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.

Did Fort George wow me? Tbh, nope and hence the 4 star. But it isn't the management's fault because…read morethe fort is essentially a historical estate with specialty buildings. I was glad I came here because it was truly an educational visit. I viewed all 3 presentation/demonstration and found them a peak to the old ways. The field and the buildings are extremely well maintained. I walked through all of them. My strong advice is to come with children. It is an educational opportunity.

Visited Fort George for Canada Day and they offer free entry on this day only. Usually it's $13.25…read morefor adults, seniors $11.25, and free for youths under 17. It was a lot of fun! Something different and new. They had a BBQ offering food such as cheeseburgers $8, hamburgers $7, or hotdogs $6. Live music from the Howling Horns band, live firing and even cannon show, and fireworks at the end of the night! If you decide to stick it out for most of the day, consider bringing an umbrella, picnic blanket or chairs to sit, sunscreen, hat, fan, snacks and a cooler with water, etc. I saw someone with a beach tent! It's a long time to spend there. They do have washrooms tho. Otherwise, I recommend staying at Queens Landing which is a 6 min walk away and very convenient if you want to take a break or rest throughout the day.

I can't believe this place exists and it's a child's playground, it's insane. The slides are so…read moretall and so steep there are moments of rollercoaster thrills, at a local playground! Not recommended for children under 12 to go down alone.

This place is amazing!!! My kids are 4 and almost 6 and they love it. 12 years old!!??? I have no…read moreidea what the other guy is talking about. It is like a mini Canada's Wonderland!

A great place to go and rock climb while enjoying what nature has to offer. Over the years, there…read morehas been significantly more foot traffic, and as a result, more noise pollution and waste items have been popping up. I think that with more focus on an "all things in, all things out" approach, this area would be better for both bouldering enthusiast in addition nature fanatics alike!

Another vacation win- they have something here I have never seen- a nature trading post! You can…read moretrade rocks, crystals, fossils and such for their inventory or participate in a point based scavenger hunt, taking photos throughout the park, and redeem points for something in their inventory. I ma a huge rock hound, crystal nut- not just because my name is Crystal, I've loved picking up shiny rocks since I was a small child. Quartz and mica are two I remember finding often as a child. Here- they had a huge inventory of various raw and polished stones, fossils, animal bones and such. And that was just in the Nature Exchange! The park is wonderful too, plenty of trails to lead you down by the river, wonderful trees, great overlook viewpoints throughout. As part of the Niagra Parks system, they have bike trails too. We stopped here twice, once to explore and once for me to pop back in with my photos and pick out a raw piece of turquoise! A birthday win for me! Shout out to the young lady who talked to me in the morning, she wasn't there when I returned- and I am pretty sure the 2 young men thought I was crazy (I am), but they were all very helpful for this big kid out playing in nature!

Niagara Parks' Botanical Gardens is a place to experience nature's beauty and horticultural…read moreexcellence. The gardens span 99 acres with meticulously designed landscapes, and showcases award-winning gardens that burst with vibrant seasonal blooms and lush, overflowing greenery. During my visit, I walked along peaceful trails, where seasonal display beds had a fresh palette of stunning flowers and foliage. I explored the parterre, rose, vegetable and herb gardens, and let the serene beauty of Niagara's most beautiful natural surroundings These gardens were some of my favorite: *Herb Garden - meticulously curated garden showcases culinary herbs from around the world, medicinal plants and herbs used in commercial applications. With fragrant perfume plants, vibrant dye plants, as well as herbs for brewing beverages and homeopathic remedies. At the heart of the Herb Garden, there is a charming knot garden and a classic sundial, elegantly positioned along the central axis, adding a touch of timeless beauty to this botanical sanctuary. *Rose Garden - Covering more than two acres and a cherished part of the Botanical Gardens since the 1940s, the Rose Garden is a stunning showcase of over 2,400 roses. With 54 meticulously maintained rose beds and 31 vibrant annual display beds, this garden offers an exquisite sensory feast powered by nature. Explore a diverse collection of roses, including fragrant hybrid teas, colourful floribunda, elegant grandiflora and enchanting climbing rose varieties. This is a must visit attraction during your visit to Niagara Falls.

Absolutely beautiful grounds. Beautiful and peaceful way to spend the day…read more Best of all, it's free entrance unless you want to visit the Butterfly Conservatory (and you should)! Bring a book to read at one of the many benches throughout , spend a whole day, take your time wandering, savoring the beautiful grounds then grab lunch or a coffee or drink at the cafe!

This is a lovely hike early in the day. Tons of stairs, you have to go up them on the way back…read more The path is fairly well marked, but has plenty of areas with a drop off so pay attention. I'm pretty familiar with this hike and enjoy it. Easy parking nearby.

Devil's Hole State Park is just a short distance from Whirlpool State Park…read more Tip: From the overlook, you can't see Devil's Hole; you'll have to hike down the trail to see it. The rocks along the wall on the trail are VERY sharp, so excercise caution while you're hiking here - it's a LONG way to the store for band-aids ;-)

The best place to watch the sunset in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Nice benches available, enjoyable walk…read morefrom historic old town to the park, even views of Toronto on a clear day.

A fun, albeit short ride. You ride on one side to the halfway point, then everyone rotates to the…read moreother side at the halfway point. So you get to see both perspectives and everyone has the opportunity to see everything. The ride is kind of short for the price, and during peak/busy times, the wait probably isn't worth it, just to see the pool for directly above. You are able to go to the sides of the overlook and look for free, so if you're on a budget that is a viable option to save a few bucks.

We tried to buy tickets on the spot yesterday, but they sold out when we came around 4pm on a…read moreSaturday. We came back today first thing in the morning and were able to see it. It's a short, slow ride that goes across and comes back the same way. The view was pretty, but it's not an attraction that we would redo if we don't have enough time next time. It wasn't much of a hit with the younger kids in the group.