Niagara Peninsula

The Niagara Peninsula [1] is located in Ontario's Golden Horseshoe, encompassing most of the City of Hamilton and all of Niagara Region.

Niagara Valley

Cities

• Fort Erie
• Grimsby
• Hamilton
• Lincoln
• Niagara Falls
• Niagara on the Lake
• Pelham
• Port Colborne
• St. Catharines
• Thorold
• Welland
• Wainfleet

Understand

The main geographical feature of the region is the Niagara Escarpment, running in an east-west direction. The best known portion of the escarpment is where it meets the Niagara River, creating the beautiful Niagara Falls. Elsewhere in the region in the vicinity of the escarpent, there are many parks and conservation areas to be explored, many smaller waterfalls to be seen, and many great views to be found.

The Niagara Region is home to some of the best farmland in Canada (although the area's proximity to Toronto also attracts human settlement, and farmland has been devoured by urban sprawl in certain areas over the past few decades). The climate makes grape-growing possible, and there are over 60 wineries in the area, most of which are in the towns of Lincoln and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The area is quite historic, having been the first area in Southern Ontario to be settled as well as a main battleground during the War of 1812. This heritage is especially celebrated in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Tourism is a large part of the economy, and the region attracts over 12 million visitors per year from all over the world.

Get in

The closest major airport to the Niagara Region is actually in the United States. Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF) in Buffalo, New York is about a 20-30 minute drive from the Falls and is served by most major American carriers. Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG) is the closest airport to the Falls, but it is only for chartered and private flights.

• Buffalo Airport Shuttle, 716-685-2550, [2] offers service from the Buffalo-Niagara airport to the Niagara Region. A family of 4 can expect to pay less than $25 per person (from airport to the Canadian Falls) and the drivers often have great tips on where to go and what to avoid.

Coach Canada, 1 800 461-7661, [3], and Greyhound, 1-800-661-8747, [4], offer regular bus service to Niagara Falls and other cities and towns in the Niagara Region.

• Chariots of Fire Niagara Falls Tours, +1 905-877-0855,[5],[email protected]. has day trips to Niagara Falls and surrounding area that depart from Toronto.

Get around

It's possible to see the city of Niagara Falls without a car, as the transit system is well-developed and most of the attractions are close together.

To explore the surrounding area, including Niagara on the Lake and the wineries, a car is recommended. Biking is also popular.

See

• The Niagara Falls, for which the region is named, is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world and is definitely a must for visitors - as is the well-known Maid of the Mist boat trip to the foot of the Falls. In addition to the Falls themselves, the city offers a number of other attractions including the lively and carnival-like Clifton Hills entertainment area, the Butterfly Conservatory, and Marineland. There are also two casinos in Niagara Falls.

• There are several historical sites from the War of 1812 scattered around the region, since the region borders the United States and much of the fighting took place here. They include Fort George, Fort Erie, Laura Secord's house, and Queenston Heights.

• Queenston Heights is the location of the famous Battle for Queenston Heights. At Queenston Heights there is a tea room and a humongous monument to General Brock who died gloriously in the Battle of Queenston Heights. There is a small plaque for General Sheaffe, who actually won the battle. And a statue for General Brock's horse.

• The popular Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake features the plays of Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. It runs from April to October and attracts over 250,000 visitors each year.

Do

• There are many wineries that host tours and tastings located around Niagara on the Lake, Beamsville, and Vineland.

• The Niagara Wine Festival, [6], takes place in September. The main festivities and parade take place in St. Catharines, and the area's wineries host their own special events.

• In addition to Niagara Falls, the area has a number of other much smaller but still pretty waterfalls, including Ball's Falls and Rockaway Falls near Vineland, Decew Falls on the outskirts of St. Catharines, and Louth Falls near Jordan. The best time to visit is spring and early summer, when water levels are at their highest.

• There are many possibilities for hiking and biking in the area. The 845-km-long Bruce Trail, [7], has its southern terminus point in Queenston, Niagara Falls and winds its way north along the Niagara Escarpment to Tobermory (Ontario). The Niagara River Recreation Trail is a 56km paved trail running along the Niagara River from Fort Erie in the south to Fort George in Niagara on the Lake in the north. Niagara Glenn has 4km of trails - enter the gorge at Totem Pole Park and follow the U-turn of Niagara so you will be close to where you started when you get out, i.e. a short walk to your car.

• The region has over 30 conservation areas, [8], each with a unique setting and offering different activities, including picnicking, strolling or hiking, bird-watching, and boating. Beamer Memorial Conservation Area near Grimsby is known as a place to watch the annual hawk migration, Binbrook for windsurfing, Ball's Falls for its waterfalls and historic buildings, including a grist mill. Some conservation areas allow fishing and hunting (license required).

Eat

Niagara is famous within Ontario for its (especially historical, soft fruit) agriculture. Around August is peach season. There are also locally grown grapes (eating grapes, that is, Niagara isn´t just wine!). Plums too. Visit a local farm in Beamsville, which also sells cider, apple fritters, and the usual simple summer barbeque foods (hot dogs, etc.). You can pick your own fruit there, or buy some from their stall. You can drop by, but it´s normally best to call ahead with these family farms.

• Da Pizza Joint, Port Dalhousie. Da Pizza Joint is one of the number one pizza places in St. Catharines, with multiple styles and the famous Bianco. After a remodeling of the upstairs in 2005, Da Pizza Joint is now the perfect place to eat and drink while spending a night in Port Dalhousie.

Sleep

The city of Niagara Falls is well-equipped to handle the huge numbers of visitors it receives, with a large number of hotels, motels, and inns in all price ranges. Nonetheless, during the height of tourist season (in particular weekends in July and August), it can be hard to find rooms in the budget to mid-range categories. During these times it's best to book in advance.

Lodging in downtown Niagara Falls means you'll be close to the attractions and have a wide choice of accommodations and restaurants, however, the area can seem very busy, 'touristy,' and noisy. Staying at a hotel or bed & breakfast in Niagara on the Lake or in the smaller towns of wine country can be a more relaxing experience.

There are a number of campgrounds in Niagara Falls, and at the Ball's Falls, Chippewa Creek and Long Beach Conservation Areas.

Stay safe

The Niagara Region is quite safe.

Provincial guidelines limit tasting more than 4 one-ounce samples at each winery. Be aware of your limits and don't drink and drive.

When hiking, take adequate supplies (water, food, safety equipment), wear sturdy hiking footwear and dress with the weather in mind. For safety, don't hike alone. Most trails are not maintained in the winter months.

Get out

There are several bridges to the United States across the Niagara River. Other options for further travel include:

• Toronto - Ontario's multicultural capital
• Waterloo - university town hosting the largest Oktoberfest in the world outside of Munich
• Stratford - picturesque city that hosts the Stratford Shakespeare Festival from April to November
• New York
• Buffalo

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