Niagara Serves Up Unique Canada Day Experiences

Steeped in Canadian history and surrounded by stunning natural scenery, Niagara offers a long list of uniquely Canadian ways to celebrate Canada Day.

What better place is there to mark Canada’s national birthday on July 1 than in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake, which played a pivotal role in the founding of the country and features activities and attractions you can’t find anywhere else?

“The Canada Day long weekend in Niagara is a great time to get a taste of what makes our country so special and to kick off summer at the same time,” says Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours president John Kinney. “Niagara is one of the country’s top travel destinations for good reason – we’ve got a lot of great things for people to experience along with world-class customer service and amenities.”

The following are a few ideas for visitors to make the most of Canada Day in Niagara:

• Join the party at Fort George National Historic Site in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The fort, which helped turn the tide of the War of 1812, will open its doors for free on July 1. The festivities start with a pancake breakfast at nearby Simcoe Park, a parade lead by the 41st Regiment Fife and Drum Corps that will lead a giant birthday cake through Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Old town and a night of entertainment at Fort George, including a BBQ dinner, musical performances and a fireworks show.
• Enjoy the Niagara River Parkway by bike, foot or car and appreciate the stunning scenery of Canada’s natural border with its neighbours to the south. The Parkway stretches for 55 km from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Fort Erie and offers fantastic views of the Niagara River and the Falls.
• For those who want to really experience the power and the majesty of the Niagara River, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours takes adventure-seeking passengers on unforgettable jet boat rides from the mouth of the Niagara River through the Class 5 Devil’s Hole Rapids and to just below the powerful Niagara Whirlpool. Passengers can get onboard at three departure locations: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, Ont. (shuttle bus from Niagara Glen Nature Centre check-in to Queenston dock) and Lewiston, N.Y.
• Visitors looking for a more leisurely boat tour on the Niagara River can go for a ride on the Niagara Belle, a fully restored New Orleans-style paddle wheeler. Niagara Sunset Cruises operates a variety of tours – including lunch and dinner cruises – aboard the Belle, taking passengers down the Lower Niagara River, through Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake, to the mouth of Lake Ontario. Tours depart from docks in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. and Lewiston, N.Y. The Belle is offering a special three-hour Canada Day dinner cruise where passengers will end the night watching the fireworks show off Fort George from aboard the boat.
• Explore Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake and soak up the history and charm of one of Canada’s prettiest towns. Once the capital of Upper Canada, Old Town has deep historic roots that stretch back well over 200 years. In addition to wonderful heritage buildings, Old Town has shopping in its many boutiques and specialty stores, as well as dining and entertainment, including world-class theatre at the Shaw Festival.