Good news! Wowing the kids this March Break doesn’t have to involve pricey flights, crowded ski hills, or endless hours on the road. Even if your family has enjoyed a previous trip to Niagara, this family-friendly region offers countless creative ways to play. With just a few itinerary tweaks, it’s easy to make every return trip feel absolutely one of a kind. Here are seven fun ways to wow your family while making March Break memories together in Niagara.
While Niagara Falls may be hard to miss, spending a day seeking out some of Niagara’s more off-the-radar icy cascades will make your crew feel like true North explorers, especially if you pair your frosty finds with some well-timed stops for hot chocolate and sweet treats along the way. Excellent waterfall stops to add to your list include Ball’s Falls, Rockway Conservation Area, and Short Hills Provincial Park. After adding a few new waterfalls to your family’s explorations, end your day by experiencing Niagara Falls from a new-to-you vantage point. Whether you catch the Falls from the lower observation deck with water crashing down from 13 storeys above during the Journey Behind The Falls experience, take flight over the Falls in a helicopter, or get caught up in the excitement of the one-of-a-kind view offered by the Niagara Falls Power Station at Night experience, it will be a family outing to remember!
The lights, attractions and excitement of Clifton Hill make every visit feel like a fresh new adventure. Take a few minutes before your visit to determine a few hours of activities that your family would enjoy. Then, come up with a series of clues and make the kids sleuth out each activity based on which sense it will stimulate. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Before hitting Canada One Factory Outlets or Outlet Collection at Niagara for designer deals, fashion-forward tweens and teens can discover the fascinating stories behind the designs at the “It’s My Party: 1950s Women’s Fashion Exhibit” at the Niagara Falls History Museum. The exhibit showcases garments from designers such as Christian Dior, Claire McCardell, Lilli Ann, and Norman Norell to illustrate how designs from the past continue to inspire and captivate us today.
Take advantage of the fact that Niagara is home to three different waterparks that are each amazing in their own way. The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is an excellent choice if you want to be within strolling distance of Clifton Hill’s excitement. Book a room at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls – Fallsview or Skyline Hotel and Waterpark for direct indoor access. Day passes are also available. In addition to having a splash-tastic waterpark, Americana Resort, which also has waterpark day pass options, boasts an on-site spa with a suite of treatments designed especially for kids, including mint-chocolate scented manicures, pedicures, and facials, and an All About Me package for teens. Great Wolf Lodge’s extensive range of programming and activities, which includes arcade games, mini bowling, yoga sessions, mini-golf, laser tag, an interactive adventure game, and nightly dance parties, will keep everyone in your group active and entertained!
Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to some fascinating and nation-shifting Black history, and the Voices of Freedom walking tour is a wonderfully immersive way to discover these important stories on a crisp winter day. Download the app and be transported to another era as a talented cast of local storytellers guides you on an exploration of the town’s significant Black history sites. If this experience leaves your family wanting to learn more about Niagara’s past, consider visiting some other family-friendly museums in the area, like the St. Catharines Museum and Lincoln County Museum and Cultural Centre.
Remind the kids just how many amazing Canadian things are with a sweet little excursion that showcases some of our country’s most beloved creations. Start with a trip to the sugar bush to experience the excitement of maple syrup season. White Meadows Farms runs its annual Sugar Bush Trek on weekends from March 1 until April 13 and daily during March Break (March 10-14). The experience includes a guided tour and maple taffy on snow. Next, pay homage to another truly Canadian treat, the butter tart. Try one of Canada’s most buzzed-about butter tarts at 13th Street Bakery, just outside St. Catharines. Head to The Sweet Oven Niagara in Niagara Falls to try their creative takes on traditional butter tarts featured in a rotating roster of specialty flavours that includes Skor, tangy Raspberry, and Oreo. La Dolce Vita Bakery in Port Colborne also boasts some award-winning butter tarts. If March temperatures cooperate, bundle up and wrap up your day with an outdoor skate at Wayne Gretzky Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Surprise the adventure seekers in your crew with an experience that puts some air under their feet. WildPlay’s Zipline To The Falls experience is open all year long and offers riders over seven the chance to soar high above the Niagara Gorge. AeroSports Trampoline Park in St. Catharines is another fun option where kids can soar over expansive trampoline zones, navigate through intense dodgeball games, test their agility in Ninja Tag, and channel their inner archer in an Archery Arena. After your jumping session, grab a lane for some bowling right next door at Parkway Social.
With such an extensive list of family-friendly activities to enjoy in Niagara, narrowing down your options can feel like a challenge. Add some surprise and excitement with activities the whole family will love:
Are you ready to start planning some March Break surprises for your family? Check out our Family Fun, Attractions, Winter pages and @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for trip inspiration and to learn about upcoming events. Then, browse through accommodations and dining options to discover places that will perfectly round out your trip!
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