Called one of the most prettiest drives in the world by Winston Churchill, driving the Niagara Parkway proves there’s more to Niagara Falls, ON than just waterfalls. Though the entire Niagara Peninsula – and therefore, the parkway – only takes about 45 minutes to drive straight through, you’ll find so much to do that you may have a hard time taking this hour drive in just one day. We did! So, over the course of two days, we explored this historic, scenic drive from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Our favorite stops are below.
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Starting at Crystal Beach, Ontario
While many of the attractions along this lovely parkway are man-made, Crystal Beach, Ontario serves as the perfect place to start your exploration of the Niagara Parkway because of its wonderful natural beauty.
From Niagara Falls, head south on the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way), then pick up 116 and take it all the way south to Crystal Beach, Ontario. The road will dead end into a parking area just feet from the beach. On days when the weather and water are calm, you can rent SUPs and kayaks, or drop jet skis and boats at one of the boat ramps to enjoy Lake Erie in all its glory. Or, if you feel like keeping your feet on terra firma, sunbathe on toasty days, or walk along the seawall (lakewall?) and enjoy a blustery day just as much.
For the history buffs among us, don’t forget to visit the anchor and plaque set in honor of Light Vessel 82, a US Lighthouse Service vessel that was pulled under Lake Erie under a storm’s 35-foot waves in 1913. It’s a little more somber than SUPing, but it’s always fascinating to understand how history crosses with the places we visit.
Practical information for Crystal Beach
- Address: 4155 Erie Rd, Ridgeway, ON L0S 1N0
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: 6am-11pm daily
- Admission: free
- Accessibility: accessible
- Website: http://www.southcoasttourism.com/beaches-2
Visit and tour Point Abino Lighthouse
This is a great spot to take a detour from the Niagara Parkway to visit the Point Abino Lighthouse, erected in place of light vessels (like the one lost on Lake Erie in 1913). You can see it from Crystal Beach, and it’s only about a 15 minute drive away. At only $6/adult, this beautiful lighthouse comprises both a great value and a wonderful historical moment. Unfortunately, we were unable to take a tour with these lovely folks as, even though we had enough luck to visit the area on a day with tour availability, we didn’t know that the tour was cash only. WOMP.
Practical information for Point Abino Lighthouse visits
- Tour meeting point: next to the Bertie Boating Club at 1036 Point Abino Road
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: tour dates and times here
- Admission: $6 CAD per adult, CASH ONLY – can be bought onsite or in advance at Leisureplex (more info on website below)
- Accessibility: limited, and dependent on tour type (website below has more details)
- Website: https://www.forterie.ca/WebSite/webTOFE.nsf/contentPage.xsp?documentId=E0EB454AFFC8A402852578930071AF71
Explore Fort Erie
While Fort Erie doesn’t technically have a spot on the Niagara Parkway, it’s an attraction that you don’t want to miss, especially if you’re a history buff or traveling with knowledge-hungry littles. Watch musket demos and tour the tunnels and buildings that housed British soldiers in the 18th and 19th centuries. We dropped in between tours, so elected to move on. However, we absolutely want to plan a little better on the next trip and take tour!
Practical information for your visit to Fort Erie:
- Address: 350 Lakeshore Rd, Fort Erie, ON L2A 1B1
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: Open weekends from 10am-5pm, weekdays from 10am-4pm (May-October)
- Admission: $12.50 CAD per adult
- Accessibility: accessible
- Website: https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/heritage/old-fort-erie/
Visiting Niagara Falls
The most famous part of this road trip is, of course, the sight of Niagara Falls misting and roaring just on the other side of the US/Canada border. From Fort Erie, take Garrison Road east, hop on the QEW for just a second, and then get off on Niagara Boulevard, which becomes the Niagara Parkway. As you head north on the Parkway, keep an eye out for the turnoff for Dufferin Islands on the left – it sneaks up on you! If you hit the floral showcase, you’ve gone too far.
Park in the Dufferin Islands lot, and hoof it to the Falls to enjoy unparalleled views and some tried-and-true Niagara Falls things to do like the White Water Walk or the Hornblower (the Canadian version of the Maid of the Mist). Even on the cloudy day that we (unintentionally) chose for our visit, the crowds were still impressively big, so just be aware going in.
Practical information for your Niagara Falls visit:
- Things to bring: hooded raincoat or poncho and waterproof shoes, even if you’re not getting close to the Falls. The mist is EVERYWHERE and actually feels like rain if you’re downwind. At least wear shoes that water won’t ruin.
