The month of October is upon us and there is no shortage of fun and excitement to be had in Niagara as Halloween approaches.

On October 11, Safari Niagara will be hosting Boo at the Zoo, a family-friendly Halloween party where people of all ages can trick-or-treat around the zoo, gathering treats brought to you by numerous local businesses. The event even includes costume contests, an animal presentation, and a Halloween tram ride.

For something a little spookier, try a Halloween Ghost Tour of Fort George from October 17 to November 2. These tours are the longest-running ghost walks in the region and will bring you all around the haunted and eerie Fort George. You will even have the opportunity to see the Officers’ Quarters, which is usually off-limits during the summer ghost tours.

To experience the best fall harvest food in the region this month, you can attend Octoberfest with Sam Fiore on October 24 at the Sheraton Fallsview. This Niagara Culinary Experiences event will pair craft beer flights from regional artisinal beermakers with a delicious 5-course fall harvest menu.

The Niagara region has a lot to offer people and groups of all ages during the month of October, allowing visitors and locals alike to make the most of the beautiful fall season!

Niagara Falls and the surrounding region offers an intimate experience of the delicious Ontario Wines made right in Niagara. The summer is one of the best times to enjoy the wineries and their hand-crafted masterpieces that have turned Niagara into a wine lover’s paradise. Make this summer all about wine and learn a new thing or two about the popular wine industry in the region.

Guided Tours

Almost all of the wineries in the region offer guided tours of the vineyards with a chance to see the winemaking process. Visitors can see barrels of wine, grape growing and picking happen all throughout their tour. The intimate tours allow visitors to get behind-the-scenes of Canada’s most coveted wineries. To avoid disappointment, pick a winery or two a head of time and call to reserve a spot.

Wine Tastings

After your guided tour, indulge in tastings from some of your favourite wineries. Typically most wineries will offer flight tastings of their wines allowing you to learn more about the winemaking process, different styles of wine and the details of the individual wines themselves.

Special Events

Wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake offer intimate events for visitors to enjoy the vineyards, the wine and the winemakers. Events include Pop Up Patio at Pillitteri and Earth & Sky Music Market at Chateau des Charmes. Most events are family friendly and include kid zones, live music and delicious food.

Dinner and Wine

A glass of wine is accompanied perfectly with a delicious meal and the wineries have been able to master this! Most wineries have restaurants inside where they offer food and wine combinations that have been selected and matched by professionals.

If you are a wine enthusiast or love a casual glass, make sure to visit Niagara this summer!

Take an educational vacation and see the many historical sites of Niagara Falls. Being one of the key sites during the War of 1812, Niagara is full of rich historical landmarks that are more than two centuries old.

Old Fort Erie

Fort Erie has the highest death tolls of any battlefield in Canada, making it one of Canada’s most memorable historic landmarks. Nowadays, you can take a tour and even go back in time and experience what it was like to be on this battlefield. Old Fort Erie offers realistic re-enactments that allow you to choose a side and join the battle as if it were 1812.

The Laura Secord Homestead

Visit the homestead of Laura Secord, a woman who took an incredible journey that dates back to 1812. The homestead now provides chocolates, ice cream and souvenirs to purchase. Learn about the rich history behind her story and set out on the guided tour to see costumes, educational information and the house itself.

Sir Isaac Brock Monument

Sir Isaac Brock is one of the most famous Generals in Canadian history because of his major contributions to the British victory during the War of 1812. Freely tour the Battle of Queenston Heights and the Monument. Parks Canada also offers a chance to climb the towering monument and have a look out over the battlegrounds and Lake Ontario.

Stay at the Clifton Inn and be close to all of these historical Niagara sites and many others from around the region. Niagara Parks has compiled an entire list of all the historical places you can visit in the Niagara Region

If you really want to add some excitement to your summer be sure to check out Summer of Thrills and Buskerfest this year. These two events are a must for anyone planning on staying at the Clifton Victoria Inn.

Summer of Thrills

Starting in July, Summer of Thrills will be performing shows in Niagara Falls’ Clifton Hill District five days a week until the end of summer! These thrilling shows include the Wheel of Fate where acrobats balance and perform death-defying tricks on a giant rotating wheel located at the top of the Clifton Hill! If you’re staying at the Clifton Victoria Inn you can enjoy the show right from the hotel!

Buskerfest

This year’s Buskerfest features night shows and extended hours due to the popularity of last year’s event. The bigger and better Buskerfest will also have more food vendors and merchandise, so you have even more to choose from! The event takes place in downtown St. Catharines, about 15 minutes from Niagara Falls.

The Clifton Victoria Inn has packages for families staying at the hotel, which nicely compliment Buskerfest’s upgraded Kid’s Zone that now includes mini-golf.

