Road map Niagara Falls city surrounding area (Ontario, Canada)

Niagara Peninsula       

From Hamilton, the steel capital of Canada, to the mighty  cascade of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Peninsula is one of Canada's  richest regions. The peninsula resounded with the clash of American and  British arms during the War of 1812. Settled by Quakers, Loyalists,  Mennonites, and Huguenots, the region has a mild climate and fertile  soil, which has made it Canada's fruit belt and major wine-producing  region. There are some 37 wineries in the Niagara Peninsula Viticultural  Area. Watch for the blue Ontario Wine Route signs along the highways  and byways. The scenery is striking in May, when the cherry, peach, and  apple trees burst into blossom.       

Fort Erie [D8] Known as the "Gateway to Canada" because of the  Peace Bridge linking it to Buffalo, this spot gets its name from the  historic stone fort where guides dressed in period costume re-create an  1812 British garrison. The Fort Erie Race Track is one of the oldest and  most beautiful thoroughbred tracks in North America.       

Grimsby [A3] Exhibits in Grimsby Museum trace the history of  the United Empire Loyalist settlement from 1787 through the War of 1812.  The lookouts at the Beamer Point Area afford a spectacular panoramic  view of the Niagara Escarpment, and Puddicombe Farms is a cornucopia of  cherries, raspberries, and apples, with a bakery, cafe, fruit market,  and petting zoo.      

Niagara Falls [B7-C7]       

The stunning spectacle of the falls draws sightseers from all  over the world. The Maid of the Mist boats sail through thunder and  spray to the base of Horseshoe Falls for a close-up view of this natural  wonder. At Table Rock, tunnels lead to lookouts behind the falls. Three  kilometers downstream, an aero car rides 549-m-long cables over the  Niagara Gorge. ®The city of Niagara Falls itself offers entertaining  attractions for all tastes-casinos, IMAX theaters, midways, and wax  museums.       

Niagara-on-the-Lake [A7] Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the  best preserved 19th-century towns in North America. There are many  impressive neoclassical and Georgian homes. Its main street, with quaint  Victorian storefronts housing a myriad of charming specialty shops, has  been designated a heritage district. The Prince of Wales Hotel (c.1864)  and the Apothecary Museum (c.1866) are two of the architectural  highlights on the main street.       

Port Colborne [E6]       

With a distinctive pair of canal bridges towering over the  downtown area and a proud nautical heritage dating back to 1833, this  port is an excellent stop for marine history buffs. The Port Colborne  Historical and Marine Museum-a complex of six buildings exhibiting  relics of the region's naval past-is worth a visit.       

St. Catharines [A5-A6]       

Known as "The Garden City," St. Catharines is located in the  heart of the Niagara fruit belt and is surrounded by lush vineyards. It  is the site of the mid-September Niagara Grape and Wine Festival and  home of the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta each August.       

Welland Canal [A6-E6]       

The Welland Canal links lakes Ontario and Erie, enabling ships  from the Atlantic Ocean to travel all the way into the North American  heartland. The current canal is a series of eight locks lifting huge  ships 99.5 m. The Centre at Lock 3 provides the most dramatic views of  massive ships, but the Merritt Trail and Welland Canals Parkway Trail  have paths suitable for biking, hiking, and roller-blading.       

ATTRACTIONS       

FORT ERIE       

Fort Erie Railroad Museum Fort Erie Race Track Crystal Beach       

GRIMSBY       

Grimsby Museum Beamer Conservation Area       

Puddicombe Farms       

NIAGARA FALLS       

Niagara Falls Museum Niagara River Recreation Trail Maid of  the Mist Boat Cruises Journey Behind the Falls Great Gorge Adventure  Spanish Aero Car Skylon Tower Minolta Tower Wax Museum IMAX Theatre       

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE       

Fort George National Historic Park Shaw Festival Theatre Niagara Apothecary       

Museum Niagara Commission Botanical Gardens French Perfume Factory and Museum Niagara Parkway and Recreational Trail  

PORT COLBORNE       

Fountainview Park Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum Showboat Festival Theatre Nickel Beach