Weekend Itinerary For Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is an easy weekend trip not only from the east coast of the U.S., but also from the west coast. Unfortunately, there aren’t tons of non-stop flights to Buffalo. But coming from California, you can take a redeye to Detroit or Chicago and be in Buffalo or Toronto, ready for fun, in the morning!
What to Do
If you only have a weekend available to visit Niagara Falls, 48 hours is plenty of time to enjoy it. You can definitely fit all of the below in before returning to work Monday morning.
Zipline over Niagara Falls
Yes, you can zipline over the Falls! OK, so it’s more like along the side of the Falls. But either way, it’s a really fun and beautiful activity. If you’re scared of ziplining, don’t worry! They basically put you in a little chair and just open the gate and away you go. Also, that view will make you instantly forget your fears! My friends and I each got a Groupon that took $10 off the original price of $49.99/person. But note that you do have to pay a couple dollars of tax when you arrive.
Voyage to the Falls
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Maid of the Mist boat cruise. Well, this is the same exact thing but it departs from the Canadian side of the Falls. If you want to get up close and personal with the falls, this is an activity not to be missed. You’ll get a poncho before boarding the boat but be warned, you WILL get soaked! It is 100% worth it and was some of the most fun we had all weekend.
Gambling at the Fallsview Casino
With more than 3,000 slot machines and over 130 gambling tables, the Fallsview Casino is the largest in Canada. Inside you’ll find tables for blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and more. There’s also video roulette and basically any slot machine you could possibly want. There are several bars inside the casino as well.
Journey Behind the Falls
If the Niagara Cruises aren’t close enough to the Falls for you, consider the Journey Behind the Falls where you can literally go behind Niagara Falls. You’ll travel about 150 feet down into the bedrock to explore 130-year-old tunnels and feel the power and thunderous noise of the Falls! This is the closest you can get to this beautiful natural wonder. Tickets are $17.30 for adults and $11.25 for kids.
Wine Tasting at Niagara-on-the-Lake
Just 30 minutes north of Niagara Falls, you’ll find more than 20 wineries in the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake. The area is famous for ice wine that is made from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine and are picked at just the right temperature. It is a sweet, dessert wine and can be found in several different forms in the region including as an ice wine martini! If wine isn’t your thing, the town also has cute boutiques and shops right on Lake Ontario. If you’re looking to get away from the Niagara Falls crowds for an afternoon, this is a great spot to check out.
Outlet Shopping
Just a 15 minute drive from the tourist area of Niagara Falls, you’ll find the Outlet Collection at Niagara.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Embassy Suites because their rates are a bit cheaper than most of the other higher end options. It’s also the closest hotel to the Falls!
The hotels in Niagara Falls are much like Vegas where you really don’t need to go outside to get your entertainment. The Embassy Suites has three restaurants on site including a TGI Fridays, Starbucks and The Keg Steakhouse and Bar overlooking the Falls. There are several others within walking distance and a couple hotel bars as well.
Other accommodation options
Bonus for Fall Foliage Lovers
Looking for the best places near Niagara Falls to see fall foliage? Check out my leaf peeping Guide!
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