Niagara Falls is reopening and is ready to welcome visitors once again! On Tuesday, Niagara Parks released a schedule of phased reopenings for their popular attractions, restaurants, and retail venues which will begin on June 19th. The announcement came after the province directed that the Niagara Region could move into Phase 2.
These exciting openings bring physical distancing and new health protocols with them. Extended training procedures, signage, and sanitizing schedules are a few of the keys in place so everyone can enjoy their time visiting Niagara Falls in a safe manner.
Here is the reopening schedule:
June 19, 2020
Grand View Marketplace Ice Cream and Pop-Up Gift Shop
WildPlay Zipline to the Falls
Falls Incline Railway
Queen Victoria Place Gift Shop and Tim Hortons
Niagara Falls will open additional services on June 26 and July 1, just in time for Canada Day!
We couldn’t be more excited to welcome guests back to Niagara Falls Hotels, and these openings provide excitement and thrills to build remarkable stays.
Whatever you’re looking forward to, there are enjoyable things to do in Niagara Falls this summer. Book your Niagara Falls trip now!
Niagara Falls has always been a popular destination for long weekend revelers. While we face unprecedented times, visitors will find several storefronts open for business with modified hours and with social distancing processes in place. Storefronts will be open from Noon-7:00pm daily, on Saturday May 16-Monday May 18, 2020.
Niagara Brewing Company – situated at the corner of Clifton Hill and Falls Avenue, visitors will be able to stop at the brewery’s Beer Store to pick up Niagara Falls craft beer for the long weekend. The Honeymoon Peach Radler is bright and refreshing and Niagara Premium Lager is an award winning favourite for sunny holiday weekends
Sweet Jesus Ice Cream – Decadent ice cream transformed into eye-catching works of art. Sweet Jesus is not just a treat for your sweet tooth, soft serve here is embellished with inventive toppings such as cotton candy, brownie bits, cornflakes, birthday cake pieces and more. One of the most requested is Krusty the Kone – a colourful take on an edgy cartoon icon.
Starbucks – Two locations will be open this weekend; Sheraton Fallsview and Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa. Guests can order an afternoon pick-me-up from the full menu of fine roasted coffee, blended drinks, and specialty coffee drinks and light snacks.
Great Canadian Gifts – Situated in the Sheraton Marketplace, Great Canadian Gift will be open for cold drinks, snacks, and sundry items such as first aid and over the counter health items.
The renowned Canadian Forces Snowbirds honoured Niagara Residents on Sunday with a flyover. The iconic Air Demonstration Squadron is conducting a cross Canada Tour named “Operation Inspiration”. A salute to all Canadians as we face COVID-19 together.
The team started their mission on May 2 in Eastern Canada and is heading west to British Columbia. The thundering nine-jet formation with trailing white smoke took two laps over the American and Horseshoe Falls on Sunday afternoon before heading off to London Ontario. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the flight team had to postpone by one day due to poor weather.
Each year the Canadian Forces Snowbirds travel the country to delight audiences at air shows, and while gathering at a show is not possible at this time, the air team wanted to thrill spectators at home.
The Snowbirds will now continue their journey west, for more information on their flight schedule follow their social media channels.
As we continue to stay home to do our part in flattening the curve, looking forward has become key to staying positive.
Rainbow on Horseshoe Falls from Niagara Falls – Ontario, Canada
A recently conducted travel survey provides optimism, not just for business but for all travel enthusiasts. It revealed that more than 60% of those surveyed had spent time in the last week planning and researching potential trips, with half of the respondents having spent up to 5 hours planning!
As the excitement to get out and see the sights grows, we wanted to share our tips for planning an exciting vacation.
Be Inspired
A quick search in your favourite browser will lead to thousands of stunning photos of your destination that will help keep you motivated, imagine capturing these images yourself! Images can be a great source of inspiration when choosing your location as well. For example a room with a view of Niagara Falls is breathtaking and if it is essential to your stay, then it will help narrow your hotel search.
