Niagara Falls Loves Families & Here’s 5 Top Reasons Why!

complex-small_480x360Amazing Location

The 20-acre Falls Avenue Resort is situated directly across the street from the incredible Niagara Falls and just steps away from the city’s top Niagara Falls Attractions. Falls Avenue Resort is located in the middle of Niagara’s lively tourist district with many resort attractions located right on Clifton Hill, the street of non-stop family fun.

Best Fallsview Guaranteed

Falls Avenue Resort features more than 1,200 guestrooms and suites, many of which feature some of the best views of Niagara Falls. Each of the resort’s four hotels has been recognized with TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, and the Skyline Inn is a past recipient of the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for Family Travel in Canada. Book a fallsview room and enjoy the spectacular fireworks from the comfort of your own room.  Hotels are directly connected to Falls Avenue Resort’s many lively family entertainment venues, great family dining choices and located across the street from the Falls.

Family Fun at Fallsview Indoor Waterpark

The 3-acre Fallsview Indoor Waterpark offers non-stop fun for people of all ages with 16 waterslides, a 1000-gallon tipping bucket, giant wavepool, year-round outdoor activity pool, plunge bowl, sundeck, adult-only Jacuzzis, and much more. It has been named the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award Winner for Amusement Parks & Waterparks in Canada for three years in a row and is a waterpark experience unlike any other.

Dining Choices for Everyone

Falls Avenue Resort has plenty of delicious dining options sure to please any appetite. Guests can venture into the wild at the Rainforest Café, experience a rock & roll haven at Hard Rock Café, dine with the stars at Planet Hollywood, or create an ideal meal from the many delicious culinary delights at the Fallsview Buffet restaurant. The options are endless and dining has never been so fun.

hersheyHershey’s Chocolate World Experiences

The Hershey’s Chocolate World Niagara Falls store is a chocolate lover’s dream come true. This 7,000 sq. ft. retail experience is the only store of its kind in Canada and features decadent fresh Hershey’s treats, packaged favourites and exclusive Hershey’s memorabilia. Families can indulge in chocolate dipped strawberries, rich milkshakes, creamy fudge, freshly baked cookies, and much more. 

About Niagara Falls Hotels

Niagara Falls Hotels is a collection of world-class hotels, restaurants, attractions, and retail stores located in the heart of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Situated on the 20-acre Falls Avenue Resort entertainment complex in the heart of the city’s tourist district, our properties offer unparalleled views of Niagara Falls and unforgettable getaway experiences for people of all ages.


Get Cooking in Niagara Falls

nfhblog5Niagara Falls is known around the world for the high quality and diversity of its cuisine. Celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver have taken advantage of the high-quality ingredients in the area and have opened restaurants that are booked solid throughout the year.

While you can feast on all types of delicious dishes during your visit to Niagara Falls, other culinary adventures are at your fingertips. Cooking classes, long popular in other parts of the world, are popping up all over the Niagara region and any of these will make a wonderful addition to your Niagara itinerary.

Strewn Wine Country Cooking School

Located at Strewn Winery, one of the most popular wineries in the region, Strewn Wine Country Cooking School offers a variety of classes focusing on local ingredients and food and wine pairings. Their classes are held very frequently and you can choose from a number of different types depending on length.

Their Saturday classes are five hours in duration and you will cook and eat the entire menu, as well as learn about the best wines to pair with your dishes. They offer an extended course that takes place over a Saturday evening and Sunday morning, as well as a five day culinary vacation where you can not only cook but visit local markets and farms as well.

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute

Niagara Falls Culinary Institute is where students from all over the world go to learn their trade from master chefs. Luckily, they also open their doors and offer classes to anyone with an interest in cooking, baking, wine pairing, and other aspects of the culinary industry.

They offer private cooking classes for groups of six or more where you’ll have the chance to cook alongside one of their experts and prepare an exquisite meal. Pastry and beer, wine, and spirits classes are also available, as are private tours of the entire state-of-the-art facility.

Chef Mark Picone Dining Experience

nfhblog6While not necessarily a cooking class, a dining experience with Chef Mark Picone at his culinary studio is bound to teach you a thing or two about food, the slow food movement, and the farm-to-table mentality. Chef Picone hosts lunches and dinners at a studio near his home where he delights in sharing his years of expertise with culinary aficionados.