- Niagara Falls parking: ~$20 in most lots, or you can park free at Dufferin Islands and give your legs a stretch on the 10-15 minute walk.
- Hours: Open weekends from 10am-5pm, weekdays from 10am-4pm (May-October)
- Niagara Falls things to do: view the falls for free, or do the White Water Walk ($), Hornblower ($), Floral Showcase
- Accessibility: Accessible – moving around out in the public space should be no problem for most folks, regardless of their limitations. Specific attractions/activities may include stairs or boats and may have their own challenges.
- Website: https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/
A note about scammers: We did see a few folks trying to sell friendship bracelets and prayers and the like, so keep your head about you and don’t be dumb. Politely ignore them or refuse them.
Walking around the Dufferin Islands
Since you just parked here, you might as well explore a little, right? This park contains lots of small islands strung together by easily-accessible footbridges. While it doesn’t have the same “wow” factor of Niagara Falls and Horseshoe Falls, it’s a beautiful spot to take a breath and feel surrounded by trees in an otherwise heavily-developed area. Find an extra bit of loveliness at sunset and after dark, when many of the trees come alive with strings of fairy lights.
Practical information for the Dufferin Islands:
- Address: 6345 Dufferin Isle Rd, Niagara Falls, ON L0S 1A0
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: Open year round
- Admission: free
- Accessibility: fairly accessible
- Public restrooms available: yes, but…. I (Meagan) couldn’t make myself go into the ladies room because the door had been left open and spiderwebs stretched across just about every open space. Luke had only marginally better luck.
- Website: https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/nature-garden/dufferin-islands/
The actual drive from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-lake
Buckle up, y’all, and get ready for riverside chateaux, winding roads, and scenic overlooks – among other things. Many of the overlooks have historical plaques to augment their beauty, so make sure to keep an eye out. We also loved this trundle railroad bridge stretching across the river!
The beautiful Butterfly Conservatory
As you head north from the Falls on the Niagara Parkway, keep an eye out on your left for the Butterfly Conservatory. If you have a love of butterflies and some time to spare, the Butterfly Conservatory on the grounds of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens will be right up your alley. We didn’t stop simply because we had too many things on our itinerary to do them all, but when we return to Niagara Falls, we will absolutely be planning a stop here!
Practical information about the Butterfly Conservatory:
- Address: 2565 Niagara Pkwy, ON L0S 1J0
- Parking available onsite, $5
- Hours: Open weekends from 10am-6pm, weekdays from 10am-5pm (year round)
- Admission: $15 CAD per adult
- Accessibility: accessible
- Website: https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/butterfly-conservatory/
Visiting Queenston Heights Park
Continuing up the Niagara Parkway, you’ll pass a lovely reservoir, and then, on the left, you’ll see Queenston Heights Park. With manicured gardens, a fair amount of green space, and a couple of gorgeous monuments, Queenston Heights is a great place to take your camera out for a walk.
It’s worth noting that one of the coolest monuments is also one of the smallest – make sure you keep an eye out for the Laura Secord monument, commemorating the fact that, during the War of 1812, “Despite the danger and harsh unsettled country, Laura Secord is a heroine due to her heroic journey to warn Canadian troups [sic] of an impending attack by the invading Americans. Her journey along a 32 km (20 mile) treacherous route took more than 18 hours to complete. The dangers of such a journey were many – wolves, wildcats and rattlesnakes were common in the peninsula at this time, as were unfriendly Native forces” (According to the Niagara Falls Tourism website). She ended up delivering the news and triggering a counteroffensive that defeated the Americans and saved Canadian lives. Not something us Americans ever learn about, eh?
Practical information for Queenston Heights Park:
- Address: 14184 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: 6am-9pm daily, year-round
- Admission: free
- Accessibility: accessible
Other things to do near Queenston Heights Park
Standing near the Brock Monument, you’ll find both the Laura Secord homestead (just in case her monument in Queenston Heights Park gets your curiosity going), as well as the Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum. Both of these restored old houses pay homage to historical figures and the part they played in Canada’s present-day freedoms.
The Homestead will give visitors an even deeper look into the life of one of Canada’s most famous heroines. And the Mackenzie Printery will offer something for every history buff, word nerd, and lover of printing and letterpress. Not only does the old house pay homage to William Lyon Mackenzie’s (the “Canadian Ben Franklin”) contributions to Canada’s political landscape, but it is also home to a collection of rare presses, all still in working order and some of which you’ll get to experiment with during your visit. We didn’t regret one moment of pausing our drive!