Both of these events offer a great place to bring your family during your vacation in Niagara Falls and the Clifton Victoria Inn has great deals for families, making it an ideal hub for all of your Niagara Falls’ sight seeing. Kids are able to eat free which makes dining easy and stress free and the hotel offers free parking and WiFi.

For the golf enthusiasts looking for a new hot spot to indulge in, Niagara Falls offers PGA tournament course designs, world-class amenities and beautiful scenery. Choose from golf courses next to the Niagara Whirlpool or the historical site of the 1814 Battle of Chippawa – the options are practically endless in Niagara.

A two-night getaway to Niagara Falls can make for a perfect weekend full of golf, dining and entertainment.

Two Night Getaway Package Includes:

• Two nights accommodations
• Dinner for two overlooking the falls on one evening of your stay at the Fallsview Buffet or the The Rainbow Room by Massimo Capra ($50.00 dining credit)
• $10 Dining Card for Hard Rock Cafe (with minimum food purchase of $40)
• 2 Free Cocktails at Hard Rock Cafe
• Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet
• Free On-Site Parking
• Free High Speed Wireless Internet

Enjoy your first evening with a dinner overlooking the Falls at The Rainbow Room by Massimo Capra. The beautiful view and delicious food makes for an incredible way to spend the evening. After dinner make your way to the Niagara Parkway and take an evening stroll enjoying the beautiful Horseshoe Falls up close.

Wake up early the next day and make your way to the golf course for a round of golf and appreciate the natural scenery at one of the many golf courses in Niagara Falls. After your game a visit to the Christienne Fallsview Spa is in order. Indulge in one of the many packages offered at the spa and relax after a day out on the course.

After dinner opt for a trip to Casino Niagara and test your luck at the 95,000 square feet of gaming and entertainment. With the hotel a short distance from most attractions found at Falls Avenue Resort and the Falls, you won’t have to go far to enjoy yourself.

If you love golf and are in need of a quick weekend away The Two Night Getaway Package is the perfect option for a relaxing and satisfying trip.

If you’re looking for the perfect getaway this summer come enjoy a stay at the Clifton Victoria Inn. Only during the summer can you take advantage of our special waterpark and room package that is perfect for a memorable family vacation.

With vouchers to Niagara Falls’ popular attractions and dining options, you won’t have to worry about planning where to go.

Summer Waterpark & Room Package includes:

• One night hotel accommodations at the Clifton Victoria Inn at the Falls
• Four two-day Fallsview Indoor Waterpark passes
• Kids eat free dinner at Fallsview Buffet, Planet Hollywood or the Rainbow Room by Massimo Capra $65 VALUE
• “Passport to Fun”
  • 4 tickets to 4D Motion Theatre $55 VALUE
  • 4 tickets to Wild Safari Mini Putt $25 VALUE
  • 4 tickets to Traffic Slam Bumper Cars $30 VALUE
  • 4 tickets to Tour Bus SWAT Team Interactive Ride $30 VALUE
  • 4 tickets to Pink Panther Balloon Ride $25 VALUE
• Hershey Chocolate World Gift $10 VALUE
• Free Handprint tile at Crock A Doodle $10 VALUE

This package is perfect for those looking to explore Niagara Falls with the family without having to worry about planning all of the details. With everything located on the Falls Avenue Resort you won’t have to go far to take advantage of your package and to have fun family fun!

Couple the package with the fireworks shows and live music at the Table Rock Welcome Centre and you can enjoy a beautiful view and a fun concert all for free during your trip!

Niagara Falls offers a unique shopping destination for visiting tourists. If you want to take something home that you can’t find anywhere else then make sure you check out the small boutiques, gift shops and shopping centres that can be found all throughout the city.

For outlets mall shoppers Niagara is home to two of the best – Niagara Falls’ Canada One Factory Outlet and The Outlet Collection in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Canada One Factory Outlet has more than 40 brand name stores and is close to the tourist district of Niagara Falls. Outlet stores at this mall include Danier Leather, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Nine West, Coach, Lululemon and much more.

For an even bigger discount shopping experience, visit the Outlet Collection in Niagara-on-the- Lake. More than 100 brand names stores make up this mall that just opened last month. Stores at this outdoor mall include J. Crew, Fossil, Pandora, Adidas, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Lacoste and tons more!

If you want some unique finds then make your way to Clifton Hill where you can find all your favourite Niagara Falls souvenirs. The street is full of fun for the whole family with tons of attractions and gift shops. If you are looking for a one-stop shopping experience, the Falls Avenue Resort located at the base of Clifton Hill also contains a bunch of great shops to browse through when you’re not hitting the gaming floor at the nearby Casino Niagara.

