineries vying for international gold medals and tourist visits. Some 15 of these wineries lie between Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake, and each offers tours and tastings. And not just in the summer or fall either. This is also ice-wine making country with wineries such as Hillebrand Estates, Inniskillin, and Strewn producing the highly-valued dessert wine while the snow swirls in the vineyards.
After a tour and some tastings of the winemaker's art, you're ready for a bit of history and culture, Niagara-style. First stop is the Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston, commemorating one of the heroines of the War of 1812. Then, it's on to the Mackenzie Heritage Printery Museum, featuring the oldest printing press in Canada, and McFarland House, built in 1800 and with rare furnishings from that period. Finally, you're in Niagara-on-the-Lake itself, an enclave of Victorian buildings where time seems to have stood still. Here, you can check out the Doug Forsythe Gallery, Niagara Pump house Visual Art Center, and Historic Fort George complete with Ghost Tours.
Skilled actors, trained whales
And, of course, the Shaw Festival. From April to November, this troupe of world-class actors brings to life the world of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries, thrilling audiences from around the globe. True theatre-lovers will want to buy something at the Shaw Festival Shops, take part in the Shaw Festival Village Fair and Fete and Shaw Guild Arts & Crafts Show, and enroll in one of the Shaw Seminars.
Have we forgotten anything? Well, there's Marineland, where you can pet a killer whale or watch the graceful movements of dolphins from an underwater observation area. And Historic Fort Erie, where volunteers in period costumes recreate the War of 1812. And the Steve Bauer Bike Tours, where you can check out more wineries and historical sites during a leisurely bike ride. And, for the horse-racing fan, the Fort Erie Slots & Racetrack, live and simulcast racing in a brand-new $25 million facility.
There you have it, then. Some of the things you can do in the Niagara Region without even looking at the Falls! But a nod in that direction won't hurt—to keep those particular gods roaring for as long as possible!
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