Practical information:
- Laura Secord homestead (a 2 minute drive from the Brock Monument)
- Address: 29 Queenston St, Queenston, ON L0S 1L0
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: Open weekends from 10am-5pm, weekdays from 10am-4pm (May-October)
- Admission: $9.70 CAD per adult
- Accessibility: Partially accessible
- Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum (a 1 minute drive from the Brock Monument)
- Address: 1 Queenston St, Queenston, ON L0S 1L0
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: Open weekends from 10am-5pm, closed during the week (May-October)
- Admission: $6.25 CAD per adult
- Accessibility: not listed, though we imagine it might be difficult to navigate a wheelchair between some of the presses, and up the front stairs.
- Website: https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/heritage/mackenzie-printery/
Definitely stop at Niagara-on-the-lake wineries
Once you get back on the road closer to Niagara-on-the-lake, you’ll start to see more and more wineries popping up. The Niagara Region lies in a microclimate perfect for growing grapes, and is one of the best-kept wine regions in North America. Though best known for pioneering the creation and distribution of icewine, a sweet dessert wine made from frozen grapes, the Niagara region grows several grape varieties – like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Vidal, and many more. Our main goal was to try icewine, since it’s a culturally significant contribution, even though we both detest sweet wines. And guess what? We ended up coming home with two bottles of it!
Niagara-on-the-lake wineries you HAVE to try
- Inniskillin
- Our favorite wines:
- Address: 1499 Line 3, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
- Free parking onsite
- Hours: 10am-6pm (daily, May-October), 10am-5pm (daily, November-April)
- Tasting fees: $10 CAD for 4 samples; $15 CAD for flight of icewine samples; additional table wine samples, $3 CAD/ea; Icewine samples, $5 CAD/ea
- Accessibility: accessible
- Website: https://www.inniskillin.com/
- Two Sisters
- Our favorite wines:
- Address: 1 Queenston St, Queenston, ON L0S 1L0
- Free parking onsite
- Tasting room hours: 11am-6pm (M-Th), 11am-8pm (F), 10:30am-8pm (Sa), 10:30am-6pm (Su) – tour hours vary
- Tasting fees: $10 CAD for 3 samples
- Accessibility: accessible
- Website: https://www.twosistersvineyards.com/
- Ravine Vineyard
- Our favorite wines:
- Address: 1366 York Rd, St. Davids, ON L0S 1P0
- Free parking onsite
- Tasting room hours: 11am-8:30pm (daily)
- Tasting fees: $8 CAD for 4 samples (waived with 2 bottle purchase)
- Accessibility: accessible
- Website: https://ravinevineyard.com/
Hang out in the town of Niagara-on-the-lake
We thought Niagara-on-the-lake would look a little more like a beachy lake town. Guys, this place has ADORABLE written all over it. From the clock tower standing over the town to the row houses and colorful businesses lining the main streets, to the beautiful historic hotel that sits right in the middle of town, there’s almost nothing NOT to love. Well, because of its history and beauty, it does come with a certain price tag, so that may be less lovable, but totally worth it. The only real objection we had to the whole experience came when we saw draft horses pulling carriages of tourists around the main streets. We don’t endorse tourism practices that put animals at risk (walking through streets dominated by cars) or can so easily cover cruel conditions (as the carriage horse industry often does).
All that said, this town is beautiful, historic, and has enough to do, see, and eat that you can easily avoid supporting any tourism practices that don’t line up with your personal values! If you want to end your drive here for the night and don’t mind a little splurge, we’d recommend taking a room at the beautiful Prince of Wales Hotel. It sits right in the middle of everything and will make your jaw drop!
Practical information for Niagara-on-the-lake
- Address for the memorial clock in the middle of town: 26 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0
- On street parking, metered and free, available
- Accessibility: most streets are paved, and sidewalks are a mix of brick and pavement
Best places to eat near Niagara-on-the-lake
Good news! Ending your exploration here means you get to choose from a HUGE variety of delicious restaurants. Considering that the entire Niagara Peninsula takes less than an hour to drive straight through, you really have your pick of spots. Below are a few of our favorites:
- Ravine Vineyard restaurant
- Kitchen 76 at Two Sisters Vineyard
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