Looking for a weekend getaway? Perhaps some place where the drinks are flying, the chips are stacked high and the whole city is lit up? No, I’m not referring to Las Vegas, but Canada’s very own Niagara Falls.
Now, you may be wondering what there is to do in this touristy, somewhat tacky town known for its waterfalls? The question you should really be asking is what isn’t there to do? From boat rides to haunted houses, a Ferris wheel 175-feet above the city, an entertainment complex featuring interactive games, a glow in the dark dinosaur-themed miniature golf course, wax museums and the newly-built casino – there is plenty to keep one busy in Niagara Falls.
The truth is I love tacky tourist attractions way more than the average person. When I see a mock Egyptian pyramid or a ridiculously tall sculpture of a wooden man, I feel an uncontrollable desire to take out my camera. I must confess that I went so far as to take a picture outside of a gigantic ice cream cone sign. Go ahead, roll your eyes, I’m not ashamed.
I’m not particularly adventurous. However, I’ll admit there was something about the spirit of Niagara Falls that made me want to do more than just pose. I rode the Ferris wheel, got a strike at the Strike Rock N’ Bowl and went to a moving 3-D theatre. I even visited a couple of haunted houses, but chickened out at the infamous Screamers, “one of the most renowned Haunted Attractions the world!”
The legendary falls are, of course, breathtaking, although I “mist” out on the Maid of the Mist boat ride this time around. The Maid carries her plastic-covered passengers close to the bottom of the Falls. I may be wrong, but I believe that the falls are best enjoyed from afar – without getting wet. Then again, if you’d like to be in the heart of the action and don’t mind a little water, this fifteen-minute boat tour will probably be worthwhile.
Niagara Falls is also home to the water park and aquarium, Marineland. You know, as in the TV commercial? Sorry if I just got that song stuck in your head. While personally I have no interest in “watching the whales as they swim and play,” they say everyone loves Marineland…
But readers be warned; this is no cheap vacation. You would never know there is a recession going on when you see the hotel prices in Niagara Falls. Learn from my mistake and book in advance (or don’t go on a Saturday night when it’s a long weekend in Ontario). The Howard Johnson hotel was going for $350 per night. (Insert gasp.) As for the restaurant scene, I was forced to break my cardinal rule of not eating at a place with a neon sign. As one might expect from such an establishment, it was no haute cuisine, but its patio did provide a nice view of the happening strip.
Finally, after one day in this kitschy town, my friend and I decided we required some alcohol and took the shuttle to Niagara-on-the-Lake – a small town situated in the middle of Niagara Wine Country. After becoming fast friends with the helpful people at the Chamber of Commerce, we participated in a vineyard tour. We visited four different wineries where we witnessed the wine making process unfold, and got to taste some of the region’s best. And did we ever taste.
My favourite winery was Ch