But the dining experience is not the only treasure that Chef Picone offers. His home and dining studio are located on a small but highly regarded vineyard which produces grapes for other vintners. So not only can you expect a perfectly prepared meal, you can also be assured that the wines paired with the meal are expertly chosen.

Trying something new when you travel is always a good idea, and it’s part of the overall experience. On your next visit to Niagara Falls consider one of these unique culinary and cooking experiences. In addition to your favorite Niagara souvenirs you just might return home with a few brand new kitchen skills.


Niagara Is for Bird Lovers

NFHblog3Spring has sprung and with that comes all of our favorite outdoor activities. Hiking, biking, and exploring the beauty of the Niagara area are just a few of the opportunities guests can enjoy during this time of the year. However, one of the most popular of the springtime outings in the region involve our fine feathered friends.

Whether you’re an avid birder or just love to see love to see wildlife in their native habitats, Niagara is the place to be. In fact, the Niagara Corridor is designated as a Globally Significant Important Bird Area, due largely in part to the sheer number of native and migratory bird species in the area, and spring and summer are the best times to see them.

Be sure to pack your binoculars and visit Niagara Falls birding hotspots to witness some of these magnificent creatures on your next vacation.

Beamer Memorial Conservation Area

Not only can you take in the sweeping views of Lake Ontario from Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, but it’s also the best place in the region to spot bald eagles, vultures, and other birds of prey. The hiking trails are well maintained and some of the trails are wheelchair accessible.

The lookout platforms are the best vantage points to spot the eagles as they soar on the updrafts of warm air. You may also see herons, egrets, and numerous songbirds here as well.

Mud Lake Conservation Area

nfhblog4As a man-made marshland, Mud Lake Conservation Area is vital to the health and safety of migratory birds and is a bird watcher’s paradise. Several trails wind through the wetlands and there are wildlife viewing blinds that are accessible by canoe.

Waterfowl are abundant here and you can see many different types of ducks, geese, egrets, herons, and perhaps even a magnificent swan. The conservation area is open all year, but spring, summer, and fall are the best times to catch a glimpse of the birds.

Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area

Once a limestone quarry, the Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area is now an important sanctuary for birds, reptiles, mammals, and native plants. This area was also part of an ancient shallow sea, so fossils of long extinct plants and animals can be seen in some of the exposed quarry walls. It’s important to be careful here; some of the fossils have been damaged or stolen by careless or unscrupulous visitors.

The Niagara area is home to more than 19 species of gull, and you could possibly see them all here. In addition, you can spot terns, herons, egrets, and many more wading and shoreline species. The conservation area is open year round and does offer hunting on strict schedules and with proper licensing.

Birds are one our best connections with nature, and once you begin to pay attention to their activities it’s almost impossible to stop. Make your next trip to Niagara even more special by visiting one or more of these incredible bird watching sites. Who knows? You may even leave a self-described birder for life.


Rainy Day Fun in Niagara Falls

NFHblog1If there’s one thing you can count on in Niagara Falls it’s that you’re going to get wet at some point. Whether it’s on a boat ride under the falls or at one of the area’s many water parks, it’s a simple fact that you’ll get wet at least once.

But what do visitors do when it rains?

Weather is always fickle and it’s hard to tell if your visit will include a rainy day, but there are plenty of indoor activities to chase away the rainy day blues during a trip to Niagara Falls, and these are just a few of them.

Bird Kingdom

This local treasure is the largest free-flying aviary in the world and is the perfect way to while away a few hours during a rainy day. Kids and adults alike will love the many colorful bird species that call Bird Kingdom home, and the Lorikeet Landing is especially popular as these little beauties seem to love posing for photos on the arms of visitors.

In addition to the birds several varieties of reptile live here, and there are various special habitats to explore. Bird Kingdom also offers a cafe and gift shop.

Butterfly Conservatory

Another great way to forget about gray skies is to visit the wonderfully colorful Butterfly Conservatory. Over 2,000 butterflies live here amongst their native, tropical plants and flowers. The greenhouse-like atmosphere will transport you to the equatorial jungle as you walk through the paths surrounded by butterflies.

The Butterfly Conservatory lies within the confines of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

IMAX Niagara

NFHblog2What better way to spend a rainy day than at the movie theater? But this is not your everyday, average movie theater. IMAX Niagara offers visitors a unique perspective on the mighty falls and some of the history and lore surrounding the area.