Some stores to look out for include:

• Always Refreshing Soda Shop: Pick up Coca-Cola memorabilia and enjoy an ice-cream float at this throwback to an old-fashioned soda shop.
• Hershey’s Chocolate World: A chocolate lover’s paradise, Hershey’s Chocolate World contains freshly made in-store items as well as all of the traditional Hershey’s chocolate packaged goodies that you can imagine.

Crock A Doodle: This unique shop allows you to make your own souvenir to bring back home. Craft a pottery item and watch it go through the glazing and kiln firing process all before your eyes. A great spot for kids and adults alike, make something one-of-a-kind on your next trip to remember your visit.

Whether you want to make a day trip with the family or are looking to fill your daily itinerary during your stay in Niagara Falls,  is worth the trip! Close to the Falls and easy to get to, this attraction is suited for the entire family.

Safari Niagara is on a mission to provide people of all ages the opportunity to meet animals and birds up close. If you’re fascinated by animals Safari Niagara is a great option to discover more about these amazing creatures from around the world up close. The organization hopes to create a future filled with naturalists and conservationists through their attraction and educational programs, which make it easy and fun for the whole family to learn and enjoy.

This 150-acre nature park is home to more than 750 animals, reptiles and birds, an outdoor amphitheatre, shaded picnic areas, activities and much more. Visitors to the park can learn more about the habitats and animals through complimentary learning programs, such as:

• Free, educational guided walking tours;
• An educational, narrated ride/tour;
• Interactive, educational demonstrations including presentations on birds of prey and threatened species;
• Petting farm yard;
• Catch-and-release fishing.

Take your trip to another level by participating in the many activities Safari Niagara has to offer. After you visit the animals, there are tons of things to do at the park that will keep your family busy throughout the day. Some of the activities at Safari Niagara include:

• Ropes course;
• Safari Rides;
• Bungee;
• Paddle Boats;
• Kite-flying;
• And much more.

After you’ve been tuckered out with all of the activities, your family can enjoy a relaxing live concert at the outdoor amphitheatre or a chance to check out some of the awesome exhibits.

With tons of courses to choose from, all offering a different scene and challenge, be sure to bring your clubs on your next visit to Niagara Falls.

Make it a weekend getaway with your special someone and get out to the golf course in between visits to the spa and wineries or do a girls or guys weekend away and see how many courses you can hit during your time in Niagara Falls.

Niagara is home to dozens of different courses but below is a list of just some of the ones found in Niagara Falls.

Whirlpool Golf Course: Surrounded by the historic grounds of the 1814 Battle of Chippawa, this beautiful course was designed by famous golf architect Stanley Thompson. Considered by many to be one of the country’s premier courses, the Whirlpool Golf Course is one of the most highly rated public golf courses in Canada.

Legends on the Niagara: With more than 1,000 acres of perfectly landscaped grounds, the two 18 hole championship courses as well as a nine hole option make Legends the perfect option for pros or amateurs, and everyone in between.

Niagara Falls Golf Club: This 18 hole course offers a challenging but fair play for golfers of all skill levels. The rolling, fully mature layout offers sand and water elements among the manicured fairways and sweeping, mature tress.

Oak Hall: This par three course is a great place to practice your short game, or for anyone looking for a scenic spot to get in a few swings while on vacation. With the falls only a short distance away, you can easily squeeze in a quick game and not be too far away from the rest of the fun in Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls is known for many things, one of them being the beautiful natural landscape that surrounds the city. Full of trees, unique plants and flowers bursting with colour, Niagara Falls has become a hot spot for nature enthusiasts.

With the upcoming changes in weather, Niagara Falls will have some colourful and cheerful events arriving in the late spring and early summer. Make sure to check them out if you’re looking for some fresh outdoor ideas that take advantage of the beauty of nature.

Floral Showhouse Annual Hydrangea Display

There isn’t much time left to catch this display but if you hurry to the Floral Showhouse you can enjoy all the blues, pinks and whites of the annual hydrangeas. Produced in spring, May is a great time to get one last glimpse of these beautiful and popular flowers!

Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens

More than 40 hectares of gardens make up the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Thousands of plants and flowers are found throughout the grounds but the shining jewel might just be the rose garden, which contains more than 2,400 roses.

Floral Showhouse Regal Geranium Show

Check out amazing displays of geraniums, fuchsia, caladiums and many others that are bursting with colour in the Floral Showhouse. With over 400 species of geraniums, you will definitely want to check this show out!

Niagara-on-the-Lake Shaw Garden Tour

Channel your inner green thumb at this annual fundraising garden tour. Travel through the secret gardens in the Old Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and see all the plants, trees and flowers unique to the area.

If you need a colourful spring pick me up, one of these attractions will do the trick! Filled with trees, plants and of course the beautiful flowers, you won’t want to miss these inspiring displays!