All roads lead to Canada’s Niagara region for families looking for a summer vacation scenery switch-up that delivers some big surprises. Niagara, Canada, which is less than 250 miles from Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh and just over 400 miles from New York City, is a sensational summer playground filled with natural wonders, great beaches, fabulous attractions, and family-friendly hotels and restaurants. Here are just a few of the compelling reasons to plug Niagara, Canada into your GPS this summer.
There’s more than one way to experience this world wonder! Whether you choose to float past it on a Niagara City Cruise, explore the centuries-old tunnels carved through its bedrock on the Journey Behind The Falls or at the Niagara Parks Power Station, or get a bird’s-eye view of it from a zip line, helicopter, or climate-controlled gondola the sheer power of Niagara Falls is sure to wow every member of your family. Venture a little further down the Niagara River to walk beside or ride above the raging rapids fueled by the Falls on the White Water Walk or Whirlpool Aero Car.
Niagara’s unique location between two Great Lakes means excellent options for water-filled adventures are always nearby. Lake Erie, the warmest of the Great Lakes, boasts sandy beaches and friendly little lakeside towns like Crystal Beach and Port Colborne that have attracted American sun-seekers for decades. Best bets for beach days include:
● Bay Beach, which, in addition to a beautiful stretch of sand and warm water, is just a short stroll away from the great restaurants, ice cream shops, and boutique retailers of Crystal Beach
● Nickel Beach, which is home to SplashTown Niagara, one of the province’s most buzzed-about floating inflatable waterparks
● Cedar Bay Beach, a sandy beach in a park where families can also play tennis, beach volleyball, and horseshoes
● Sugarloaf Marina, where visitors can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards and set out on a paddling adventure along the scenic Lake Erie shoreline
When the family is ready for a break from the beach, there are lots of other fun activities close to the beach towns of Niagara’s South Coast, including exploring Safari Niagara, a 150-acre nature park that is home to exotic mammals, reptiles, and birds. A family outing to Niagara Falls for a few hours of arcade fun, mini golf, and go-karting on Clifton Hill is just a short drive away as well.
Lake Ontario, which borders the northern side of Niagara, also boasts excellent family-friendly beaches, including Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie. In addition to a great playground and nearby ice cream shops and restaurants, a historic carousel spins all summer long for just five cents a ride! Don’t miss the weekly Supper Market on Tuesday evenings! Sunset Beach is another excellent choice for Lake Ontario sand seekers that offers easy access to family-friendly cycling on the nearby Welland Canals Parkway Trail and an adorable cast of creatures to meet at Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm.
For families who prefer to keep cool in a pool, Niagara’s three amazing waterparks are sure to please! Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is North America’s largest indoor waterpark and resort, boasting three acres of waterslides and a massive wave pool. Great Wolf Lodge has an enormous indoor water park, amazing attractions, and a host of complimentary daily events and activities. With its gradual beach-entry wave pool and kiddy pool with toddler slides, Waves Indoor Waterpark is an excellent choice for families with younger children.
In addition to unique Niagara Falls adventures and balmy days at the beach, a summer trip to Niagara provides countless new ways for families to connect through immersive experiences. Whether your family enjoys theatre, history, nature, or sports, summertime in Niagara is filled with fresh ways to enjoy time together. Here are just a few of the ways to create even more summer memories together on your Niagara, Canada getaway.
● Introduce the kids to the excitement of live theatre at The Shaw Festival’s adaptation of the family classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
● Bring history class to life with engaging experiences like feeling what it’s like to cross the Falls on a tightrope, taking a Candlelight Ghost Tour at a haunted War of 1812 fort, discovering Niagara’s Underground Railroad landmarks, or exploring what life was like for pioneers in a beautifully restored mid-19th century hamlet.
● Unplug while exploring outstanding conservation areas and The Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest footpath, which winds its way across the Niagara Escarpment past hidden waterfalls and off-the-radar nature-based playgrounds.
● Play a round of golf at North America’s oldest surviving golf club.
● Spend a summer day cheering on the horses or taking in the spectacle of Wiener Dogs, Basset Hounds and Corgis running a race track that’s almost as old as Churchill Downs.
● Catch a Welland Jackfish baseball game and feel the pride of a small-town team that has earned its way into the Intercounty Baseball League, one of the world’s oldest baseball leagues.
Current exchange rate savings mean that U.S. visitors can get a lot more bang for their vacation buck on the Canadian side of the border. Stack those exchange rate savings with Niagara’s generous summer deals to boost your vacation budget even further. Attraction bundles like Niagara Parks’ Wonder Pass, Clifton Hill Fun Pass, Niagara Falls Fun Zone Pass, and Ripley’s 3-Way Bundle offer hours of family-friendly fun for one low price. Fashion-forward teens will be wowed by the designer deals on their favorite brands at The Outlet Collection at Niagara and Canada One Outlets.
Build your best summer road trip yet with trip-planning tools, restaurant and accommodation recommendations, and itinerary ideas at VisitNiagaraCanada.com. Follow @visit_niagara on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more summer road trip inspiration.
#myniagara