IMAX Niagara is currently showing “Niagara: Miracles, Myths, and Magic” and you can also visit the Daredevil Exhibit which houses the barrels, boats, and other vessels in which 16 people attempted to go over the falls. Even if it’s a bright, sunny day this is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss.

Casino Fun

For those adult visitors who might wonder what to do on a rainy day, why not visit one of the casinos? Even if you’re not a gambler casinos are vibrant, lively, fun places to be and a rainy day spent here will not be a day wasted.

The Seneca Niagara Casino offers great evening entertainment, or you could try the Casino Niagara or Fallsview Casino which are both open 24 hours a day for all of your entertainment needs. Shopping, dining, gaming, and more are available at any of the area casinos and are sure to provide you a fun respite from inclement weather.

It’s never ideal when rain or other types of bad weather occur during your vacation, but rest assured that your Niagara Falls vacation won’t suffer. Choose one or more of these activities if you wake up to a rainy day, and everyone can have some fun.


Spotlight on the Niagara-on-the-Lake Shaw Guild Garden Tour

nfhblog5When most people hear the words “Shaw” and “Niagara-on-the-Lake” in the same sentence, they rightfully think of the city’s fantastic Shaw Festival — a repertory theater event that spans months and dozens of excellent plays each and every year. While the Shaw Festival is definitely one of the region’s most prized attractions, it’s just one of many, and just one of many that shares the same name.

For fans of theater, a trip to NOTL is always in order during the late spring, summer, and early fall months. For fans of gardens, landscaping, and the beauty of the Earth, a trip to NOTL in June is warranted as well. Here is a closer look at one of the under-heralded but truly remarkable events taking place in Niagara-on-the-Lake this June: The Shaw Guild Garden Tour.

On June 4th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can join other lovers of unique and beautiful homes and gardens on a tour of NOTL’s Old Town and some of its best-kept and little-seen gardens. Experience a formal knot garden whose perfectly manicured boxwoods border an acre of pristinely curated and cared for space. Step into a Japanese garden inside a private courtyard with a reflective pond bordered by wisteria, clematis, and more.

From outdoor patio spaces crafted with living trees, bushes, and plants to waterfalls and a wide variety of impressive trees and unusual shrubs, the tour boasts eight different private gardens that range from small to large. A one-day-only event, you can experience them all as part of the Shaw Festival’s offerings for the season. Tickets are just $25, and the tour will be a much-loved addition to almost any Niagara vacation itinerary.

nfhblog6Here is a closer look at the eight gardens on the tour:

  • The Penman Residence. Featuring both an outdoor kitchen and an outdoor dining area that includes perennials like foxglove, peonies, and valerian, this residence also boasts a small, secluded pond.
  • The Todd Residence. This relaxing outdoor space is surrounded by clematis, giant grasses, hydrangeas, yews, and a changing cast of annuals.
  • The McCaughy Residence. From the secret dining area to the waterfall and hot tub, this garden offers a wealth of opportunities to rest in seclusion, while surrounding visitors with hostas, heucheras, Japanese reed grasses, and maple trees.
  • The Thomas Residence. A formal boxwood hedge grants entrance to this beautiful garden where a wealth of trees, grasses, daylilies, hydrangeas, and other perennials await.
  • The Smith Residence. With a pond bordered by coneflower, hostas, and ligularia, this yard also boasts a ginko tree, garden statues, and a lovely lilac display.
  • The Misiak Residence. From the arbor covered in wisteria to the herbs, apple trees, and strawberries, this garden is a perfect blend of eye-candy and eating considerations.
  • The Laroche Residence. With over 100 elegantly shaped boxwoods, raised beds filled with herbs, 100-year-old willows, a formal knot garden, and more, this property one of the region’s most impressive.
  • The Penner Residence. Featuring a Japanese garden along with a stunning courtyard, this space also includes clematis, a reflective pond, peonies, and Japanese Larch trees.

Give yourself the garden tour of a lifetime in quaint and charming Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Shaw Guild Garden Tour offers an enduring look at some of the finest, private outdoor spaces in the whole Niagara region.


What You’ll Love at This Year’s Graze the Bench

nfhblog1Graze the Bench is one of the Niagara Peninsula’s premier wine and food events. A spring celebration of new and beloved vintages, each year’s Graze the Bench features eight select wineries, that bring their favorite chefs and a bounty of food and drink to attendees over the course of the first weekend in June. Live music, unbelievable wine, delectable food — here’s a look at exactly what you’re going to love at 2016’s Graze the Bench.

