Here’s your guide to 8 amazing things to do in the Niagara Falls winter season.
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city and waterfall in the province of Ontario. The city nestles on the Western bank of the Niagara River.
The city is full of magic and wonders and has now become one of the honeymoon capitals of the world. The reason behind the city’s massive popularity is its fierce waterfalls. It is a group of the three most powerful waterfalls in the world, one lying on the border and the other two within the United States.
Niagara Falls is an all-season destination; however, Niagara Falls’s winter season offers a magical wonderland. Even though it’s freezing in those months, views of the falls enclosed in glistening icicles are worth anything.
Things To Do in Niagara Falls Winter Season
Winters in Niagara Falls offer an otherworldly experience to visitors. For people looking for more than just sightseeing, the winter season has a lot for them in-store. There are loads of exhilarating activities during the winter season, of which we have picked the best in this article. So, in this article, we will take you through some of the amazing things to do in the Niagara Falls winter season.
Let us then check out the winter activities and attractions.
1. Take the Journey Behind the Falls
“Journey Behind the Falls” is an all-year-round unique tour of the falls that offers a different perspective of Niagara Falls.
On the Journey Behind the Falls, visitors are allowed to stand directly behind the fierce sheet of water to get a behind the scene glimpse for real. The journey to the roaring falls begins through the 130-year-old tunnels down the elevator walk.
The elevator walk takes you to an observation deck from where you can take in the mighty Horseshoe Fall and Niagara River view. First, you will get to take a peek at the Canadian Falls from underneath while going through the tunnels. And then there’s the observation deck outside, from where you can admire niagara river beauty.
Be sure to be well prepared for the observation deck; the mist coming off the falls is quite strong, and you might even get wet. The multiple cave entrances where you see the roaring sheet of water coming down are also a great experience.
Tip: This one is the best Niagara Falls attraction.
2. Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Conservatory
Another thing to do during the Niagara Falls winter season is to visit the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Conservatory.
If you want to get a feeling of summer in Niagara Falls’s winter season, then the Butterfly Conservatory is the right place to be in. A walk through the conservatory will make you feel like visiting in the summer.
Walking through the conservatory, and catching sight of beautiful butterflies in their habitats will feel like being in a magical wonder. The experience is full of amazement for adults and children alike.
The conservatory space is filled with butterflies from ceiling to floor, and the walking paths are lined with flowering trees and flowing waters.
Tip: The temperature inside the conservatory is pretty warm, so remember to take off the heavy layers of clothing.
3. Enjoy the Winter Festival of Lights
One of the most popular festivals of Niagara Falls’s winter season is the Ontario Power Generation Niagara Winter Festival of lights.
It is one of the largest festivals in Canada that runs throughout the winter months from Mid-November to the end of January. The origin of the festival dates back to the 1900s, and ever since then, it has been transforming Niagara Falls into a light art masterpiece.
Millions of lights from three different locations are put together to create the whole magical illumination. If you would like to enjoy the view along with the chilly winters, then you may proceed to Queen Victoria Park.
Or else, if you want to watch the beautiful illumination in comfort, then pay the price and get into the falls view room.
4. Be a Part of Niagara’s Fury
Niagara Falls’s winter season also favours many indoor activities, and one such is Niagara’s Fury.
Niagara’s Fury is a 4-D animation attraction that takes place inside a 360-degree multi-sensory theatre. The animation experience starts with an 8-minute pre-show, starring Chip the beaver and his friends explaining the origin of the falls.
This is followed by a bumpy ride over the edge of Niagara on a moving platform. That is surrounded by special effects and visuals such as rain, wind, and snow. This is the best way to escape the outside freezing winds and yet experience Niagara Falls at its best.
5. Visit the Inniskillin Winery
Well, apart from enjoying the falls during your trip to Niagara Falls winter season, another exciting thing to do is to visit the Inniskillin Winery.
If you are someone who loves refreshing wine, you should take a drive to Inniskillin Wines, located in Niagara on the lake. Traditions inspire them, and their wines say it all.
