Niagara Falls

[Fernleigh22]

I have 3 days to spend it the Niagara Falls area. Apart from seeing the Falls, does anyone have any recommendations on where to go/what to do?
Love touristy things and activities. Enjoy a good walk/kayak/paddleboard/animal encounters. Any suggestions?

Dinner up the CN tower in Toronto is cool. Driving through Toronto centre felt very futuristic to me with the tall thin buildings.

It's wine growing country. And steel and car making country. We were there in Winter but I expect you could go on a boat trip in Summer. The lakes are massive. Like North Sea massive. The wilderness areas are much more remote than in the UK.

Two days at Niagara is more than enough so I second a day trip to Toronto. My kids also loved Ripley's Believe it or Not on Clifton Hill

Go and visit Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's a pretty lakeside town (hence the name) and great for lunch and having a wander. It's the 'heart' of Ontario wine country so go and do some wine tasting while you're there. They're known for their ice wine:

https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/articles/guide-ontarios-icewine

I've been to Ripleys in Copenhagen, it was absolutely awful, but I'll have a look if this one has better reviews.

Ah, thanks for the suggestion of Niagara-on-the-Lake - that sounds ideal and I think I have seen its on a bus route too....

Niagara itself is horrible, but the falls and the river gorge are very impressive. Niagara on the Lake is pretty (although it was rammed while we were there) and there are walking trails in the surrounding area.

Niagara itself is like Blackpool but worse. Brace yourself, it's really awful.

The Falls are wonderful, the Maid of the Mist is great, then get the hell out and go to Niagara On The Lake and Toronto. The Toronto Islands are nice in the summer, plus there's baseball at the Skydome, the CN Tower, general city stuff.

Definitely do not stay in Niagra, it’s dreadful. When we went several years ago , we visited some nice vineyards in the region and wished we’ve stayed at one of those.

Another one warning how dreadful Niagara is. I'd say half a day to see the falls is ample. We were on the Canadian side and it was vile - nothing but fast food restaurants and strip malls.

Thankyou for all these suggestions.
I've seen CN Tower recommended elsewhere but am I right in thinking it's just a tower?! Or is there things to do there?

Oh dear. My hotel will be in Niagara so that's got me worried......

Lots of gorgeous wineries in Niagara on the lake. Worth doing a tour. Ditto what others have said about Niagara itself. Do the maid on the mist as that is a great experience.

Toronto is worth a visit. Don't bother with things like Ripley's - absolute tourist trap. CN tower is like any tall tower and has great views so would recommend. Otherwise in Toronto check out distillery district, and neighbourhoods like Greek town on the Danforth. What time of the year are you going?

The CN Tower was the tallest freestanding building in the world for a good while. It's an iconic part of the Toronto skyline and the views from the top are great. The main thing - like going up the Shard or Empire State Building - is the view across the city and Lake Ontario. There are gift shops and a rotating rstaurant and the usual tourist things.

You can get a ferry out to Toronto Island for an afternoon, which is especially appealling on a hot and humid day as the islands have nice breezes and some lovely beaches with views back to the city. THere are bridgers and boardwalks between the islands so you can walk (or cycle) between them.

The restaurant at the CN Tower is FABULOUS

well worth going to Toronto just for that

I think the best think to do is use the hotel as a base and get to Toronto, Niagra on the lake and the vineyards as day trips. There’s plenty in the area to do, it’s just the town that’s a shit hole. I think the worst thing about it was the food. Even the kids were fed up of shit junk food by day three and begging for vegetables but you can plan your main meal for when your on day trips.

Niagara Falls is worth doing. Make sure you prebook, as there are always massive queues. If you want to do the walk behind the falls, again prebook.

Niagara itself is really like Blackpool, full of amusement arcades. But there are lovely areas not far out of the town itself. Not really many decent places to eat unless you eat in your hotel. It is wine country, so worth a tour.

I love Toronto [ family live there ]. CN tower is worth doing. There is also a great aquarium at the bottom of the tower which is worth a visit.
Toronto is only around an hour and half on the train from Niagara.

Toronto Island is worth visiting, just a ferry trip from Toronto itself. Great place to go especially when it is really hot and humid.

Niagara Falls we loved the glass blowing place I think it was near the Skylon Tower, helicopter trip over falls, maid of the mist boat trip, the gardens butterfly house, casino, Clifton hill, Niagara on the lake, is beautiful, nice wines, Christmas shop. Outlet shopping. Not been a quite a few years, but we have visited Toronto and Niagara Falls a couple of times. You will have a great time, enjoy.

Are you travelling alone and will you have a car? I would suggest seeing the Falls only, then maybe 2 days at Letchworth State Park Upstate NYC, lots of hikes, birdwatching, or stay in the Finger Lakes where there are Amish communities and tons of water based activities. Strong Museum of Play is great for under 10s (Rochester). Agree with others, Niagara Town is awful, Niagara on the Lake is great, Buffalo town centre is one of those lost American cities but the countryside around it is pretty beautiful.