Fielding Estate Winery

Serving a NV Sparkling Rose, a 2014 Estate Bottled Riesling, and a 2013 Cabernet Franc, Fielding Estate Winery will be joined by Dobro Jesti. The food pairings will include goat cheese–filled risotto balls on marinara and a dish called Chicken Za Dilla, which will feature radicchio, romaine, and arugula and a garlic and dill aioli.

Angels Gate Winery

Two 2013 wines, a Gamay Noir and a Riesling, are this winery’s features. The food accompaniment will be Jambalaya from Smokin’ Buddha. Vegetarians needn’t fret: A vegetarian option will also be available.

Hidden Bench Vineyard and Winery

Hidden Bench will be offering three different wines: their 2013 Hidden Bench Red, a 2013 Estate Riesling, and their 2014 Locust Lane Rose. Chef Victor Barry will provide a slider filled with slow-roasted pulled pork topped with pickled onions, crema, and cilantro. A vegetarian pairing will also be provided.

Organized Crime Winery

Organized Crime will be pouring their 2014 Break-In Pinot Noir and their 2015 Pinot Gris alongside food from El Gastronomo Vagabundo. The menu includes Chef Hynam-Smith’s interpretation of the Land Down Under’s famous Bull Boar Sausage, as well as a smoked beef brisket served on top of a beer waffle with cole slaw and hot sauce.

Mike Weir Winery

One of the gems of Mike Weir Winery, their 2010 Reserve Merlot, will be making an appearance at this year’s Graze the Bench. They will also be pouring a Weir Canadian Made Chardonnay. To complement the wine, The Yellow Pear Food Truck will serve icewine-braised pork belly with cucumber, mint, kohlrabi, fried onion, and fennel pollen. A vegetarian option, as well as a gluten-free option, will be available, too.

Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery

nfhblog2Enjoy three excellent wines from Peninsula Ridge, including their 2014 Peninsula Ridge Estates Shiraz, a 2015 Wismer Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, and their 2015 Beal Vineyards Cabernet Rose. Food will be offered by the winery’s restaurant and will include a Garden Gazpacho with pesto, a braised lamb shank with a foraged mushroom strudel, and a micro-greens salad to accompany each dish.

Thirty Bench

Thirty Bench will pour three of their finest and least fussy wines: a 2013 red, a 2014 rielsing, and a 2015 rose. The wines will be accompanied by food from Tide and Vine Oyster Company, including a fresh oyster bar and a Niagara burger topped with grilled wild shrimp.

Rosewood Estate Winery

Rosewood Estate Winery is showcase three very different wines at this year’s Graze the Bench, including a 2015 Gamay Rose, a 2015 Reserve Riesling, and their 2014 Locked & Loaded, a pleasant and complex red table wine. Food accompaniment by Chefs Mike McColl and Patrick Engel will include a fried buttermilk chicken sandwich and shrimp and grits with chorizo. A vegetarian option will be available, too.

If there was ever a time to visit Niagara to take in the food and the wine, it’s this June 4th and 5th for the inimitable Graze the Bench.


A Look at Some of the Best Roadside Fruit Stands in Niagara

nfhblog3One of the many riches of the Niagara region is the thousands and thousands of acres of orchards and fruit farms that yield some of Ontario’s finest berries and fruits. Strawberries, peaches, apricots, raspberries, apples — the variety of fruits grown is vast, and because the growing season for each type varies so widely, fresh, local, and in-season fruit can usually be enjoyed from May through at least October.

If you’re planning a trip to the Niagara region in the upcoming months, there will be fruit aplenty. Here is a look at some of the best roadside stands in the area, where you can be sure to get everything from fresh fruit to baked goods and honey.

The Fruit Shack Market and Bakery

Located at 1267 Niagara Stone, RR2 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Fruit Shack offers fresh and seasonal fruit and a whole lot more. Pick up a pack of the world’s best butter tarts or lemon tarts — both are made from scratch every day — and if you have a cooler and are driving home, you can also stock up on some of the region’s best poultry, pork, and beef. Until the middle of June, they’re only open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, but from mid-June through Thanksgiving, they’re open every day from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Falk Family Farms

Another Niagara-on-the-Lake treasure, Falk Family Farms is owned and operated by the third and fourth generations of a farming family that has long called the region home. Originally a small farm of just 25 acres, today the Falk family has more than 350 acres on which to grow their delicious fruit. The Falk Family roadside stand features peaches, plums, pears, grapes, and apples depending on the season, and you can find their stand at 1239 Lakeshore Road.

