Love coming here even in Winter, and the crisp cold air is just what the doctor ordered for Winter…read moreinstead of sitting around doing nothing. Today the temps were warm in the mid to high 20s, and the windchill was 10 degrees less - it doesn't bother us! This time when we arrived, we saw a band of teens playing hockey on the ice! They were doing quite well too! Quite a few people were hiking in and out, and there were several cars in the lots. Did not see anyone at the new children's playground. We'll be back!

So I just realized Joe Davis isn't just a great park for summer activities....it's also great for…read morewinter. I found many trails that were perfect for x-country skiing. Quiet and secluded trails leading to picturesque hidden ponds. Wide enough for two skiing side by side in some spots. Meandering trails keep you out of the wind that can be bitter cold out in the open areas (like where frisbee golf is). Many birds flying through the trees, robins, blue jays and hawks too. Plenty of parking and nicely plowed. Fun!

What a beautiful, natural, "un-touristy" stretch of rocky shoreline, adjacent to grassy meadow…read morefields, just two blocks from the main drag (Queen Street) in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This area is akin to a craggy shoreline with a walking trail by the water's edge. You can clearly see an old, rocky fort/garrison just across the bay. My TO friends told me that area is actually in Nw York state, and the building is Fort Niagara. When I say it's close, I'm saying a good swimmer could swim there from here! There is a large, prominent hexagonal gazebo centrally located on the grassy stretch by the water's edge. It is quite Victorian in style, with white wooden cut-outs and embellishments. I thought it would make for a gorgeous location, with he craggy shoreline and Lake Ontario behind it, for wedding or engagement photos, or any momentous occasion, really. Just a beautiful site. (A gallery owner later informed us that this gazebo was built for the Stephen King movie, "The Dead Zone", and they gifted it to the town when the movie was done, as so many locals loved it. It really does seem to fit perfectly on the site). There is a large parking lot by the park, but I believe it is paid parking, FYI. It takes but ten minutes to walk the shoreline trail and back, but it's a wonderful stroll on a lovely day, and the area is so picturesque, it's like out of a postcard. Definitely worth the time, if you are in the area

We were in NOTL during a sweltering heat wave and would have dearly loved to swim here. But you…read moreabsolutely need water shoes! The "beach" is very pebbly, not sandy, and so is the lake floor. Too sharp and hard on our feet. I wish we'd known ahead of time.

The second activity of the second day of our Western New York family vacation (Day 2, Venue 2) was…read morethe Fort Niagara State Park in general, and Old Fort Niagara in specific. Operated since 1927 by a not-for-profit dedicated to the historic preservation of the site and providing interpretive programming, we were very excited to spend the afternoon exploring this living history museum! Taking up 250 acres of the state park's 504 acres, Old Fort Niagara is comprised of a modern museum and visitor center, the 1872 Fort Niagara Lighthouse, the North and South Redoubts which were built by the British in the 1770s, the Powder Magazine which was built by the French in 1757 for storing up to 50 tons of gunpowder, the Hot Shot Furnace built by the Americans in 1843 to heat cannon balls red hot, the Bake House built by the British in 1762 to replace the French-built original from the 1740s which was destroyed by fire, the long stone Provisions Storehouse built by the British in 1762 to hold 7000 barrels of food, the Gate of Five Nations rebuilt in 1930 to the same specifications as the French-made 1756 gate named in honour of the nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Dauphin Battery of cannons covering both the gate and the lower river, and the crown jewel of the fort, the French Castle. Built by the French in 1726 and called La Maison a Machicoulis, the three-story 'castle' is reputed to be the oldest building in the Great Lakes Basin. The history of the fort is deep and rich, with the area originally controlled by the Seneca people of the Iroquois League, until the French built their first wooden fort there in 1679 in order to better manage the fur trade. Controlling the mouth of the Niagara River where it empties in to Lake Ontario, the strategic site was expanded many times until it was captured by the British in 1759 during the French and Indian War. A Loyalist base in New York during the American Revolution, the fort was technically ceded to the United States in 1783, but the British retained control of it until the Jay Treaty was signed thirteen years later. During the War of 1812, the British re-captured the fort during a daring nighttime raid, and held it until the war's end. Soldiers were trained on-site for the Spanish-American War and World War I, and it served as a POW camp for 1200 German soldiers captured during World War II. While the US Army deactivated the fort in 1963, the Coast Guard continues to operate on the riverbank bottomland below the fort. As a family, we absolutely loved this historic site, and really appreciated the generations of work that went into restoring it. We found the museum to be modern and thoughtfully designed, the grounds well kept, and the historic buildings well documented with an uncommon eye for detail which impressed even our history buffs. We especially liked the vivid descriptions of the lives of the common soldiers stationed at the fort across the eras, French, British, and American. Likewise the passion and infectious enthusiasm of the reenactors really made the site come alive. I mean, who else is going to wear a wool uniform in the heat and humidity of a mid-summer afternoon?! Overall our family had a wonderful time exploring Old Fort Niagara and we would be delighted to return in order to delve deeper into its rich history!

