If you’re driving into Niagara Falls, you might pass through Queen Street, a historic part of the Niagara Falls downtown area with lots of quaint local shops, fabulous restaurants and sights to check out. Queen Street has been thriving since the 1850s and remains a financial 
hub for Niagara Falls, as well as a place locals and tourists love to visit.
If you’re travelling to Niagara Falls, head to Queen Street for a nice morning, afternoon or
evening away from the waterfalls. Here are some things you can do on Queen Street.
Dine at Treadwell
Treadwell is a farm-to-table restaurant on Queen Street that is so delicious, people from Toronto rave about it. The menu showcases local ingredients in delectable dishes like roasted heritage chicken breast with in-season vegetables, potato and herb gnocchi with mushrooms and Swiss chard, and pan roasted halibut with cherry tomato and Focaccia Panzanella salad.
The restaurant is a force to be reckoned with because it has its own bakery next door and an on-site sommelier who will guide you through wine pairings for each dish. The interior is understated yet elegant, while the outdoor patio is a great place to enjoy Niagara Falls weather.
See a Show at Shaw Festival
Shaw Festival on Queen Street presents 13 plays on three stages from April through December, plus activities and events throughout the year. Come here to see local acting talent on the big stage, in diverse theatre selections including shows for the whole family. If you want to watch live art in Niagara Falls, this is a great destination to check out.
Take a Horse Carriage Ride
See Queen Street from a unique vantage point by taking a horse carriage ride around. You’ll spot carriages near the Prince of Wales on Queen Street. Tours range from 30 minutes to an hour and start at $95CDN. Find info here.
Visit the Niagara Apothecary
Learn about Niagara Falls history at the Niagara Apothecary on Queen Street, an authentic museum restoration of an 1869 pharmacy. Marvel at historic medicines, talk with the staff about how the pharmacy operated and learn about some of the remedies that were used for various ailments for customers who visited the pharmacy back then.
The Niagara Apothecary is free to enter and also sells natural bath and body products you can use today. It’s a little slice of Niagara Falls and Canadian history that’s neat to check out.
Get in the Christmas Spirit Any Time of Year
Just Christmas on Queen Street gets you in the holiday spirit all year-round. The Christmas-themed shop is a bevy of snowmen, elves, reindeer, holiday paintings, ornaments and so many more Christmas decorations.
If you love Christmas and want to collect some Niagara Falls souvenirs, or get a head start on your shopping, this place will give you all the warm and fuzzy feelings.
Buy a Fair-Trade Souvenir from Ten Thousand Villages
Ten Thousand Villages is a great shop for those who are concerned about where their goods come from. The store on Queen Street is a fair-trade shop, meaning purchases directly support the makers who crafted the items. Purchasing goods from here enables shoppers to support the global village, one where designs are created using natural or recycled local materials and are made with traditional handiwork.
Ten Thousand Villages has just about any type of good you could be look for, from home décor and fashion accessories, to kitchen, dining, furniture and clothing goods. You get to purchase one-of-a-kind goods, and you help the maker through your purchase – a win-win.
Grab Some Ice Cream at COWS
You can smell the heavenly scent of handmade ice cream when you walk by COWS. It’s no wonder lines to the creamery sometimes spill out onto Queen Street. The ice cream here is that good.
COWS’ claim to fame comes from the down-home ingredients, including 16% butterfat, fresh cream and real eggs. The ice cream is mixed slowly to keep air out, resulting in a ridiculously creamy and thick consistency that will leave you licking your spoon. Try flavours like brownie explosion, caramel macchiato and sea salted toffee.
See Wildlife Art at Edward Spera Gallery
You’ll do a double take when you walk into Edward Spera Gallery. The artist’s paintings look like photographs, capturing the essence of wildlife from Africa, India, Southeast Asia, China, South and Central America, and beyond.
Spera is constantly travelling to find new inspiration, so you’ll always see something fresh in the gallery. If you’re an art collector in Niagara Falls, his gallery is definitely worth a visit.
Book a Niagara Falls Trip
Queen Street is only a short drive away from the Niagara Falls waterfalls. The places mentioned here are a few of our favorites, but there are so many more fun things to check out when you visit Queen Street and beyond in Niagara Falls.
Book your stay with Niagara Falls hotels, and check out Queen Street and more while you’re here.