Two Days in Niagara Falls: A Travel Guide

Start Day 1 at the Falls themselves. Begin at Queen Victoria Park (6320 Niagara Parkway), the prime viewing area on the Canadian side, with the best views of all three falls — Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil. Walk to the Table Rock Welcome Centre for the closest view of the Horseshoe Falls, and then take the Niagara City Cruises (formerly Hornblower / Maid of the Mist) boat ride (61-99 River Road), the iconic boat tour that takes you into the mist of the Horseshoe Falls. The cruise runs from April to October, and is the single best way to experience the power of the Falls. After the cruise, walk along the Niagara Parkway to the White Water Walk (4330 Niagara Parkway), a boardwalk along the Niagara Gorge beside the Class 6 whitewater rapids of the Niagara River.

For lunch, eat on Clifton Hill or in the Fallsview area. Try the Fallsview Buffet (6740 Fallsview Boulevard) for a buffet with a view, or the Elements on Fallsview (6732 Fallsview Boulevard) for a mid-range pick. For a more affordable pick, try the Flying Saucer (5843 Stanley Avenue) for a quirky diner, or grab a slice at the Pizza Pizza on Clifton Hill.

After the cruise, walk to Table Rock Welcome Centre (6650 Niagara Parkway), at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, for the closest land-based viewpoint — you can stand metres from the edge. Visit Journey Behind the Falls (inside Table Rock), an elevator ride down 38 metres to tunnels that lead to portals behind the cascading water. After Table Rock, walk north along the Niagara Parkway through Queen Victoria Park, the landscaped park between the Falls and Clifton Hill, with flower gardens and the best unobstructed views of the American and Bridal Veil Falls across the river. For a higher viewpoint, ride the Niagara SkyWheel (4960 Clifton Hill), a 53-metre observation wheel with enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas and a panoramic view of the Falls and the gorge.

For dinner, eat on Clifton Hill or in the Fallsview area. For a view, try the Skylon Tower Revolving Dining Room (5200 Murray Street) for a mid-range buffet with a revolving view of the Falls. For a fine-dining pick, try the Keg Steakhouse (5843 Fallsview Boulevard) for a steakhouse with a Falls view. For a more affordable pick, try Antoinette's (5902 Victoria Avenue) for a classic Niagara diner, or the Flying Saucer (5843 Stanley Avenue) for a quirky diner. For a mid-range pick, try Weinkeller (5633 Ellen Avenue) for a cozy wine bar with great food.

After dinner, walk back to Queen Victoria Park for the Niagara Falls Illumination, when the Falls are lit up in colours every night from dusk until 10 PM (or later in summer). On summer nights, check the schedule for the Niagara Falls Fireworks show, a free fireworks display over the Falls at 10 PM. For a drink, try the Keg Steakhouse (5843 Fallsview Boulevard) for a view, or walk to Clifton Hill for the Great Canadian Midway arcade and the bars along the strip. For a quieter end, walk the Niagara Parkway at night, when the Falls are lit and the crowds are thinner.

Start Day 2 with a drive or shuttle to Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), a 25-minute drive north of Niagara Falls along the Niagara Parkway, one of the prettiest drives in Canada. NOTL is a historic, walkable town with 19th-century architecture, boutiques, and restaurants. Walk along Queen Street, the main street, and visit the Shaw Festival Theatre (10 Queen's Parade), a world-class theatre festival running April to October. For a wine experience, visit one of the nearby wineries on the Niagara Wine Route — Inniskillin (1249 Niagara Stone Road) for ice wine, or Jackson-Triggs (1245 Niagara Stone Road) for a range of wines. For a scenic stop, visit the Floral Clock (14005 Niagara Parkway) on the drive back, a 12-metre clock face made of flowers, and the Laura Secord Homestead (2961 Niagara Parkway), a historic house museum.

For lunch, eat in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Try the Shaw Cafe and Wine Bar (92 Queen Street) for a mid-range pick with a great patio, or the Pie Plate (403 Mary Street) for a casual bakery and café. For a more affordable pick, try the Charles Inn (252 Regent Street) for a cozy pub, or grab a bite at the Cattlemen's BBQ (279 Mary Street).

After Niagara-on-the-Lake, drive or take the WEGO shuttle back to Niagara Falls and visit the Niagara Parks Power Station (7005 Niagara Parkway), a restored 1905 hydroelectric plant with interactive exhibits and a tunnel that descends 55 metres to the river's edge. For a seasonal activity, visit the Butterfly Conservatory (2565 Niagara Parkway) — a tropical greenhouse with over 2,000 butterflies, open year-round. In winter, visit the Winter Festival of Lights (November to January), when the Niagara Parks and Dufferin Islands are lit with millions of lights. In summer, visit the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve (3050 Niagara Parkway) for a hike down into the Niagara Gorge, or the Whirlpool Aero Car (3850 Niagara Parkway) for a cable car ride over the whirlpool.

For dinner, eat in Niagara-on-the-Lake or back in Niagara Falls. For a classic Niagara-on-the-Lake experience, try the Prince of Wales Hotel dining room (6 Picton Street) for a fine-dining pick, or the Irish Harp Pub (245 King Street) for a casual pub. For a mid-range pick, try the Sand Trap (279 Mary Street) for a golf-club restaurant with great food, or back in Niagara Falls, try the Weinkeller (5633 Ellen Avenue) for a cozy wine bar.

After dinner, end the night with a walk through Niagara-on-the-Lake at dusk, when the historic streets are quiet and atmospheric. For a drink, try the Angel's Gate Winery (4782 Concession 1 Road) for a wine tasting, or head back to Niagara Falls for a final view of the illuminated Falls. For a quieter end, walk through the Old Town and then head back to your hotel.