Keep It Fun
The research and budget process of planning can be overwhelming, so always keep your goal in mind – which is to create a thrilling adventure full of memories. Budgeting is key, and to reduce stress keep your budget reasonable. Use all available research tools to ensure your plan covers what you hope to see and experience. Whatever your destination may be, we suggest subscribing for email newsletters for hotels and attractions so are among the first to know about special offers, packages and discounts.
Be In The Know
If it’s not on Facebook did it even happen? Like or follow feeds for your prospective hosts, not only will promotions be posted, but you will also learn about special events and new and noteworthy items thanks to the immediacy of the channels. Is your favourite artist performing in Niagara Falls during your stay – perhaps; the city now offers two live entertainment venues, and concert announcements make for great posts! In Niagara Falls, you can also catch Live Video of the Falls nearly every day on our Niagara Falls Facebook page.
We will be able to explore the landscapes beyond our windows, driveways, front lawns and porches again. We hope these travel tips will help inspire you as you fill your time researching your next great adventure.
Hopefully we will be welcoming you to Niagara Falls once it is safe for us all to travel once again!
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its hold on the world, hotels in Niagara Falls are trying to shine a light of hope and love.
While all industries have felt the impact of the Coronavirus, hospitality has been particularly hard hit. With orders to avoid non-essential travel, and the guidance of medical officials to self-isolate in order to flatten the curve, restaurants and hotels have been impacted.
This month marks March Break and Spring Break for many students and would typically be a banner time of year for the hospitality industry in Niagara Falls. Instead, rooms sit vacant, restaurants are closed to dine-in, and many attractions have been closed.
To offer some brightness in the dark, staff at the Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa thoughtfully staggered lighting in rooms on Friday night resulting in a massive, multi-storey heart to show their love and solidarity with all those impacted by the virus.
The hotel hoped that this shining beacon would inspire other hotels, office towers and businesses to join in.
Update: On Saturday several Niagara Falls Hotels including Sheraton Fallsview, Fallsview Casino Resort, Marriott on the Falls, Embassy Suites and the Oakes Hotel also participated. The efforts were also covered by several media outlets including CNN, BlogTO, Narcity, and CHCH News.
When you see Niagara Falls, it’s a seemingly never-ending rush of water that drops off the brink over and over again. In truth, the Falls have stopped twice in history; once of natural causes, and the other for maintenance work on the rocky shoal. Aside from those two examples, the waterfalls never stop flowing, roaring through the area and soaking visitors down below on the iconic Niagara Falls boat tours. More than 6 million cubic feet or 168,000 cubic metres of water go over the Horseshoe Falls alone every minute, water speeds reaching up to 109 km/h or 68 mph.
But where does all this water come from? Learn fun facts about Niagara Falls, including how they keep flowing, here.
How Does Niagara Falls Work?
Niagara Falls is made up of three separate waterfalls: the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls, which is the largest waterfall. The waterfalls have been pumping out water for the past 12,000 years, even as they’ve receded about 7 miles back.
The water rushing over the Niagara Falls waterfalls comes from the Great Lakes, which is the world’s largest surface freshwater system in the world. It contains about 18% of the world’s freshwater supply, with water flowing into the Great Lakes from streams and rivers that empty into it.
The rivers and streams empty into Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair, all in North America connecting the U.S. and Canadian borders. Precipitation and groundwater replenish the Great Lakes. Less than 1% of water in the Great Lakes is renewable, while the rest comes from the last ice age. It’s also known as “fossil” water.
As water empties into the Great Lakes, it travels from Lake Superior through Niagara along the Niagara River. Once the water reaches the Niagara River, it passes over the waterfalls. After reaching the waterfalls, it flows north into the final Great Lake, Lake Ontario.
From there, the water goes into the St. Lawrence River and then the Atlantic Ocean. From Lake Michigan to the Atlantic Ocean, the water flow journey takes at least 15 hours.
During high- or low-precipitation years, the Great Lakes water flow can be greatly affected. The International Joint Commission, made up of the U.S. and Canada, has regulated water flow levels since 1910. In 1950, a treaty between the U.S. and Canada was created to determine the diversion of water from the Niagara Falls for power generation. Other water is used for navigation, Niagara Falls flow and domestic and sanitary purposes.
