Niagara Falls is a destination that could easily rest on its laurels. Instead, its constantly evolving to keep up with the times, with new things to do and fresh twists on old favourites.
A group of Canadian travel writers visited for a couple of days this fall, and we found tons of great activities and tours. One of the best additions to the region is the restoration of the old Niagara Parks Power Station, which opened in 1905 and features truly glorious industrial architecture; spacious and airy and crafted with tremendous pride.
If you take a tour, they’ll show you how they created energy from the plentiful Niagara River back in the day, and you can check things out up close. It’s a photographer’s dream. Even better is the nighttime “Currents” show, which tells the story of The Falls from the Ice Age to the present. Look for moving photos, rumbling music, swirling smoke and more, all played out on the stone walls and the floor and ceiling of this 116-year-old industrial cathedral.
The “Currents” Show at the Niagara Parks Power Station. Photo Courtesy Niagara Parks.
You don’t want to visit Niagara Falls without taking a ride on the Hornblower Cruise ships. These are marvellous catamarans that are sturdy and smooth, and they take you within a few metres of the raging falls. I’ve taken the trip three or four times now, and the power and majesty of the thundering falls never fails to impress.
We finished our two-day trip with a visit to Fort George, on the shores of the Niagara River in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s a fine, wooden fort that dates back to 1802, and they do marvellous tours.
We had a terrific demonstration on how to fire an old-style flint rifle, and also got to hear their musical three-piece band play.
Fort George is just 1,300 yards from Fort Niagara, which sits on the U.S. side at the point where the Niagara River joins Lake Ontario. It served as the British Army headquarters in the War of 1812 for what is now known as Canada.
A costumed “soldier” at Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake. JIM BYERS PHOTO
It’s decidedly Canadian these days, but from May to December of 1813 the fort and much of Niagara was controlled by the invading Americans. The British recaptured the fort after the 104th regiment marched here all the way from New Brunswick in the snow. Yikes.
We didn’t have time to take the tour, but we learned about a great-sounding Niagara Falls walking tour you can take with Vox City Walks. They have 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour packages from $13.50. They also do tours in Toronto.
We also got some great information about Black history tours you can take with Lezlie Harper through her company, Niagara Bound Tours.
“Niagara is so rich in Black history,” Harper told us. “My tours aren’t about what the white man did to the Black man but how Black people rose above adversity.”
Harper tells stories about such figures as Burl Plato, who had to swim across the Niagara River from the U.S. to gain his freedom. He went on to become a member of the Niagara Falls city council.
A memorial plaque for Black pioneer Burl Plato at the Drummond Hill Cemetery in Niagara Falls. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Harriet Tubman, a legendary historical figure, brought enslaved Black Americans into Niagara Falls over a suspension bridge near the current Whirlpool Bridge.
She also told us how the meeting that resulted in the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was held in Fort Erie, Ontario.
The Niagara Falls History Museum has terrific displays about Niagara in general, the War of 1812 (some battles were fought on the very land where the museum now sits), the Underground Railroad, Niagara Falls bridges, and more. Of course, you’ll also find fun displays about daredevils and the Falls.
A short walk to the Drummond Hill Cemetery allowed us to find Burl Plato’s final resting place, as well as a monument to one of the most famous Canadians of all time, Laura Secord. The cemetery was the site of the famous “Battle of Lundy’s Lane” during the War of 1812.
WHERE TO STAY
The Hilton Fallsview Hotel and Suites is a great spot in the heart of Niagara Falls, with wonderful views and lovely rooms.
