ONTARIO, CANADA Niagara Falls Vacation

by George Bailey

Ontario, Canada is a paradise for continental travelers and Americans who seek vacations close to their USA home with enough diversity and difference to make the trip seem somewhat foreign, yet comfortably familiar.

One of the top attractions worldwide is located in Ontario. Niagara Falls offers a vacation experience with thrills for the entire family.

You can bet on it. If you haven't been to Niagara recently you'll see a vibrant, new city filled with excitement and it's all because the Ontario government sanctioned gambling, or as government and casino officials like to call it, gaming. No matter what you call it, it's still the same "drop your coin in the slot machine, pull the handle, say a quick prayer and hope for a big win" game. It may not be for everybody but it is the thing that's changed Niagara forever.

Serge Felicetti, Director of Business Development for the City of Niagara Falls says, "Casino Niagara, first introduced in the city in 1996, was the catalyst for growth resulting in a renaissance of $2 billion worth of investment in new accommodations, attractions, golf courses, and restaurants." He's right. Smaller hotels and restaurants are becoming a thing of the past, replaced by luxury hotel chains like Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Embassy Suites and Sheraton. When a second $1 billion Niagara Fallsview Casino Complex opened in June 2004, it spurred growth even more, literally transforming the face of Niagara. When you visit Niagara today, the once prominent Skylon and Minolta Towers are now nestled amongst a series of high rise hotels and more are yet to come.

What's New

The city seems to have a new life. Growth is everywhere. Felicetti says, "The future looks extremely bright when you see companies like the Great Wolfe Lodge and Ripley's starting to re-develop the downtown area of Niagara." The $200 million year-round family resort opened in the spring of 2006 on a site north of the falls near Niagara's older downtown and a world-class Ripley's Aquarium of Canada was slated to open in 2007. (Plans fell through on that location and the Aquarium opened in Toronto in October 2013.) In addition, a Las Vegas type show geared around the entire family and featuring magician Greg Frewin, has come to Niagara.

If you like water try out one of the three new water parks that feature indoor water slides, pools, whirlpools, wave pools, and tipping buckets. It's always summer here and life's worth living.

If golf is your thing look no further. In addition to the twenty or so golf courses in Niagara, half a dozen new spectacular golf courses have opened since 2002 .

Niagara's "Street of Fun" and tourism's main drag, Clifton Hill, now has flashier neon and newer attractions.

Another thing worth experiencing is the Niagara Falls Aviary. You'll feel like you're in a rain-forest when you encounter free-flying birds such as the wax bill, wattled jacana and red whiskered bulbil. The setting includes 40-foot waterfalls, vertical gardens and a hand-carved house from the island of Java. To keep this tropical feeling, visit the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory north of the falls. Thousands of free-flying butterflies remain year-round crowd pleasers.

For More Information: Niagara Falls Tourism at niagarafallstourism.com or The Niagara Parks Commission – niagaraparks.com