Attractions Nearby Niagara on the Lake, Day Trips and Excursions

(Niagara on the Lake, Ontario - ON, Canada)

Although the Niagara Falls rather overshadows many of the other attractions close to Niagara on the Lake, there really is plenty to fill your days with, particularly if you are prepared to travel a little. The city of Buffalo is one of the most popular day trip attractions close to Niagara on the Lake and lies around 58 km / 36 miles to the south, in the American state of New York.

Ontario's proud multicultural capital, Toronto is the biggest of all the Canadian cities and is located approximately 132 km / 82 miles to the north of Niagara on the Lake. Other neighbouring attractions include the village of Queenston, the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, and the Welland Canal, a scenic stretch of water which links both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Buffalo

Address: New York, USA
Buffalo has much to offer in the way of tourist attractions, containing countless Art Deco buildings, Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Graycliff House and Darwin D. Martin House, the American Falls portion of the Niagara Falls, and the rather historical Buffalo Zoological Gardens, which date as far back as 1875 and is to be found within Delaware Park. Buffalo enjoys a waterfront location next to the easterly shore of Lake Erie and is also home to the Theodore Roosevelt National Historic Site.

Toronto

Despite the city's overall size and spreading nature, downtown Toronto remains really quite manageable and relatively compact, being surrounded by a series of small neighbourhoods. Many dramatic building dominate the centre of Toronto, with the CN Tower being the most famous and nothing short of an iconic attraction, offering superb views across both the city and Lake Ontario. Day trippers may also be interested in seeing the swanky New City Hall, which is fronted by an ice-skating rink during the winter months. For some of the best art that Toronto has to offer, head to the Chinatown district, where the acclaimed Art Gallery of Ontario resides.

Queenston

The quaint and charming village of Queenston is located just 5 m / 3 miles to the north of the Niagara Falls and on the outskirts of Niagara on the Lake. Queenston Heights Park is one of the main attractions here and is often known as the very 'birthplace of Canada', being sited on an important 1812 battle site and boasting impressive riverfront views. Sights worth seeing in Queenston are surprisingly plentiful and include the Laura Secord Monument and also the Brock's Monument, both of which are to be found within the park itself and hard to miss. Also likely to be of interest is the Laura Second Homestead, the Samuel Weir River Brink Gallery and speedy hydrofoil jet boats, which travel to Toronto in just one hour.

Kitchener / Waterloo

The twin cities of Kitchener and Waterloo are sited just over 140 km / 87 miles to the north-west of Niagara on the Lake, and around an hour to the west of Toronto. Most the half of the inhabitants of both Kitchener and Waterloo originate from Germany, with the cities being well known for their Mennonite and Amish farming communities. Kitchener is roughly three times the size of Waterloo and each year plays host to a spectacular Oktoberfest, which is second only to Munich in terms of size and popularity. Attractions in Kitchener include the central Farmers' Market on Frederick Street, the Woodside National Historic Site on Wellington Street, and the Joseph Schneider Haus on Queen Street, an important Heritage Canada site. In waterloo, be sure to check out the neighbouring Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo, as well as the Museum and Archive of Games at the Burnt Matthews Hall.

Niagara Parkway and Recreational Trail

If you have a spare day and a looking for something relaxing to do, then consider a leisurely drive along the Niagara Parkway and Recreational Trail. This two-lane road stretches for more than 55 km / 34 miles and leads to Queenston, the Niagara Falls and also Fort Erie, passing many attractions, parks and camping sites along the way, and roughly following the route of the river. The entire parkway is edged by a wide paved trail, highly suitable for walking, cycling and even roller skating.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Stratford

If you are holidaying in the Niagara on the Lake area during the summer months, then you may be interesting in visiting the city of Stratford, which stands just over 180 km / 112 miles to the west. Between April and November, the city plays host to the hugely popular Stratford Shakespeare Festival, held here since 1953. Apart from the Shakespeare Festival and the numerous related productions at the Avon Theatre, the Festival Theatre and the Tom Patterson Theatre, the city is home to a number of fine heritage walks, the riverside Queen's Park, and the Stratford-Perth Museum. One the northern side of the Court House, do pay a visit to the Shakespearean Gardens, which have been created on the site of a historic wool mill.

Welland Canal Area

The Welland Canal Area is a very scenic bypass of the Niagara Falls, which connects Lake Erie with the nearby Lake Ontario. This historical canal dates back to 1829 and stretches for over 40 km / 25 km, with a series of eight locks overcoming the overall differences in height between these two vast lakes. It is possible to travel along the entire length of the Welland Canal in around 12 hours, passing attractions such as the town of St. Catharines and Port Colborne, which boasts to one of the biggest water locks on the planet.