Niagara Falls, Canada: Falls Pass, Golf & Icewine

May 16–17: Following Lake Erie into Canada

We started north on a road trip that would eventually carry us along Lake Erie and into Canada. One of the first memorable stops was Altered State Distillery. I tried a maple-bacon Old Fashioned and a shot of bourbon, both served with candied bacon. It was a sweet, smoky beginning to the trip and exactly the kind of unusual roadside stop we like finding.

We grabbed coffee from the shop next door, then continued around the lake toward the Canadian border. Our Airbnb was in the Thorold area, close enough to Niagara Falls for the main attractions but removed from the busiest tourist streets.

After getting groceries, we ate at Harvey’s. We ordered burgers and tried two kinds of poutine: the classic version and a pickle poutine. Back at the house, we sampled local beer, including a Dino Sour from Phillips Brewing. It was a low-key arrival night after the long drive.

May 18: The full Niagara Falls Pass day

We made breakfast at the Airbnb and devoted the entire day to Niagara Falls. We had bought the Niagara Falls Pass Plus, which bundled five major Niagara Parks experiences, and we used the day to see the water from almost every possible angle.

Journey Behind the Falls brought us through the tunnels to the portals and observation area beside Horseshoe Falls. The roar, spray, and force of the water felt completely different at that distance. The Niagara Parks Power Station added the history of how the river was used to generate electricity, followed by the long tunnel walk to another dramatic river-level viewpoint.

At White Water Walk, the boardwalk followed the Niagara River beside powerful Class 6 rapids. The Whirlpool Aero Car then carried us above the swirling water and gave us a wide view across the gorge. Niagara Takes Flight rounded out the bundle with a flying-theatre view of the region.

Late in the day, sunlight through the mist created a bright rainbow across the falls while a tour boat passed below. After fitting all five attractions into one long day, we went back to the Airbnb, rested, and tried another local beer.

May 19: Thundering Waters and Clifton Hill

The next morning started at Thundering Waters Golf Club. The course gave us a quieter side of Niagara after the crowds and movement of the day before, with rolling fairways and a full round close to the Falls.

That afternoon we went to Clifton Hill and walked through the bright signs, attractions, restaurants, and shops. The food was part of the fun. We tried a BeaverTail topped with pistachio and honey and a BeaverDog wrapped in the same fried pastry. It was rich, messy, and memorable—the kind of snack that belongs in the middle of Clifton Hill.

We continued exploring the area and finished the day with more Ontario beer back at our home base.

May 20: Icewine, local drinks, and Wayne Gretzky Estates

One of the biggest reasons we wanted to visit the Niagara region was to try icewine and other local wine, beer, and spirits. We turned the next day into a tasting route through the countryside.

Wayne Gretzky Estates combined a winery and distillery in one stop. We sampled several pours and bought a few favorites to take home. We also stopped at Oast House Brewers, adding local beer to a day that had already moved from wine to whisky.

For dinner, we ate at Cracker Jacks. It was a casual finish after a day focused on discovering what the Niagara region makes locally.

May 21–22: A slow final day

After several full days, we kept the last part of the trip intentionally easy. We rested, visited a few shops, drove around, and looked at more of the surrounding area without another major reservation controlling the schedule.

That slower day helped balance the trip before the drive home. We had crossed into another country, stood beside the power of Niagara Falls, played a round of golf, tasted icewine and local beer, and still left ourselves room to simply explore.