Niagara's Winter Playbook

FOR THINKERS, EXPLORERS AND THRILL SEEKERS.

NIAGARA’S

Winter

PLAY- BOOK

Whatever your travel style, be it wanting to spend time outdoors, challenging yourself with new adventures or plain having fun (or a mixture of all these), Niagara offers tourists no shortage of wonders to behold, and fun to be had. From our plentiful nature trails to the crazy Clifton Hill, here we’ve compiled a short list of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, for you to cross off and make Niagara your playground.

OUTDOOR FUN

JOURNEY BEHIND THE FALLS

Travel through the tunnels behind Niagara Falls for a unique perspective. Located at 6650 Niagara Parkway. More info at niagaraparks.com >>

NIAGARA

HELICOPTERS Take a thrilling ride over the Falls! Located at 3731 Victoria Ave. More info at niagarahelicopters.com.

NIAGARA SKYWHEEL

You’ll get a most unique view of Niagara Falls from this giant ferris wheel. Located on Clifton Hill. More info at cliftonhill.com

MYSTERY MAZE Have a fun adventure in the Mystery Maze and see how long it takes you to find your way out! More info at falls. com Located at 4943 Clifton Hill. >>

INDOOR FUN

GREG FREWIN THEATRE Check out a show by the best magician in the world! Enjoy dinner while you watch the show. Located at 5781 Ellen Ave. More info at gregfrewintheatre.com

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY

Thousands of colourful butterflies float around in this rainforest setting. Located right on the Niagara Parkway. More info at niagaraparks.com

THE CRYSTAL CAVE: A MIRROR MAZE ADVENTURE

Get lost in a maze of mirrors, but make sure you don’t end up lost… forever! Located at 4967 Clifton Hill. More info at crystalcaves.ca >>

WAVES INDOOR

WATERPARK Enjoy a wave pool, slides, hot tubs and more. Located at 8444 Lundy’s Lane. More info at americananiagara.com

RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

This museum of the absurd has over 700 exhibits of various oddities, curiosities and illusions. Located at 4960 Clifton Hill. More info at ripleysniagara.com

LOUIS TUSSAUD’S WAXWORKS You will get to view an impressive collection of famous faces with some new addition for 2013.

Located at 5709 Victoria Ave. More info at ripleysniagara.com

RIPLEY’S MOVING THEATRE

This state of the art simulator ride will take you on the ultimate adventure. Located at 4960 Clifton Hill. More info at ripleysniagara.com >>

HAUNTED HOUSES

THE HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN Filled with abominations that move and scare at every chance they get. Have a good scare from monsters lurk in the House of Frankenstein. Located at 4967 Clifton Hill. More info at houseofrankenstein.ca

THE HAUNTED HOUSE Test your bravery, challenge your nerves, and try to take a walk along the darker side of Clifton Hill. Located at 4943 Clifton Hill. More info at falls.com

NIGHTMARES FEAR FACTORY One of the scariest haunted houses in the area, boasting over 140,000 people who’ve chickened out so far…will you be one of them? Located at 5631 Victoria Ave. More info at nightmaresfearfactory.com

SCREAMING TUNNELS HAUNTED PLAYGROUNDS & HAUNTED ASYLUM Named after Niagara Region’s own real-life Screaming Tunnels, this haunted house features many deadly monsters, killer clowns and some of Hollywood’s most notorious slashers. Located at 5930 Victoria Ave.

DRACULA’S HAUNTED CASTLE Recent winner of “Haunted Attraction of the Year”, there are 3 levels of fear for you to explore. Located at 4933 Clifton Hill. More info at darkinthepark.com

NIAGARA’S HAUNTED HALLWAYS One of Niagara’s newest and spookiest haunted houses. See if you have the stomach to make it through. Located at 6455 Fallsview Blvd. More info at niagarafallsfunzone.com >>

THE ACTIVE

TRAVELLER

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING/SNOWSHOEING Niagara is full of amazing places to get outside and explore, especially on foot (or, well, at least with something strapped to your foot) We are lucky to have conservation areas filled with walkways and wildlife, scenic skiing trails, and tons of paths that snake and meander through some of the best scenery this province has to offer. Your best bet is probably to bring your own equipment if possible, but if not, check out Ski Pro Shop in St. Catharines (skiproshop.com) for information on rentals. There are daily, weekend, monthly and seasonal rentals available.

BRUCE TRAIL

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING

This is Canada’s oldest and longest footpath, and the Niagara portion of it stretches from Queenston to Beamsville. Planned hikes are available on predetermined days, or you can hike solo whenever you want. Badges are given if you register and then complete the entire Niagara section of the trail. If you are extremely ambitious, you can sign up to hike the entire trail from end to end. To put it in perspective, if you hiked for 8 hours a day, it would take approximately 30 days to finish the entire trail. There is no set time limit for doing an end-to-end hike. You could take thirty days or thirty years, and either way, you still get the coveted badge at the end. Maps are available online from the Bruce Trail Conservancy.