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Plekan’s Market

Situated at 4770 Lincoln Avenue in Beamsville, this little roadside stand sits deep in the heart of wine country, which makes it the perfect stop when you’re in between winery tours and feeling piqued. In-season fruit and vegetables are available from the middle of June until at least October, with everything from onions, beans, and tomatoes to cherries and Plekan’s famous peaches made available. In addition to the fruits and vegetables, you can also get local grape juice, cold drinks, and Beamsville’s Charlie Bee Honey.

Savor the bounty of the land when you come to Niagara by stopping at one of these excellent roadside fruit stands.


When You’re Jet Lagged in Niagara…

nfhblog1Visitors to Niagara Falls come from literally all over. From the United States and other parts of Canada all the way across the pond to Europe, Russia, and Asia, citizens from around the globe see fit each year to make the trek to one of the planet’s most beautiful and entertaining places.

While this wonderful variety of people makes for a colorful and interesting time on the streets of the city and at each of the area’s attractions, travelers from abroad often struggle with jet lag when they first arrive. While jet lag is a mostly unavoidable part of traveling well outside your time zone, that doesn’t mean you have to let it ruin or even put a damper on your vacation. Here a handful of ways you can combat jet lag, tailored for the Niagara adventurer.

Go to Sleep When the Locals Do

Sadly, you can worsen jet lag by how you go about sleeping after you arrive, which means you need to be intentional about the ways in which you combat both feeling tired and awake. While you may crave a nap as soon as your plane lands at 2 p.m., resist the urge. Tour a winery and make dinner reservations that you won’t want to cancel at Windows or The Rainbow Room. Then, after a delicious meal, head to bed at a reasonable hour — say 9 p.m. local time. Do your best to stay in bed and asleep until the sun is up the next morning.

Get in the Sun

Sunlight has an almost magical way of retraining a brain that’s just flown from halfway around the world. By getting outside the first few days after you arrive for your vacation, the effects of the sunlight on your system will help you overcome jet lag naturally. Take a walk in Queen Victoria Park. Pack a picnic and stroll along the soft white sands of the shore of Lake Erie. Rent a bicycle and hit some of the region’s excellent trails.

Not only will being outside convince you of your new time zone, but the exercise that accompanies these great, local outdoor activities will also help tire you out for sound sleep each night.

nfhblog2Stay Hydrated

One way to keep yourself in top form when you’re traveling and jet lagged is to make sure you stay hydrated. Take a water bottle with you whether you’re ogling the falls or exploring the Dufferin Islands, and make sure to drink the equivalent of at least eight glasses of water throughout each day.

If that sounds like a lot — or like a chore you’d rather not have to tend to when you’re on vacation — add herbal and decaffeinated teas and juices into the mix. Grab a cup or two of delicious tea or juice at The Famous while you’re eating one of their amazing sandwiches, or stop by any Tim Horton’s for decaf coffee and herbal tea when you’re out and about.

Beating jet lag is no simple task, but if you set your mind to it, it can be done. Follow these three simple strategies when you vacation in Niagara, and even if your midnight is our noon, you’ll feel good enough to take in all the region has to offer you in no time.


Niagara’s Best Spots to Spy May Flowers

nfhblog3May is one of the most magical months in the Niagara Falls region, and it isn’t just because thousands of visitors are starting to once again throng to the place for holidays and vacations. The warming air, the lengthening days, the arrival of the first season’s fruits, the seemingly never-ending blossoms that line roadways, parks, and ditches — there’s so much to love about May that it’s hard even for locals to keep track of it all.

In many ways, however, the flowers alone are reason to celebrate the return of spring. All over the Niagara Peninsula, the few, startling colors that first appeared in April with daffodils, tulips, and new leaves become a wide and varied palette, as all types of flowers bloom, delighting the eye and the nose. If you’re planning a trip to Niagara during the month of May, be sure to set aside some time to marvel at the stunning array of floral beauty. Here are a few spots you need to be sure to check out.