What Gives the Water Odd Colours?
You might notice brown foam below Niagara Falls or a greenish tint to the Niagara River. The water is still fresh water and is perfectly safe. The colours come from natural elements the rushing waters pick up along their journey.
The brown foam below the Niagara Falls waterfalls is that colour because of clay. Clay contains decayed vegetative matter, which is absorbed as the water travels. It mostly comes from Lake Erie’s shallow eastern basin.
As for the river, you’ll notice it’s a vibrant green colour. That brilliant hue comes from minerals. There are an estimated 60 tons of dissolved minerals that flow over Niagara Falls every minute. The minerals consist of “rock flour,” which is finely ground rock, as well as dissolved salts. The rock flour primarily comes from the limestone bed, as well as sandstones and shales from under the Niagara Falls limestone cap.
What Is the Future of Niagara Falls?
Since Niagara Falls has already moved back, you may be wondering if the waters will keep running forever. Not to worry:Niagara Falls still has at least around 20,000 years to be in production. Wind and rain do contribute to Niagara Falls erosion, which is why it’s expected to disappear into Lake Erie some time in the very distant future.
For now, flow control and hydro-power generation diversion help to slow down erosion. With flow control, erosion may be able to be reduced to just 1 foot every 10 years. The limestone cap rock is another natural factor slowing down Niagara Falls erosion, since the material is resistant to erosion.
Another possible outcome to the future of Niagara Falls is evaporation. Scientists speculate that around 2,000 years from now, the American Falls waterfalls could dry up. If that happens, it would take on the same appearance as the Niagara Glen.
See Niagara Falls in Full Force Now
If you want to see Niagara Falls in its full glory, the best time is now. The water rushes over with tremendous force, and you can get soaked yourself with a visit to the waterfalls on theHornblower Niagara Cruises. Book yourNiagara Falls trip today.
A couple days in Niagara Falls may not seem like a lot, but there’s plenty you can cover in a short trip to this beautiful Canadian region. With some planning, you can get a feel for the magnificent nature and exciting things to do in Niagara Falls. Use this itinerary guide to inspire you on your next Niagara Falls trip.
Feel the Mist of the Falls
You can see the Niagara Falls waterfalls as you walk along the main Niagara Parkway on the Canadian side, but if you really want to experience them, you’ll want to get a little wet. Hop on aHornblower Niagara Cruises Niagara Falls boat tour to get drenched by the falls. You’ll get a poncho to wear, but you’ll still be able to feel the up-close sensations of being in the midst of Niagara Falls. Seeing the falls from a distance just can’t compare with being immersed in them.
Take a Mini-Wine Tour
With dozens ofwineries in the Niagara Falls region, it’s easy to tour several within a few hours and get a taste for local wines. Hire a driver to tour you around, or join one of the many Niagara Falls wine tours such as Magnificent Tours Wine Tour where you’ll get transportation and hour-long stops at several wineries along the way. Tours typically last around 6 hours, so if you want to speed up your wine experience, you can create your own self-paced tour.
Explore Clifton Hill
Whether you’re traveling to Niagara Falls with kids or not,Clifton Hill is a high-energy destination to check out. Clifton Hill has some of the most family-friendly activities to enjoy in Niagara Falls, including the Niagara Falls Skywheel, the Fudge Factory, Ripley’s Museum, Movieland Wax Museum and Dinosaur Adventure Golf. The world-famousUpside-Down House is also nearby, which is worth seeing from the outside even if you don’t take a tour inside. Besides the rambunctious Niagara Falls attractions at Clifton Hill, it’s also a cool place to check out because there are local vendors selling handmade items, which are great souvenirs to take home.
See Niagara Falls Nature
If you love traveling because you get to see new nature and wildlife, theButterfly Conservatory is a must-see destination on a 48-hour trip. The conservatory has more than 2,000 free-flying butterflies and is a really neat experience if you’ve never been in one before. After you head out, you can walk through theNiagara Parks Botanical Gardens for free. In the gardens, you’ll see gorgeous flowers and local plants. It’s a nice quick stop for when you want to relax in-between more active things to do near Niagara Falls.
