NIAGARA FALLS - FAMILY FUN WITH A DIFFERENCENiagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
It’s easy to see the appeal of Niagara Falls - it can be summed up in just one word: ‘different’! Or, let me be more complete and a little less grammatical- ’LOTS of different’! Niagara is the Ontario mecca for a range of activities that cannot be matched - enjoy wild water fun, convene with nature, quake with fear and run from ghostly ghouls. Endless family fun will keep the little ones occupied right through the evening hours until the yawns take over.
Whether you’re planning a day trip to savour a single fabulous destination, or a summer holiday by the Falls, these nine favorite family activities are a great start to a memorable trip: Niagara Butterfly Conservatory Kids will think this place is just magical. Over 2000 tropical butterflys drift on warm air currents, flutter in blues, reds, and bright yellow, and sip nectar from exotic blooms. You’ll see over sixty species including the distinctively marked Owl butterfly with a fifteen centimeter wingspan, and the iridescent winged Blue Morpho. The magic continues at the Emerging window where butterflys emerge from jeweled pupae at an agonizing pace, spread wrinkled wings to dry, then finally launch themselves, oblivious to the wide-eyed wonder of small observers. This area is birth place to over 45,000 new butterflys each year. Now, for a really cool butterfly experience, wear bright colours and perfume, then stand very, very still - make like a flower. It won’t be long before one of these magical creatures lands on you! Fallsview Indoor Waterpark Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, known as ‘Niagara’s wettest wonder’ has 125,000 square feet of action-packed wet and wild fun. ‘Canyon Drop’ is a favorite for the adventurous - forget all the twists and turns of most slides - one sharp drop leaves your stomach behind, and leaves crazy kids running back for more. ‘Sky Screamer’ and ‘Kamakazi have to be tried, if just for their scary names - and turns out they are well-named! This waterpark is ingeniously designed to be accessible from multiple hotels through an indoor corridor lined with restaurants, shops and arcades - a perfect arrangement for avoiding the elements on cold winter days. Clifton Hill Clifton Hill is the family Vegas of Ontario and the fun is different than any other city or small town experience you'll find this side of the border. Five haunted houses add up to a lot of frightening fun. But be warned - enter Nightmares Fear Factory only if you’re really committed to being scared out of your wits. Next take a (careful) run (with your arms outstretched) through the Crystal Caves. In the dim light it is close to impossible to tell whether then next turn is real or just another confounding reflection. Who would have thought that complete and utter confusion could be so much fun? Take care as you pass an old barred crate out by the Haunted House. I hear a hungry ferocious ghoul lies in wait for for unsuspecting tourists who chance a close encounter. The crate shakes and the growls of a ravenous beast warn that the next meal might be you! Niagara Skywheel Niagara’s Skywheel is best described as a Ferris wheel on steroids - it’s gigantic! Step into one of forty-two air-conditioned and heated cars with the whole family. Adjust the volume and settle in for a ten minute guided tour of Niagara’s unique panorama from Canada’s largest `observation wheel`. The view from 175 feet up is spectacular! Enjoy an ariel view of the Falls, check out Niagara’s sister city across the border, and plan your next tourist stop as you survey the city’s attractions from above. Make sure to ride again on a summer night to enjoy a birds-eye view of the fireworks. Bird Kingdom This stunning attraction is one of the worlds largest indoor free-flying aviaries. Explore a replica of a tropical jungle - the water is a small mirror of the crashing Niagara outside, lush green, flowers, and a flash of bright colour and wings as exotic birds flit among the branches. The colour and variety is outstanding. A flock of scarlet ibis perch awkwardly painting a bloomless tree with bold colour. A fat Victoria Crowned Pigeon glows in bright blue, with startling red eyes. And for truly glorious colours, look out for the Emerald Starling and the Nicobar Pigeon. Kids will love the chance to hang out with striking, constantly squawking, and ravenous Lorikeets. Purchase some ‘nectar’, and you could end up with three, four, even five bird companions - they perch atop heads, nibble fingers, and play pirate-parrot on shoulders as they try to make off with shiny earrings or shiny anything. Great Wolf Lodge Great Wolf Lodge is the place for wild water adventures, sudden drops, dripping, drenching and splashing. Add a generous helping of natures woodland creatures and you have the perfect combination for a memorable family getaway. Try the 727 foot Niagara Rapids Run family roller coaster, or join the entire family on the Wooly Mammoth, the parks largest slide. Now recover from your harrowing ordeal and catch some ‘Z’s with a lazy float down the half million litre Crystal River. End a wet wild day with story time in the great hall. An anamatronic moose and a ranger tell a rambunctious bed-time story to pajama-clad kids. This is followed with a more low-key story that sends the little ones yawning to bed. Rainforest Cafe Restaurant Our meal was delivered amid the crashing of thunder and the flash of lightening. A 'storm' was just rolling in and an anamatronic gorilla added to the uproar by beating a hairy chest with menacing enthusiasm. Minutes later, and as suddenly as it started, thunder and lightening cleared, tranquility was restored, and my hungry family enjoyed a hearty lunch before the next storm rolled in. Excellent food, but go for the animals as this is what makes this place memorable and so different! Hersey Factory Rick Meyers, former President of Hershey Canada says of the Hersey Factory: "The simple joy of buying a chocolate bar becomes a delicious adventure of mouth-watering aromas, [and] delectable tastes.” So, who says your Niagara holiday is just about the kids? This ‘delicious adventure’ is one to be savoured by all well-deserving mums. Send dad off with the kids to find a nice healthy snack. Then go ahead - indulge! Fireworks over the Falls Now a day of activity is complete and both parents and kids are worn out. Don’t fade yet - let’s add a little of the spectacular to finish it off. Take a stroll down the hill, take a seat on manicured grass and direct your gaze to a dark sky above the illuminated Falls. Starting at 10:00pm, this will be a late night for the kids, but this treat will be well worth a few yawns in the morning. The spectacular Falls are the perfect backdrop to spectacular fireworks as the warm still summer night explodes in colour and light. This is The (perfect) End to a perfect family day! |
TRAVEL DIY Niagara Butterfly Conservatory Email | Website | TripAdvisor 2565 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L0S 1J0 (905) 358-0025 Fallsview Indoor Waterpark Email | Website | TripAdvisor 5685 Falls Ave, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6W7 (905) 374-4444 Clifton Hill Email | Website | TripAdvisor Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6S8,Canada Niagara Skywheel Email | Website | TripAdvisor 4946 Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls,Ontario L2G 3N4, Canada 905-358-4793 Bird Kingdom Email | Website | TripAdvisor 5651 River Rd, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 7M7, Canada 905-356-8888 Great Wolf Lodge Email | Website | TripAdvisor 3950 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 7M8 1-800-432-5938 Rainforest Cafe Email | Website | TripAdvisor 4915 Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 3N5, Canada (905) 374-2233 The Hersey Factory Email | Website | TripAdvisor 5701 Falls Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario,Canada 1 905 374 4446 |
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