Niagara Falls

Nigara Falls

Add: Niagara Falls, NY 14303, United States

he world has been beating a path to the Buffalo Niagara region since shortly after Father Louis Hennepin became the first European to describe the “prodigious cadence of water” that is the mighty Falls in 1678. That early trickle of tourists became a steady stream after the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 and a torrent when the railroad linked Western New York with points east. Today, millions of tourists from around the world continue to come by plane, train and automobile to experience the grandeur of Niagara Falls.

World-class attractions like the Maid of the Mist, Hornblower Cruises and the Cave of the Winds await the visitor who makes the short 20-minute drive from downtown Buffalo to Niagara Falls. You’ll savor the spectacular views, the thundering roar, the delicate mists and shimmering rainbows of this true national treasure.

Take a family photo overlooking the Falls at Terrapin Point in Frederick Law Olmsted’s lush, beautiful and natural Niara Falls State Park. Amid the distractions and developments of modern life, the Park still provides a glimpse of the original splendor that awaited the first visitors to the region. This is the Falls at its best.

Step aboard the legendary Maid of the Mist or Hornblower Crulses and experience the power and majesty of the combined waters of four Great Lakes. You’ll be ferried to the base of the Horseshoe Falls and feel the rush of the water as it pounds the rocks below. From the moment you put on your giant blue poncho you’ll know you’re having a one-of-a-kind experience.

Next, be sure to visit the awe-inspiring Cave if the Winds. As you make your way to the Hurricane Deck, you’ll get an up-close-and-personal view of the roaring waters pouring over the precipice of Bridal Veil Falls. On a hot summer day, this is the ultimate run-through-the-sprinkler.

Nearby, you’ll find all manner of ways to experience this world wonder: helicopter rides, observation decks and towering vantage points that will give you a bird’s eye view of one of nature’s universally-acclaimed masterpieces.

Bring plenty of film or an extra memory card. You’ll need it.

The Parliament Buildings

The Parliament Buildings

Add: Wellington St, Ottawa, ON

Parliament Hill (French: Colline du Parlement), colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown Land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in Downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural elements of national symbolic importance. Parliament Hill attracts approximately 3 million visitors each year.^[1]

Originally the site of a military base in the 18th and early 19th centuries, development of the area into a governmental precinct began in 1859, after Queen Victoria chose Baytown as the capital of the Province of Canada. Following a number of extensions to the parliament and departmental buildings and a fire in 1916 that destroyed the Centre Block, Parliament Hill took on its present form with the completion of the Peace Tower in 1927. Since 2002, an extensive $1 billion renovation and rehabilitation project has been underway throughout all of the precinct’s buildings; work is not expected to be complete until after 2020.

CN Tower

CN Tower

Add:301 Front St W Toronto, ON M5V 2T6

The CN Tower is Toronto’s tallest and most defining landmark. Photos of Toronto are often defined by the building, which stretches more than 550 metres into the sky.

Today, aside from serving as a hub for telecommunications across the city, the CN Tower has become a major tourist destination. Visitors can test their courage by walking across the glass floor 113 stories above the ground. The first of its kind in the world, the glass floor gives you that dare-to-walk-on-air experience, with only 2.5 inches of glass holding you 342 metres in the air. The glass floor is actually stronger than most commercial floors and has the strength to hold 38,556 kg (85,000 lbs) or 14 hippos! Or, if you dare, travel higher up the tower to the Sky Pod, another 33 storeys above ground.

The tower’s revolving 360 Restaurant offers an award-winning wine list and a spectacular view for romantic evenings. Horizons, an upscale bistro on the Look Out Level, seats 130 and is equipped with a dance floor. If you’re not wild about heights, the Far Coast Café is a fully licensed fresh market café that serves an array of international foods and there is plenty to shop for at the base of the tower. A 10,000 sq. ft. marketplace sells uniquely Canadian souvenirs.

If the glass floor isn’t enough excitement for you, there’s the HIMALAMAZON motion theatre ride (must be 42 inches tall to ride). The Maple Leaf Cinema also plays a 15 minute film on the construction of the tower 37 years ago.

The CN Tower presents Legends of Flight 3D,  a family-friendly spectacle that explores the history of aviation. From the Wright Brothers creating the first ever plane to modern day technology building jetliners and aircraft carriors, the film shows us what can make or break the art of flight.

The latest features at the tour is EdgeWalk, the world’s highest full-circle, hands-free walk. Visitors are attached through safety rails and harnesses and walk along the Tower’s ledge, 116 storeys above ground, to experience breathtaking views of the city below. EdgeWalk is open from spring through until fall, and is closed for the winte