SHORT HILLS PROVINCIAL PARK

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING

Short Hills is a huge 735-acre natural environment park, which covers parts of St. Catharines, Pelham and Thorold. It’s a great place for winter activities, and trails are marked according to which activity is permitted on the trail. This is an area where it is extremely important to stay on the marked path, as it’s very easy to get lost in Short Hills (I speak from experience; I have had to be rescued not once, but twice from Short Hills. I didn’t even knowingly leave the marked path, so fellow directionally challenged people beware) Parking is available off Pelham, Roland and Wiley Roads.

BALL’S FALLS

SNOWSHOEING

This beautiful area set in Twenty Valley got its name from the family that originally lived there. In addition to being able to see the original home, restored church, an operating flour mill, a lime kiln, a black smith shop and carriage shed, there is also a recently opened Centre for Conservation, which has many interactive exhibits and programs. Several trails run through the area, and maps are available online, which will lead you to the various points of interest, as well as the upper and lower falls.

NIAGARA RIVER PARKWAY TRAIL

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING

This is a beautiful 56-kilometre bike path that links Niagara-on-the- Lake and Fort Erie. It’s fairly straight and it runs parallel to the Niagara River, and passes some beautiful sights along the way, including numerous points of interest for tourists, such as the Floral Clock, Fort George and the Butterfly Conservatory.

FRIENDSHIP TRAIL

SNOWSHOEING

This path runs sixteen kilometres across Fort Erie, and winds through farmland, villages, watersheds and residential areas. Parking is available on Ridge Road, Crescent Road, and Lakeshore Road.

WATERFRONT TRAIL

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING

The Waterfront Trail stretches from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Quebec, following the shores of Lake Ontario. The Niagara portion begins in Niagara-on-the-Lake and goes through St. Catharines, Lincoln and Grimsby. The trail varies between off road paths and streets in residential neighbourhoods. It is a multi use trail and is good for various winter activities. Trail maps are available online from the Waterfront Trail official website.

GREATER NIAGARA CIRCLE ROUTE

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING & SNOWSHOEING

This multi-use, paved trail makes its way through Niagara, linking Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as the Welland Canal with the Niagara River. It passes through historic Port Colborne, where in addition to historic sites, you will pass various shops, attractions and restaurants. >>

FUN SEEKER

LASER TAG If you want to feel like a kid again (or if you have kids you need to entertain), why not sign up for an exciting game of laser tag? It’s not just about running around the room, shooting people with lasers. It’s about defending your base and coming up with a strategy to win. You can form alliances, you can play with a team, but the main objective is to: be the last man or team standing.

BRONTO’S ADVENTURE PLAYLAND

Clifton Hill’s newest and biggest outdoor/indoor attraction. Ballcity, jungle gym and more. Located at 4943 Clifton Hill. More info at falls.com

ZAP ZONE NIAGARA

This place is located in downtown Niagara Falls, and the game is played in a 2500 square foot arena. It’s dark, smoke swirls, lights flash, and music plays. It’s some of the most fun you’ll have on your vacation. Visit their website at zapzoneniagara.com

NIAGARA FALLS FUN ZONE

Their Galaxy Guest Laser Tag arena is a 2000 square foot space with a space battle theme. It allows for a great way to have fun with friends or family when you are on vacation. More info at niagarafallsfunzone.com

CLIFTON HILL If it’s fun you are looking for, then look no further than Niagara Fall’s “Street of Fun”, Clifton Hill! The carnival like atmosphere appeals to the kid in all of us, and it is full of arcades, rides, fun houses, haunted houses, mini golf, gift shops, restaurants, bars and more. If it’s late night entertainment and dancing you seek, you’ll find somewhere on Clifton Hill to party all night. A Clifton Hill Fun Pass is available for purchase on cliftonhill.com and you can receive a discount by purchasing the tickets online in advance.

CAPTAIN JACK’S PIRATE COVE

Enjoy 40,000 square feet of fun! Arcades, rides, mini golf and more. Located at 4955 Clifton Hill. More info at piratescoveniagarafalls.com

WELLAND CANAL CENTRE Learn all about the region’s marine history and watch as ships make their way through the canal. Located at 1932 Welland Canal Parkway, St. Catharines. More info at stcatharines.ca

NIAGARA IMAX Take in the movie Niagara: Miracles, Myths & Magic and also check out the daredevil museum. Located at 6170 Fallsview Blvd. More info at imaxniagara.com

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS MUSEUM

Meet the world’s record setters for everything you can imagine! Located at 4943 Clifton Hill. More info at falls.com

THE FUN HOUSE This is Niagara’s only fun house! You’ll be climbing, crawling and more! More info at falls.com Located at 4943 Clifton Hill.

OH CANADA EH Enjoy some dinner theatre and sing along with a huge cast of Canadian characters. Located on Lundy’s Lane. More info at ohcanadaeh.com

FALLSVIEW INDOOR WATERPARK

Canada’s largest entertainment resort with 16 slides, hot tubs, wave pool and more. Located at 5685 Falls Avenue. More info at fallsviewwaterpark.com

ROCK LEGENDS Enjoy wax figures of the best in the music industry. Located at 5020 Centre Street. More info at rocklegendswaxmuseum.com

NIAGARA FREEFALL INDOOR SKYDIVING

Defy gravity! Try a high-flying indoor skydiving adventure. Located at 6357 Stanley Ave. More info at niagarafreefall.com >>