They are mostly famous for their ice wine which has intense flavours, varietal characters, and a great balance. Coming to enjoy Niagara Falls’s winter season and missing out on the popular ice wine is never likely to happen.
Tip: This is one of the most popular stops, so it is always crowded. Plan your trip better, so you do not miss out on the amazing icewine.
6. Niagara Fallsview Casino
Although Niagara Falls’s winter season is best known for its iced glistening rushing waters, there’s a lot more going on around. So how about trying your luck in one of the casinos?
When you are ready to wind up your day, and start an exciting evening, get your game on at the Fallsview Casino. People mostly enjoy getting their games at the Fallsview casino because of its classic establishment.
There are over 150 table games and hundreds of slot machines to try out your luck. And even if gambling is not much of your thing, there’s a big shopping space and a theatre to keep you entertained.
The theatre hosts a good number of concerts and performances throughout the year. And even if that is not enough, there’s a spa and a golf course too. And not to forget the amazing dining facilities.
So the place has something for you and your whole family.
7. Skylon Tower
Once you’ve seen the roaring falls from underneath, below, behind, and every view else, it is time for you to see it from high up at the Skylon Tower. Get ready to view it all from 775 feet above.
The Skylon Tower is an observation tower at a height of 775 feet, offering jaw-droppingly beautiful views of the Horseshoe Falls. The observation deck is open all year round, so you can easily visit the tower on your Niagara Falls winter season trip.
There are two observation decks, indoor and outdoor. And it will only take you about 52 seconds to reach the top of the tower, boarding on a glass-enclosed elevator.
According to many visitors, the best time to go to the top for views is when the falls are illuminated. The bird’s-eye-view during that time is remarkable. And on days when the sky is all clear, visitors can see up to 80 miles.
For the tour of the tower, visitors will need to buy tickets that can be purchased on-site. It can be a little expensive, but another birds-eye-view alternative is a helicopter tour which is costlier.
So think wisely.
8. Enjoy New Year’s Eve
The best thing Niagara Falls winter season tour is that visitors get the chance to spend New Year’s Eve at the Falls. The whole of Niagara Falls shines brighter during New Year’s.
Niagara Falls is a great place to be on New Year’s because the Niagara Parks each year sets the bar of celebrations very high. They have a free concert and fireworks show on display.
The celebrations begin at Queen Victoria Park at about 8 PM on January 31st and run past midnight. The whole celebration is free of charge, but the place is too crowded during that time so make sure to arrive on time.
Closing Thoughts
Well, the list of things to do during the Niagara Falls Winter season trip can go on. Because there are so many things to do, so much to see and enjoy. However, our post just includes the best eight things you can do on your Niagara Falls winter season trip.
Niagara Falls is the perfect place for a complete week’s getaway, and during the deadly winters, it looks more stunning than ever. The snow makes the city even more worthwhile. The magical frozen falls are a treat to the eyes.
There are other classic winter activities too that can be done, such as snowshoeing or ice skating. And remember, these are things you can do from the Canadian side. There are a whole lot of other things to do from the US side.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to Visit Niagara Falls?
You can visit Niagara Falls from both the United States and Canada. From the United States side, the nearest city to Niagara Falls is Buffalo, about 20 miles away. You can easily drive down from there, turning it into a short road trip.
If you are visiting from the Canadian side, the closest cities are Toronto, Hamilton, and Mississauga. There are a lot of things to do on either side of Niagara Falls.
2. When is the best to Visit?
When it comes to winter festivals in niagara falls, the Canadian horseshoe falls region, the official Niagara falls winter festival is one of the best. The niagara icewine festival, niagara gorge winter hike and other famous niagara falls attractions.
As already mentioned, a great time to visit Niagara Falls are the winter festival months.
Word of advice: When visiting niagara falls in winter you might prepare yourself for the winter season, it is not strange for niagara Park’s power station to stop supporting the camp side or the niagara parkway.
Also, check out this article on Niagara Falls Tour: Important Things to Carry to know what you will need while visiting this winter wonderland.
3. Is it worthwhile to visit the Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory?
This experience is recommended by 97% of travellers. This figure represents the proportion of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that has a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This experience is recommended by 98% of travellers.
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