The falls get top billing, understandably, and kitschy Clifton Hill may be the other thing that comes to mind when you think of Niagara Falls, but the city and greater Niagara region is evolving, with plenty of new things for visitors to explore, from history to wellness. Is it time to plan a visit? These ideas should convince you that the answer to that question is a firm yes.
Niagara Parks Power Station
The restored generating station was a source of hydro power for Canadians for 100 years. Now, it’s reopened as a historic monument and museum, showcasing the power of the Horseshoe Falls – “the science of power” it proclaims – as well as a unique nighttime experience called Currents: Niagara’s Power Transformed, an interactive and immersive light show set to music.
Living Museum Tours
Launching this year, these tours will present visitors with a unique look at the Niagara region – a place Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek peoples have inhabited for 13,000 years. Along with sightlines of the falls, tour attendees will learn about the geology of the Niagara Escarpment as well as the history of the area from an Indigenous perspective, including locations associated with the War of 1812. Stops on the tour include the Indian Council House (The Commons) near Fort George and the Willowbank School of Restoration and Indigenous Community Love Garden.
Sheraton Fallsview
The hotel with the best view of both the U.S. and Canadian falls has undergone an expansive $50-million renovation recently refreshing both rooms and restaurants. Also getting a makeover – the spa. The hydrotherapy infinity tub, for instance, has stellar views of the falls thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, as does the spa’s lounge where guests await treatments and relax and socialize post appointment. And the hotel’s rooftop pool now has 10 private cabanas available to guests, four of which have view of the falls – an unmatched aerial view of the natural wonder.
AG Inspired Cuisine
Taking advantage of the region’s rich, fertile soil, the menu at AG Inspired makes use of the bounty provided by farmers and producers in the Niagara region. And the restaurant even has its own small farm, making its menu quite literally farm to table. The prix-fixe three-course menu features dishes like, roasted bone marrow, juniper-dusted duck breast and cranberry poached pear.