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FREE AND DIRT CHEAP ACTIVITIES Fireworks by the Falls Hiking Niagara Glen: Another great hiking spot is the Niagara Gorge trail. It's a little bit confusing, because all of the hiking along the river goes up and down the Gorge, but this one trail in particular, specifically has it's name. It's quite a short trek, only takes about one hour total. That's including the hike both down and up and some sightseeing in between. This is straight trail with over 300 stairs. At the bottom, you will find a rocky beach along the whirlpool. People fish here constantly, but there is absolutely no swimming. A great view of the Spanish Aero car can be had from here. (No bathrooms) Niagara Greenhouse: Botanical Gardens: Port Dalhousie Directions to Port Dalhousie: Unfortunately, in the past several years, it has become somewhat polluted. However, the Ministry takes daily samples of the Lake to ascertain whether or not it is safe for swimming. Before venturing out to this beach or any other beaches in the area, call this hotline to check the status of the water safety - Beach Hotline at 905-935-2722. Port Dalhousie is so beautiful that even if the water is not safe for swimming, it is worth visiting. The quaint shops in the area, the interesting lighthouses and the carousel make the drive definitely worthwhile. Fallsview Galleria (in Fallsview Casino) If you're with children, it's unlikely you'll be able to do any gambling. Still, the Fallsview Galleria is a beautiful building that you should check out. There is a huge, very unusual fountain in the main foyer that kids love. The window overlooking the Falls offers probably the best view of the Horseshoe Falls, especially when it's cold out! Happy Rolph's: It features a petting zoo, playground and picnic areas. Smaller kids really enjoy this park. Best of all...it's FREE. Add this to your list of FREE activities in the Niagara Region! However, keep in mind that it is quite small. It is great for very small kids, but older kids would be through it in a matter of minutes. Location: 2 Northrup Crescent, St Catharines, ON L2M 7M3 911 Memorial Walkway at Happy Rolph's: The City of St. Catharines donated $7,000 in labour. The end result is a beautiful memorial walkway located within Happy Rolph's Bird Sanctuary along the shores of Lake Ontario. It is wheelchair accessible. Each victim is represented by a single deciduous tree and a little plaque to tell us about them. Canview Drive-In Theatre: Rainbow Bridge Walk: Floral Clock: The Clock has a face that is planted with greenery and flowers and is maintained by Niagara Parks. Ontario Hydro keeps the clock working. The flowers are changed twice a year. It's not something that you would spend a long time looking at, but it's a nice little spot to visit. Don't forget to go around the back of the clock, and if the door is open, you can see the inner workings of the Clock. Kids usually find that interesting. Location: 14004 Niagara Parkway, Queenston, Ontario, Canada, behind the Sir Adam Beck Power Plant and near the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge. Beautiful Bike and Recreation Trail: HELMETS - In Ontario, it is THE LAW for children under the age of 18 to wear a bicycle helmet , but come on...it's common sense for everyone to wear one. Yeah, it might mess up your hair, but better your hair than your head! Wayside Chapel Fort George Ghost Tour Niagara-on-the-Lake has been voted Canada's prettiest town, but did you know that it's also the most haunted? If you're visiting the Niagara Region or live nearby, I STRONGLY recommend you take part in one of the ghost tours put on by Friends of Fort George. I must strongly caution that this is a REAL GHOST TOUR. Nobody with a rubber mask is going to jump out and spook you. You are not guaranteed to see a ghost, but many people on the tours claim to see or feel something unusual. At $10.00 for an adult ticket, for a two-hour tour, the price is well worth it. The guides are informative and entertaining. They don't try to convert you into being a believer, but they do tell you their experiences. Drummond Hill Cemetery Old Scow: The remnants of this scow are a reminder of a near tragedy and an amazing rescue. The scow was being towed up river by a tug boat, but the tow line broke, and the scow was set adrift. The two men on board were very quick thinking, and they immediately opened the dumping hatches. This saved them from going over the Falls, but it trapped them in the middle of the raging river. They