Partake in Niagara Falls Nightlife
When the sun goes down, head indoors for nightlife in Niagara Falls. You have plenty of options within walking distance or a quick trip of each other when you stay at one of theseNiagara Falls hotels.
Dining: Enjoy a delectable meal at one of the top Niagara Falls restaurants.Massimo’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant is a romantic spot with classic Italian food from Chef Massimo Capra.Prime Steakhouse is the spot for steak lovers, and is ranked the #1 Restaurant in Niagara Falls on TripAdvisor. Both of these upscale restaurants offer delicious Niagara Falls wine pairings, and provide Niagara Falls waterfall views right from your table.
While you could take a ride on theNiagara Skywheel during the day, the experience is dramatic at night and is a different way to see Niagara Falls. You might even be able to catch aNiagara Falls fireworks show from your seat.
Plan a Niagara Falls Trip for as Long as You’d Like
There you have it: some of the top Niagara Falls attractions to check out on a quick trip to Niagara Falls. There are hundreds of more things to do in Niagara Falls. Stay a weekend, or stay a summer. You’ll never run out of things to do near Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls’ new live entertainment venue will open its door this spring! The highly anticipated Fallsview Casino Entertainment Centre will open in early April and will feature some of the biggest stars in music and entertainment.
The 5,000 seat, state of the art theatre, is ideally located. The entertainment space is directly across from the Fallsview Casino Resort and in the heart of the Fallsview Tourist District, which puts guests steps from first class hotels, restaurants and attractions.
The list of performers who will first grace the stage has just been announced, and there is a show for everyone. Artists from country royalty to comedy, classic rock and pop will find a home at the new venue. The theatre will celebrate its opening night April 2 with country music superstar Brad Paisley!
Here are the artists announced so far for the Casino Entertainment Centre:
April 2 – Brad Paisley
April 3 – Larry the Cable Guy
April 9 – Jason Derulo
April 26 – Zucchero
May 1 – Alison Kraus
May 7 – Of Monsters & Men
May 15 – ZZ Top with Special Guest Cheap Trick
May 31 –Joey Yung
June 4 – Kesha
June 5 –REO Speedwagon
June 10/11 –Dierks Bentley
June 20 – Paul Anka
July 31 – Iliza Shlesinger
Tickets for these shows can be purchased at the Casino Box office and through Ticketmaster.
The new Casino Entertainment Centre will operate alongside the existing Avalon Theatre, to provide Niagara Falls with more than 320 live entertainment shows a year.
Check out some of the great live entertainment available in Niagara Falls during your next getaway with a Casino Entertainment Package.
When you go on vacation, where you stay plays a big role in your overall experience. You want a clean room to come “home” to, a comfortable bed to sleep in so you can rest, and guaranteed safety for your family and your belongings.
Maybe you’re considering a hotel or a rental and are wondering where the best place to stay is in Niagara Falls. A visit to Niagara Falls Ontario should be memorable, but not because of bad accommodations. Don’t let a poor experience spoil the enjoyment you’ll have at Niagara Falls attractions, here are five reasons why you should choose aNiagara Falls hotel over a rental or Airbnb property.
1. Your Belongings & Safety Are Protected
When you rent a home or a space, the landlord has the same access to the space that you do. Not to mention, anyone they might have been given a copy of their key to in the past can also invade your space without warning. That’s a scary thought!
While it’s true that hotel staff also have master keys for rooms, that’s to protect your safety and to clean your room. Hotel staff undergo thorough background checks and training to avoid any guest safety issues.
Rentals, on the other hand, are full of scary stories. One Airbnb renterreports when she and her sister arrived at their rental in Toronto, the renter demanded they forfeit their passports. After they refused, they were reluctantly shown the space, which did not match the booking. The pair left freely but expressed their fears of the situation.
Hotel rooms also have safe places for your most precious belongings, like safes where you get to choose your own lock code. Rentals aren’t guaranteed to have the same safeguards.
