Visitors 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.
Stay Hydrated
Stay HydratedOne 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.