Niagara Falls is so beautiful and should be a place everyone visits at least once. It is the most well-known waterfall in the world, even though it is not the tallest or widest. Millions of people visit it every year. However, if you do not like crowds, it could be a tricky destination. Usually, we do not like to go to places where you feel so overcrowded that it takes away from experiencing all that the destination has to offer. With that in mind, we created a one-day itinerary that takes advantage of the beauty of the location without sacrificing enjoyment.
The Ontario Park officials of Canada estimate that at least 4.4 million people come to see the waterfall each year; the New York State Park officials estimate that the site sees at least 9.5 million annually
What to do, where to go in Niagara Falls
You can get to the falls from either the United States or Canada; however, we recommend visiting on the Canadian side as we feel facing the waterfalls presents more beautiful views. Having said that, all suggestions in this post assume that you are in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
There is quite a bit to see and do in the Ontario-Niagara Falls area, but picking just a few activities can make the day very manageable and enjoyable. You will leave feeling that you have seen and experienced the waterfalls and the area. We recommend breaking the day in thirds and spending your time in this order: hiking, visiting the region’s wineries, and (most importantly) seeing the waterfalls up close.
Hike Niagara Glen
Start at the Niagara Glen Nature Center, located in a beautiful park setting atop the Niagara Gorge and overlooking the Niagara River. At the center you can pick the length and difficulty of the hiking trail and, during the summer months, join a guided hike. We recommend taking a trail that takes you down to the river, where you can marvel at the beauty of the blue-green waters and even see fish jump around. The trails are visited by many but, in our experience, do not feel overcrowded. Dedicate a minimum of two hours and bring plenty of water. In the fall, the trails can be wet and quite slippery, so be sure to wear good and comfortable hiking shoes. There are no garbage cans so keep all your litter in a bag with you to make sure the park stays beautiful.
The views you will see are stunning. We particularly enjoyed the Whirlpool part of the trail.
Visit the Niagara wine trail
After spending time at the river, consider visiting the Niagara Falls wineries. There are so many to choose from, so do some research or just stop by any of them. You will be sure to find something you like. You can drive the area (our recommendation) if you are spending just one day in Niagara Falls, or you can rent a bike and ride along the Niagara Parkway. The river will be on one side and the wineries on the other – very picturesque.
We are wine enthusiasts and tried many local wines during our stay in Ontario. We were nicely surprised at the quality of the wines – crisp whites and heavy reds 😋.
With a little bit of planning, you can purchase a wine tour at some of the wineries for a true insider look at the process, terrain, and taste of local wines. We highly recommend Two Sisters Winery – beautiful setting, excellent wines, and reserving a tour can take you behind the scenes. We loved our time there.
Another beautiful winery right next door is Peller Estates Winery and Restaurant. It is the largest in the region and while we didn’t have time to stop by for a visit, we did get to try some of their wines while in Toronto, and they were very good.
Experience Niagara Falls
For the last part of the day, make your way back to Niagara Falls. In our opinion, the best time to visit the waterfalls is at the end of the day. There seem to be fewer people and, on a sunny day, the sun hits the waterfalls, river, and surrounding woods for a truly breathtaking sight.
Book the last boat tour on the Niagara City Cruises (the last tour leaves at 3:30pm). This is the only company on the Canadian side which offers boat cruises that take you as close as possible to the waterfalls. On a sunny day, as the sun hits the water mist, you will be able to see beautiful rainbows over the falls. Seeing Niagara Falls from up close is an amazing experience! And, on the tour, you get very close to the falls!
The cruise only lasts about 20 minutes, but it is just enough time to experience the waterfalls up close and see all their natural beauty. You will be given a free rain poncho which will protect you from getting soaking wet, but you should expect to get a little bit of water on you. It is beuseful to have a baseball hat under the poncho to protect your hair as much as possible.
Following the boat tour, take your time and walk the path along the river. There will most likely be fewer people and you can enjoy some unbelievable views.
Where to stay and what to eat in Niagara Falls
While there are many hotels in the area, we prefer to stay in Toronto, which is just an hour and a half drive away. You will be sure to find better lodging and food options than closer to the falls. See our post on Toronto.
We feel that one full day in Niagara Falls is enough to see the beauty of the falls and area, but we could see stretching your stay in the area to three days – a day of hiking, a day of winery touring, and a day at the waterfalls.
As far as food options, there are plenty, but none seemed better than what you can get in the city of Toronto. The following is a list of some of the restaurants in Niagara Falls which offer beautiful views of the falls.
- Table Rock House Restaurant
- Massimo’s Italian Fallsview Restaurant
- Queen Victoria Place Restaurant Niagara Falls
- The Watermark Restaurant at the Hilton Hotel
What we loved about Niagara Falls, Canada
- A very manageable one-day trip
- Beautiful nature in and around the waterfalls
- Romantic wine region which offers many possible itineraries
- Ability to combine different activities (hiking, boating, winery touring)
- The combination of experiencing the area’s wineries along with seeing one of nature’s wonders was such a great match
- Proximity to a major city – the one and a half hour drive from Toronto was easy and scenic
What to wear
Generally, you can wear comfortable but stylish clothing and feel well dressed at all of the activities described in this post. If you plan to stay for dinner, you will need a change of clothes.
- If you are hiking, wear layers so you can easily adapt to the weather and level of activity.
- Bring a hat. We like the following women’s hat and this one for men. Both are super light and dry up fast in case you get wet.
- For pants, we love the ones from Vuori for both women and men – they are light, super comfortable, and look great. Vuori also make great performance tops.
- These hiking shoes for women and these for men.
- Keep a pair of stylish sneakers in your car to change into once finished hiking. We love and bring our APL sneakers everywhere.
Also, bring the following or similar items:
- This sunscreen
- This water bottle
- This backpack
Check out our list of travel essentials on what to take and how to maximize your packing.
[All pictures taken by the Styled Traveler]
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