This is a nice visit for history buffs. The grounds are well maintained and the views are…read morebeautiful. It is a little pricey for admission but I do understand the need for funds to help with the upkeep/fundraising. There are several buildings with informative displays and many pieces of history to look at. There is a lot of walking so be warned, especially on a hot sunny day. There are cannon and musket demonstrations as well.

Lovely verdant park, a good twenty minutes drive off the touristy beaten path, north of the Falls,…read morein the beautifully manicured town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. We spent most of the time in this area during our visit. You drive past many lush vineyards on the way here where you can pick up a lovely bottle of wine. Purchase some fromage and a baguette from one of the shops on Queen or King Street. Enjoy a picnic under the trees after a leisurely stroll. You can Thank me later! ;) Thank you for reading

Beautiful little park right in the main tourist drag in NOTL. There were numerous benches and…read morepicnic tables so you could enjoy the park. There is also a great area for kids to play, beautiful flowers and fountains. Great stop for a picnic, to people watch, sit and read a book, or relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Did you know there was once a war between the Falls and Buffalo? Apparently, Buffalo "Fought…read moreNiagara", and won, which is why Niagara Falls, USA is a bit run down now. If they'd won the war, it would all be different. What a shame. But if you go beyond Niagara Falls, USA and journey north, past Lewiston, you eventually reach Youngstown up by Fort Niagara, and there is a beautiful area of grassland and woods and the old Fort where the river meets Lake Ontario. It's a haunting and oft-ignored place. I would come up here for soccer, so this is a review specifically of the excellent soccer fields that are here. It was often windy and cold as hell, but I loved the fields. The grass was lush, green, sexy. It was always a lot of fun. I played here both in the BDSL and also for Woodland United who played at NCCC in a higher league a long time ago, but had away games and cup games here, sometimes. It was a great place to come to and scores a solid 4 despite the windiness, and how far away it is from most people's houses in WNY. And when I was fraught with worry about an upcoming game, I called it "Fraught Niagara".

This marker is at the intersection of Lockport Road and Route 18, not far from Fort Niagara State…read morePark. It points out some Colonial Era history. The marker reads, "British forces under Brig. Gen John Prideaux and Sir William Johnson landed at mouth of 4 Mile Creek, July 6, 1759. Besieged Fort Niagara." It was erected by Town of Porter Historical Society. The July 1759 assault of Fort Niagara is regarded as a watershed moment in Great Lakes history. Over the course of 19 days, British forces besieged the French-held Fort Niagara. The fort oversaw a crucial canal that connected French colonies along the St. Lawrence River to Detroit, the upper Great Lakes, the Ohio Valley, and Louisiana. On July 25, the French surrender the fort and the British hold Fort Niagara for the next four decades, handing it over to the Americans in 1796. [Review 2054 of 2024 - 557 in New York - 23074 overall]