All that Niagara has to Offer
Have you ever taken the opportunity to explore the Niagara area?
Well, if you are a huge fan of adventuring the escarpment, experiencing the beautiful countryside, and enjoying a little gelato than Niagara is the perfect place to visit.
On a previous post we shared our experience of hiking one of the most extravagant trials in Niagara, but we forgot to discuss all the other fun and adventurous moments that Niagara has to offer!
Throughout this post we are going to share some of our all-time favourite spots to explore in Niagara!
1. Hiking Balls Falls
For anyone who loves nature walks, the view is definitively worth the all the trekking. Ball’s falls conservation area is the home to two waterfalls, the lower and the higher falls. To be more precise, the conservation area spreads across 200 acres! There are two main trails that guide hikers toward the two waterfalls. Both the Cataract Trail and Bruce trail are relativity easy terrains, which is perfect for the entire family!
Our Hiking experience:
Both falls had look-out points which gave the perfect opportunity to take a moment and enjoy the moment. Leading up to the falls, there is a twenty-mile creek making the entire journey quite the hiking experience! What really made this hiking experience different from the many waterfall experiences we have accomplished around Ontario is the history that has been preserved in this area since the 19th century. Right near the falls, there is a small village of unique architecture, that almost makes you feel like you are living in a different time. To this day, the original Ball home, flour mill, church and many other historic sites have been maintained.
If you are interested in learning all about the history and culture centred around this historic site in Niagara, this is the perfect place to visit this Summer!
2. Enjoying homemade gelato along Niagara-on-the-lake
Going to Niagara-on-the-lake has been one of our favourite family traditions that we make sure to visit every summer. It is such a peaceful place to visit and many unique shops to check out! But, our absolute favourite spot to visit when we go to Niagara-on-the-lake is Nina’s Gelateria and Pastry Shop.
Why we love Nina’s Shop:
1) Homemade Gelato!
There are over 28 different flavours to choose from
The gelato made is made of natural flavours and ingredients
There is even KETO gelato!!
*Our personal favourite flavours: Lemon and hazelnut.
2) The European Experience:
The smell and environment of the shop that makes you feel like you are in Italy!
Nina’s Shop is more than a bakery and pastry shope, they even sell pizza, paninis and a variety of hot drinks that match perfectly with any fresh pastry
Especially, they offer sugar-free and gluten-free pastry options
If you are interested in visiting Niagara sometime this summer, Nina’s Gelateria and Pastry shoppe is the perfect way to end a long, hot day in the Niagara area!
3. Niagara’s Countryside
Another scenic area of Niagara that we thoroughly love to visit each summer is exploring the beautiful countryside. Right outside of Niagara-on-the-lake, there are so many vineyards and fruit farms to tour.
Types of Fruit that can be picked during the summer:
Cherries, peaches are usually picked in the early summer season
Plums and nectarines are usually picked between August and September
Our favourite fruit picking experience:
By far the best fruit to pick is peaches! From the beautiful scenic views of the trees full of peaches ready to be picked to the fresh smell of peaches in the air, it’s no wonder everyone loves attending the Niagara Peach festival in August.
A peach is ready to be picked when it has a bright orange / red colour. Although some may find it difficult to believe but you must be very precise when picking peaches. It is always important to not to tug on the peach when pulling it off the tree branch, or else it might get squished. The best part of our experience is eating the peach and realizing how refreshing it is, especially since it can get pretty hot on the farm.
What to keep in mind before planning a fruit picking trip:
Fruit picking along the Niagara region can be fun and very rewarding, but timing is everything!!
It is always good to call the farms you want to attend directly to see what types of fruit are available to pick.
A lot of times, there are so many people that attend these fruit farms, which leaves little to no fruit left for others to come and pick.
4. Niagara Falls
For many of us who have lived in Ontario for most of our lives probably think that The Niagara Falls is just another waterfall to visit. But, when you think about it, this iconic landmark is actually one of the natural wonders of the world!
Facts about Niagara Falls:
1) There are three waterfalls make up the Niagara Falls. The American Falls, The Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe falls.
2) The Niagara falls is about 12,000 years old.
3) About 3,160 tons of water flows over Niagara Falls each second.
Not only does the Niagara Falls provide tourists or locals with spectacular views, but you can even take a boat ride commonly known as “the Maid of the Mist” to get the full-on Niagara Falls experience! To this day, it’s been an item on our bucket list to experience this one of lifetime ride.
For anyone who is seeking a new adventure this summer, Niagara is definitely the place to be! We hope that our message encourages you to embrace the great outdoors. There is nothing more exciting than creating new memories and exploring new places.