2. Your Accommodations Will Be Clean
With rentals, the only way to determine whether or not a place will be clean is to read all the reviews and make a judgment yourself. In hotels, housekeeping staff are trained on best practices in cleaning and disinfecting spaces. You can rest assured that your room has been professionally cleaned every day, which cannot be said of all rentals.
3. You’ll Have Access to Concierge & Room Services
One major perk to booking a hotel is that you can always call downstairs and get help with whatever you need. Want to order a snack? No problem, it’ll be delivered to your room. Need help booking a car? You’re covered. Want a local’s advice on the best sights to check out in Niagara Falls? A concierge will plan a custom itinerary for you and your family and take care of all the bookings.
With a rental, you may never meet your host face-to-face (in many cases, that’s actually a good thing.) You won’t have the luxury of calling 24/7 to get help. If you’re new to Niagara Falls, having a professional who’s there to serve you can make your trip a whole lot better.
4. You Get What You Book
WithNiagaraFallsHotels.com, you can click on a hotel and see what it’s like room by room. When you enter the room you’ve booked, it will look like the photography on the site. It will feature all the amenities listed. You can judge for yourself what you need and the price you’re willing to pay before you book.
With rentals, there’s always the issue of paying more for what you don’t need. The bigger risk is that you won’t get the accommodations you thought you were booking.
Another renter in the U.S. found that the master bedroom had been blocked off by a pool table. When the couple moved the pool table to get to their room, the renter later charged them $500 for “balancing services” to correct the pool table. Luckily, the renter’s credit card company finally deemed the charge as fraud, even though Airbnb had sided with the renter and charged the couple.
With a hotel, you won’t have to worry about spaces not appearing as they do in the photos, or encountering hassle-filled situations like a giant pool table blocking your room.
5. Your Space Is Private
Another frightening situation that might happen when you book a rental? You might be filmed. Forget a guarantee of privacy. There arestories about rental hosts setting up hard-to-detect web cameras throughout their space. While their intentions could be to protect their property, it is obviously intrusive, and you should be aware that your intimate activities could be broadcast online or used to blackmail you.
Plus, when you’re at a rental, there might be other people who pop in without notice. Anyone who has a key that the host forgot to tell your rental about may come in. Even the host could show up unannounced.
With a hotel, you’ll always hear a knock and a verbal announcement before someone, like a housekeeping staff member, attempts to enter the room. Also, you can use a deadbolt or a “do not disturb” sign to prevent unwanted staff from coming into your room. That’s usually not an option with a rental.
Don’t Risk Bad Accommodations – Book a Niagara Falls Hotel You Can Trust
There are thousands of stories when it comes to rentals.Airbnb’s Better Business Bureau listing alone has thousands of complaints. Even with the best reviews, a rental’s quality is never guaranteed when no one is holding them accountable. And you don’t know if the reviews are legitimate, or if they were provided by friends the renter let book with them to scheme to get better reviews.
The only accommodations you can truly trust are well-reviewed hotels in Niagara Falls. With professionally trained staff and regulated, legal operations, you always know you have a safe place to stay withNiagara Falls hotels. Book your hotel stay today.
Niagara Falls is a fantastic vacation destination, offering year-round activities perfect for a solo adventure, family trip, romantic getaway or outing with friends. On top of the landmark falls that draw more than 8 million tourists each year from all over the world, the region is also known for its numerous vineyards, parks, casinos, tours and a never-ending series of local events.
But now comes the tricky part: when should you plan your Niagara Falls trip? What season offers the least hustle and bustle from fellow visitors? When are the best events and things to do in Niagara Falls? What’s the weather like?
The good news is that there is never really a bad time to visit Niagara, depending on what you want to get out of your trip. To help potential vacationers plan their trip, following is a rundown of what each season offers. Use Niagara Falls Hotels when you’re looking for the best place to stay in Niagara Falls.
Winter
The Niagara region gets chilly in the winter, though not as cold as most of Canada. That means that a blanket of snow is not uncommon, nor are sheets of ice forming on the 750,000 gallons of water that flow over the falls every second of every day. If you’re looking to enjoy a winter wonderland for the holidays, Niagara is a solid destination.
