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When someone says Niagara Falls, immediately you think of gushing torrents of water descending down a giant horseshoe shaped fall, misting up into a great cloud that rises up into the sky.. but there’s something that’s still nature going on there – though slightly more man made. As you walk down the pavement with the falls to your right, over the road on your left – is Niagara Falls Queen Victoria Park.

It’s a stark contrast from the busy casinos, amusements, restaurants and rides of Niagara’s town centre, but Niagara Falls Falls Queen Victoria Park does its job well, providing visitors with a calm relaxed open space full of life, both flora and fauna – and colour.

Queen Victoria Park is literally the “heart” of Niagara Parks. Bounded by the steep Fallsview moraine and the Niagara River Great Gorge, the Park contains a valuable collection of unique native and international plants and beautifully maintained gardens.

Walking through the Park beside the Falls, from Clifton Hill to beyond Dufferin Islands, you can enjoy a rock garden, hanging baskets, a Hybrid tea rose garden and attractive carpet-bedding displays. Park benches and well-groomed lawns provide pleasant venues for relaxation and photography.

Queen Victoria Park celebrates every season in style. In Spring, over 500,000 daffodils start the season in their bright and welcoming way. Magnificent magnolia trees, breathtaking tulips and other blooms are all there for you to enjoy. (more…)

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The idyllic 18th-century Niagara-on-the-Lake has been called Canada’s prettiest little town. It is home to some of North America’s finest wineries, a sampling of great hotels, fine restaurants that specialise in local cuisine, eclectic shopping and the Shaw Festival.

Blossoming flowers colour the neat and orderly downtown. Beautiful stone heritage buildings have been restored to their original splendor. Old-fashioned street lights illuminate the horse-drawn carriages that parade up and down Queen Street.

Though its famous name has left it linked with one of the Seven Natural Wonders of North America, the mood and pace of the charming town has little in common with the city of Niagara Falls.

And Niagara-on-the-Lake’s beauty is more substance than superficiality. The Niagara Peninsula is recognized internationally as an outstanding wine-producing locale, with a unique mesoclimate similar to that of the great wine producing regions of the world. This rich agricultural area is more southerly than Bordeaux, and the two Great Lakes, Ontario and Erie, moderate temperatures, ensuring the cool springs and long autumns that are ideal for growing grapes.

Just over an hour’s drive from Toronto and a half-hour from Buffalo, N.Y., the peninsula is home to more than 40 wineries. No longer are they simply purveyors of excellent wines, the wineries have done an outstanding job of tapping into tourism, offering visitors the complete wine country experience. Open year-round, they welcome guests with tours, tastings, special events and the opportunity to experience regional cuisine in their on-site restaurants.
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If you’re out to Canada imminently, and stopping in or visiting Niagara – here’s something that’s happening right now! In the Soil: Niagara’s Home Grown Arts Festival.
I couldn’t put it better than their own site so here’s what they have to say about the festival!

In the Soil: Niagara’s Homegrown Arts Festival:
70 events – 11 venues – 10 days!
Thursday April 15 – Saturday April 24 2010

In The Soil, the Niagara Region’s first multidisciplinary arts festival, is back for its second year to celebrate the original homegrown talent of Niagara. This year 70 acts featuring over 200 artists were chosen by a jury of local veteran and professional artists, proving once again that Niagara’s creative soil is fertile.

Musicians, video, media, theatre, dance and performance artists will be showcased from April 15 to April 24 in a variety of venues throughout the downtown core of St. Catharines. Plus Niagara’s own Juno nominated Great Lakes Swimmers will headline a stellar showcase at Centre for the Arts, Brock University on April 23rd.
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If you’re out and about in Niagara, and the kids want to take swimming to the next level, how about going to a Water Park? Niagara has North America’s biggest indoor water park – Fallsview Indoor Waterpark!

Niagara is world famous for its giant falls, so it only makes sense to have a day spent in water, in a place where water is a big deal!
Located on the Falls Avenue Entertainment Complex, North America’s largest indoor Waterpark and Hotel complex, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is the only Fallsview waterpark in Niagara. The park Features a mammoth play area, the massive 1,000 gallon tipping bucket, enormous 6 storey high waterslides, the full-sized wave pool, year-round outdoor activity pool and sundeck, plunge bowl, two over sized adult only Jacuzzis and a children’s play area!

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“A Local’s dream” quoted one of the many onlookers as this very well is a dream that is now a reality, watching the many Olympic games on TV while growing up I had always wanted to see the Olympics in person, and the Vancouver 2010 games made part of that dream come true. On December 20th, 2009, my home town of Thorold was given the honour to be host to the Olympic torch’s path.

 I departed my house at 2:15PM and arrive in downtown Thorold to this sight: 

(One group of the many groups that made up the  hundreds of patriotic Thorold residents that showed up to show their support of the olympic games.)

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If you have ever seen the skyline of Niagara, the chances are you already know of this amazing structure, but have never known the name – until now! Have a look at the picture below, can you spot it?

The Skylon is that amazing tower on the right hand side of the photo. It provides some of the best views of the falls, giving you the best opportunity to snap the falls on camera – without being worried if you’re getting the right angle.. Effectively an areal view without taking a helicopter ride to get it!
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Going to Niagara Falls, very few people haven’t heard of this world famous experience.. It has been featured in numerous films – including, to mention just one – Bruce Almighty featuring Jim Carrey.
The Maid of the Mist is one of the oldest attractions in North America, and with so much history it’s difficult to take it all in!
Boats leave daily every 15 minutes from the Canadian (and the United States) Landings from April to October and take 30 minutes to boldly venture up to the foot of the falls. If you wanted to get close to the Falls – there really is no better way than to do it like this!

Maid of the Mist

These amazing little boats power themselves up the river, allowing people to see the gorge from a completely different perspective – people often say how it makes them feel so small, being able to look up at the falls, rather than down on it like the usual views from the cliffs above
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There’s looooads of things to do in the city of Niagara Falls – so i thought it’d probably be a good idea to make a start writing about them! – First up – Bird Kingdom!

Bird Kingdom

Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls is located right beside the bridge which links Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada to Niagara Falls, New York, USA.
It’s the world’s largest indoor free flying aviary, allowing the birds to fly in more space, freely than anywhere else in the world! This huge space is home to over 400 birds from all over the world, all living in their uniquely designed home, complete with an original 1920′s biplane hanging from the roof!
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If you’re not staying in Niagara Falls its self – you’re likely to be driving there, or taking a coach trip to it. If you are you’ll be most likely taking the QEW east towards Niagara. You could also get a second opportunity to see this coming back away from Niagara Falls.. take a look at the picture and see if you can spot it

Is that an old sail ship by the side of the road?

Is that an old sail ship by the side of the road on a lisp? Well the answer is yes, and you’re not imagining it! What you’re seeing is what remains of a replica of “Le Grande Hermine”. The La Grande Hermine was a French galleon-type sailing ship built around 1534 and used as the flagship of the explorer Jacques Cartier on his expeditions to Canada in 1535 and 1536. This particular ship was originally a Trois Rivieres car and passenger ferry. It was eventually sold to someone who then lovingly converted it to a replica of Jaques Cartier’s La Grande Hermine. It became one of the landmarks of Ontario, and was even the subject of some paranormal investigations, regarding the person who lovingly converted this ship.
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Linguini’s is one of St. Catharines original italian restraunts, and a personal favorite ever since I was 4 years old. This family location has no shortage of good times and great food to enjoy.

(Outside shot of the restraunt, Photo© 2009)

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