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Everyone falls for Niagara |
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By Clint Leung » Niagara Falls has certainly grown over the last 30
years. When I was a kid, I remember that it was Niagara Falls itself as
the only real attraction here.
This natural wonder of the world consists of two main falls; the
semi-circular shaped Horseshoe Falls where daredevils in buckets have
thrown themselves off and the smaller American Falls to the left of it.
The Floral Clock, Maid of the Mist boat rides that take visitors up
close to the falls were already there as well as the cable gondola over
the whirlpool just minutes up north but that was about it.
The Minolta Tower was also there but the newer Skylon Tower had not
been built yet. Niagara Falls was still known as a honeymooner's
destination with hotels that had heart shaped jacuzzis and other
romantic features. Today, the Maid of the Mist and other original
attractions are still there but the city of Niagara Falls has exploded
with growth in hotels and tourist attractions including Casino Niagara,
a popular and large casino added in recent years.
Niagara Falls is 30 minutes from the Buffalo airport and 90 minutes
from the Toronto airport. It is also close to cities with large
immigration populations including Hamilton.
Although there are hotels on both the US and Canadian sides, most
tourist facilities and attractions are on the Canadian side. The best
views of both falls are from the Canadian side as well. There are
hotels and motels that suit every budget from large hotel chains,
smaller well known motel chains down to independents.
The same with restaurants as there’s lots of fast food outlets up to
the classiest restaurants with views of the coloured lit falls during
the evenings. Attractions now include high tech rides, an Imax theatre,
power jet boat rides and much more. Some folks say that the growth of
the touristy side of Niagara Falls has made the destination a bit
tackier with the addition of such attractions as mini-golf, was museums
and Ripley's Believe It or Not. This is part of Niagara Falls trying to
be something for everyone including families.
Close by is Marineland which is the Canadian equivalent of the Sea
Worlds in Florida and California. This attraction is probably the best
of its kind in Canada with both marine and land animals. In addition to
excellent shows with the standard killer whales, dolphins and sea
lions, Marineland added Beluga whales from the high Arctic.
One often missed attraction is the nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
which is an easy 10 minute drive north. This town of quaint, elegant
boutiques and the home of the Shaw Festival theatre is totally
different from the busier and more touristy Niagara Falls. One should
definitely pay a visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake to enjoy a nice break
from the crowds of the falls area. For cyclists and inline skaters,
there's a wonderful trail not to be missed nearby.
For wine enthusiasts, there are numerous wineries in the surrounding
Niagara area in Ontario. Many of these wineries are open to the public
for taste samples as well as tours of their orchards and facilities.
The Niagara area is where the famous ice wines of Ontario are made. If
you haven't tried this premium dessert wine made from frozen grapes
picked in the middle of the Canadian winter, there's ample opportunity
to do so here in the Niagara region at both the wineries that make them
as well as the many restaurants that feature them.
Niagara Falls is still a great attraction but there's much more to see
and do besides the usual touristy things so heavily promoted. If you
move to Canada, especially in or around Toronto, make your first
holiday a trip to Niagara Falls.
About the Author: Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery,
an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native
American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit
Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of
authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.
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