The snow-kissed trees and icy waters make for amazing photographs and give the falls a unique look visitors during other seasons miss out on. Through the holidays, the surrounding area sparkles with lights and decorations, as well as weekend fireworks displays. Winter festivals are common including the annual Winter Festival of Lights which runs from mid-November-January, as well as celebrations that focus on the region’s unique icewine. Icewine grapes are harvested in freezing temperatures, which produces a sweeter taste that has become distinct for Niagara wineries. If you’re interested in the Niagara Icewine Festival, it has become a staple for the winter months.
If you happen to be in the area the weekend of February 14-17, you’ll even be able to take part in Family Day, an annual holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February designed as a day to enjoy quality family time. Many families mark this long weekend with a getaway and Niagara Falls has become a popular choice with special activities geared toward visitors of all ages.
A winter visit to Niagara is going to be cold, so it’s probably not ideal timing for people who don’t like bundling up. That chilly weather comes with some benefits, though, including the region’s lowest tourist rate and discounted travel and hotel prices.
Spring
As you might have guessed, spring is one of the best seasons if you’re looking for things to do in Niagara Falls. The temperatures have started warming, but the region has not yet returned to peak vacation status. Snow can continue into April, but temperatures frequently reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit by the time May rolls around.
If you’re looking to take in plenty of nature, spring is a time when the region returns to full bloom. Niagara is home to plenty of botanical gardens, as well as a Centennial Lilac Garden and landmark Floral Clock. The region explodes with new life each spring, including more active waterfalls now that the ice has melted away.
Spring is a busy time for the Niagara community, with local plays taking centre stage thanks to the annual Shaw Festival hosted out of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Spring is also home to the Sip & Sizzle festival, which takes place throughout weekends of May and boasts special activities hosted by many of the region’s wineries.
If you’re visiting between March 16-20 this year, you’ll be just in time for Niagara Falls’ annual March Break . Kids are out of school this week, which means even more family-friendly activities and promotions are available.
Summer
If you want to experience perfect weather at Niagara Falls, then summer is your time to shine. Temperatures inch higher throughout June, usually reaching their peak of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit come July. The falls are rushing, wildlife is out exploring and the whole region becomes a perfect vacation destination.
Most consider this the best time to visit the falls, with tours in full swing alongside countless community events. Of course, that also means you’ll have the highest concentration of tourists to compete with, which also means travel and hotel stays are typically at their highest during the busy summer months.
If you’re comfortable with bigger crowds, you’ll be rewarded with everything from longer business hours to more festivals, events and activities at the falls than you can possibly cram into one trip.
The Niagara Integrated Film Festival is scheduled each summer, as well as the Niagara New Vintage Festival , a perfect destination for those who enjoy wine. Fireworks displays are a big draw in the evenings and can be seen every night at the peak of the tourist season. To make a stay extra magical reserve a Fallsview guestroom or suite and watch the display from your room! Summer is also when you can enjoy activities like the Niagara-on-the-Lake Peach Festival.
Fall
Fall is basically the reverse of spring for Niagara. Temperatures start to cool heading into winter but, much like the spring, you can expect a comfortable 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit heading through September and October. Rain becomes more common through the fall months, leading into the early snows of November.
Whereas tourism increases the deeper you head into spring, visitors are on a decline throughout the fall months, making it another ideal timeframe to visit Niagara if you don’t mind chillier temperatures in exchange for fewer people. Now that the summer crowd has departed, room rates and travel fare start to inch down, though not as low as you’ll find during the winter.
Each fall, Niagara is home to numerous community activities including the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival in September. Niagara Falls celebrates its Oktoberfest in October, with November kicking off the Winter Festival of Lights.
The big difference from spring is that nature moves the opposite direction in fall, which offers its own brand of beauty as the rains settle in and the colours shift to bright oranges, yellows and reds.
Book a Trip
Depending on what kind of vacation you’re looking to experience, Niagara Falls offers something unique throughout all four seasons. The only thing left to do is read up on more seasonal activities, events and promotions and find the best place to stay in Niagara Falls. To put the final touches on your vacation plans, visit Niagara Falls Hotels.