were so close to the brink that if they attempted to get out, they'd be quickly swept away, never to be seen again. Everyone was perplexed about how to rescue these men from the predicament they were in. After many hours and several unsuccessful attempts of throwing a rope, a firing gun was set up to shoot the rope to the scow. The men were able to tie the rope to the windlass. A breeches buoy (which was a chair-like attachment) was sent along the rope, but unfortunately, it became tangled halfway across! Since the men had already been trapped more than a day, this was an even more desperate situation. William Hill Sr. (Red), a known daredevil from the area, went out hand over hand along the rope as his body was constantly pulled and tugged by the current of the raging river. However, Red Hill Sr. reached the tangled breech buoy and worked for hours until he was able to untangle it in order to allow the rescue. Now, that's a hero! It's fun to go and see this old scow, and since it is now rapidly deteriorating, your time to view it may be running out. WELLAND CANAL: It takes very little money to visit the Welland Canal...just your gas money and that's it! The canal is just a few minutes drive away from Niagara Falls. Why not visit it when you're on your Niagara Falls' vacation? When I first moved to this area and saw one of the ships, from a distance, I thought it was a building. My husband laughed and said, "No, thats a boat." I didn't believe him until I realized it was slowly moving down the canal. I was blown away by the size of this ship. It was longer than two football fields! And since I wasn't expecting to see it, I found the experience overwhelming. How is it possible to lift these gigantic boats over the Niagara Escarpment? It's done on a daily basis, but how? Engineers discovered years ago how to make gravity and water do the work. Your family can spend some of your vacation time in the Niagara Region watching these monstrous ships travel through the locks from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and vice versa. Believe me, it is very interesting. For more information please call: Lock 3 Viewing Complex and Museum: 1-905-688-5601 ext 1999 or Toll Free: 1-800-305-5134. Clifton Hill What is Clifton Hill? Clifton Hill is basically a street turned into an amusement park. However, since it is in a fairly compact area, there are no rollercoasters or large scale rides, other than the Skywheel. It has attractions that take up a smaller area such as the House of Franken-stein, wax museums and Ripley's Believe it or not Museum, together with several money-grabbing souvenir shops. It's a bit of a tacky area, but still a lot of fun. You have to be careful not to spend a fortune here. Just be careful or you could empty your wallet in a matter of minutes on this Hill. SIX HELPFUL TIPS WHILE VISITING CLIFTON HILL Tip #1 - Don't be so quick to give into temptation and go on a ride or spend money in a souvenir shop. The street really isn't that long. Take your time to wander up and down it. There's so much fun stuff to watch that you may feel you don't have to spend any money at all. We do this all the time, and since the street is always changing, it never gets boring. There are usually some sort of street performers to keep you entertained, and this costs nothing! Tip #2 - Many of the restaurants such as the Rainforest Cafe offer to let you walk around within the restaurant without actually ordering any food there. Since this restaurant is designed like an actual rainforest, many kids and adults enjoy just viewing the scenery. It's actually pretty fun. Tip #3 - If you do decide to go on some of the rides or in some of the attractions, shop around for the package deals and always ask if there is a special. You can find booths that offer package deals all over the place. If you can't find one, just ask any employee you see on Clifton Hill, and they will direct you. Tip #4 - Many of the souvenirs sold in the shops on Clifton Hill can be purchased for a fraction of the cost at the local Wal-Mart or Dollar stores in the area. You can find more tips on this under the "Shopping" link. Tip #5 - Always wear comfortable shoes. This seems like a stupid tip, but you'd be amazed at the number of women we see on the Hill wearing stilettos, and I can't help but wonder how or why they do it. Tip #6 - Keep your purse or bag stocked with Dollar Store toys for the little ones to keep their minds off of the over-priced toys on Clifton Hill.
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