Centennial Lilac Garden

The Centennial Lilac Garden was made in 1967 as a commemoration and celebration of Canada’s centennial year, and when you step into it, it certainly seems like one of the most aromatic and colorful places on earth. During the months of May and June, the garden is at its most lovely thanks to its 10 acres of flowering lilacs and other plants that set out to bloom then. Located to the north of the Floral Clock, the garden is home to over 1,200 plants that comprise more than 200 varieties, and the luscious colors and scents are among the most concentrated in the area.

nfhblog4The Floral Clock

Photographed almost as much as the falls themselves, the Floral Clock is a masterpiece of horticulture and clock design. A real and working giant timepiece, the face of the clock includes intricate designs that are made of up to 19,000 different springtime flowers and plants. Changed twice a year, the springtime’s floral design features viola.

The grounds around the clock are also lovingly maintained, and a visit to the tower at the back of the clock will let you see the clock mechanisms at work, as well as photographs that show the many changing faces and design the Floral Clock has enjoyed since 1950.

Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens

One of the most gorgeous and peaceful spots to visit any time of year, the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens were first established in 1936. A 40-hectare space, the botanical gardens feature everything from perennials, herbs, vegetables, and rhododendrons to shade trees, azaleas, a formal parterre garden, and a world-renowned rose garden that boasts almost 2,500 roses.

The Butterfly Conservatory is also on-site, and the gardens themselves serve as the primary classroom to students who are learning the art and skills of horticulture at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture. During May, the flowering trees and bushes make the garden feel almost ethereal thanks to the breadth and depth of scent and color.

Spend some time in Niagara this spring. For lovers of color, scent, and an abundance of flowers, the region is one of the finest destinations you can visit.


When Night Falls: 4 Ways the Night Can Only be Experienced in Niagara

nfhblog1Whether you travel to Niagara as a member of a 20-person bachelorette party or in celebration of your 25th wedding anniversary, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the nighttime hours. From world-class musical acts to gambling and theater, Niagara boasts a nightlife that’s robust, varied, and plenty of fun. Some of it is even one-of-a-kind. If you’re looking to stay up a little bit late in Niagara, here are four ways to enjoy the night that are as unique as the place.

Falls Illumination Cruise

For a romantic, nighttime exploration of the waterfalls, the Falls Illumination Cruise can’t be beat. Cruise alongside the illuminated falls beneath countless stars from 9:45 p.m. until roughly 10:30 p.m. Even if you’ve taken in the falls via the Maid of the Mist and the Journey Behind the Falls, this cruise will give you an experience of Niagara Falls that will make this natural wonder seem brand-new again.

With platforms that offer tiered viewing and a dry area with large windows should anyone in your party fret about getting wet, the Falls Illumination Cruise is a pleasure for tourists of all ages.

Late-Night Drinks in Full View of the Falls

Niagara has a wide array of nightclubs for anyone looking to dance, dine, or drink the night away, but R5 offers a view that can only be had here. Contemporary and chic, R5 is an elegant and welcoming space that can provide the perfect atmosphere for drinking, dining, and conversation when you’re looking to stay up late and have a good time while doing it.

Designed to showcase its location near the falls, you can gaze out at the majestic and illuminated waterfalls every night, while enjoying an expertly crafted cocktail. Sit with a loved one by the fire, or belly up to the bar. Whatever you choose at R5 will feel just right, and it will last long after the sun has gone down.

People Watch at Clifton Hill

nfhblog2When it comes to late-night people watching, New York City is hard to beat, but thanks to the wide variety of visitors and goings-on in Niagara, Clifton Hill is pretty entertaining, too. Niagara Falls’ most famous street, Clifton Hill comes by its nickname, “Street of Fun,” pretty honestly. From moon-eyed lovers to teenagers being allowed a long leash, Clifton Hill is a people watching experience all its own, and you can only have it in Niagara Falls.

Niagara Skywheel

There are few experiences as exhilarating as journeying upwards of 175 feet to gaze upon the glitter and glam of downtown Niagara Falls, but you can do just that on the largest observation wheel in all of Canada.

The Niagara Skywheel offers climate-controlled gondolas so that, regardless of the weather, you and your crew can experience the waterfalls and the city from up above. While the trip is just eight to 12 minutes long, the experience of seeing the city and the lit-up waterfalls at midnight is something you’ll remember the rest of your life.

So, stay up late. Whether you want to people watch or get close to the water, the city offers a wealth of nighttime fun that can only be had in Niagara.