This whole garden is an outdoor classroom for the Niagara School of Horticulture, and the flower beds are kept in pristine condition. There are 99 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, including perennials, rhododendrons, and azaleas, plus a formal parterre garden. There are flowers for shade, herb gardens and an aviary, as well as the Botanical Garden’s world famous rose gardens...
Ag Inspired Cuisine at The Sterling Inn & Spa is a must visit for anyone who loves good local cuisine. Tucked away in the contemporary Sterling Inn & Spa is Ag Inspired Cuisine, quite certainly the best dining room in town. This is elegant, refined cuisine, from the unerring hands of Chef Cory Linkson, who takes the best of local...
The Sheraton Fallsview Hotel is a four diamond American style hotel, with spectacular views from its fallsview rooms. If you plan to stay at the Falls, it would be silly not to sleep in a Fallsview room. Wake up to the Falls wrapped in morning mist, and go to bed to the sight of the illuminated Falls, or watch the...
Queenston Heights was the site where one of the most decisive battle of the War of 1812 was waged. This is a great destination for those who enjoy hiking, cycling, or history. There is a pleasant park at the foot of the hill, with a splash pool and playground and lots of picnic area. This park is the southern terminus...
The trails in the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve lead through Carolinian forest and up and down some pretty rugged terrain. The trails are well maintained and there is a good trail map that indicates the points of interest. This is an area with a large variety of endangered or very site specific flora and abundant fauna. You get some fine...
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery is a popular destination because of its wines, its comfortable hospitality, and its summer series of performances in its vineyard amphitheatre. The mammoth, contemporary three-story building that houses the winery was opened in 2001 on its 11.5 acre Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyard. The winery, which was founded in 1993 by Allan Jackson and Don Triggs, is one of...
Over 2000 exotic butterflies soar through a tropical jungle in this glass roofed attraction. Pathways curve through the greenery and flowers, and the butterflies are everywhere, sometimes on your shoulder. It is a great opportunity for very special photography, but it also reminds you of how spectacular Mother Nature’s creatures can be. It’s wheel chair and stroller accessible, but it...
A swing across the Niagara River on the Whirlpool Aero Car is one of the best ways to experience the grandeur of the rushing water. This antique cable car was designed by Leonard Torres Quevedo in 1916 and has been thrilling visitors ever since. 2016 marked the 100 anniversary of its start, and the aero car continues to be a...
Niagara’s White Water Walk is a unique experience and a special way to get close to the water. You take an elevator down 70 metres to a tunnel that leads to the 1/4 mile long boardwalk. This is a walk like none other you have taken. Here the water from Niagara Falls is funnelled into this deep narrow great gorge....
Elements on the Falls, Niagara, is a destination restaurant, and one of the best places to really appreciate the excitement of the Falls while experiencing a delicious locally sourced meal. This restaurant with the wrap-around windows lets you dine up-close and personal with the Falls. It is probably the most dramatic place in town for dinner. Add to that the...
You will find this restaurant on the top of the hill right beside the famous Brock Monument. The views of the Niagara River and the surrounding forest and hills is totally gorgeous, especially in late September and early October when the leaves are turning. Food is very good, with a menu that has lots of variety – try the lunch special...
Queenston Heights was the site where one of the most decisive battle of the War of 1812 was waged. This is a great destination for those who enjoy hiking, cycling, or history. There is a pleasant park at the foot of the hill, with a splash pool and playground and lots of picnic area. This park is the southern terminus...
Quite simply, one of the loveliest drives in Southern Ontario. If you’re exploring anywhere in the Niagara Region, you really owe it to yourself to make sure that you travel along the Niagara Parkway. I realize that if you’re coming from Hamilton or the Toronto area to wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake, you’ll most likely take Niagara Stone Road (Highway 55, which...
Few Tucsonans know about this historic park, reached by driving east on Tanque Verde Rd for 7.5 miles and turning north on Soldier Trail for 2 miles to Roger Rd. Agua Caliente (Spanish for “hot water”) was once two natural springs, one hot and one cold. Archaeological evidence indicates that the site was used by Indians for thousands of years...
This world-class museum shows off the sensational spectrum of flora and fauna found in the desert covering southern Arizona and the neighboring Mexican state of Sonora. Snakes, scorpions and saguaro cacti? You bet! How about otters, ocelots, mountain lions, shore birds, porcupines and parrots? They, too, lurk around in the background. Favorite exhibits include walk-in aviaries with hummingbirds and tanagers,...
This cave on Tucson’s southeastern outskirts is a dry cave – it has a variety of formations but none of them are growing as in Kartchner Caverns. Entrance is with a tour guide who will tell tall tales of bandits stashing ill-gotten gains within the cave. It’s fun for the kids and no reservations are required – the wait is...
Founded in 1922, El Charro (The Horseman), has a long list of awards and continues to satisfy patrons looking for Sonoran Mexican meals. It’s been at its historic El Presidio district house since 1968 – earlier it was once within the lovely Temple of Music & Art (now home of the Arizona Theatre Company). OK. Enough of the history. How...
Everyone loves miniatures. Remember playing with a dollhouse or making a diorama in a shoebox? Your uncle’s model railway or your mom’s collection of china cats? You probably have something miniature displayed in your house. This museum, opened in late 2009, is a worthy addition to Tucson’s arts scene. There are hundreds of exquisitely intricate scenes displayed in perfect mini-scale,...
Mt Lemmon (9157 ft) is the crowning point of the Santa Catalina Mountains gracing Tucson to the north, and easily reached by a paved road. Allow an hour to drive the scenic, steep, winding Catalina Hwy from Tanque Verde Rd on Tucson’s far northeast side – add time for stops at overlooks which have fascinating information about the “Sky Islands”...
With just one big chair lift, plus a small lift and a tow, this is not the place to go out of your way to ski. But if you live in or are visiting Tucson, a one hour drive gets you up to the snow on Mt Lemmon. There are over 20 runs; most are steepish but there are a...
The studios have been the backdrop to many a Western movie for over seven decades. Films are still shot here, but most actors these days stroll the streets in vintage Western wear, chatting with visitors and performing skits, stunt shows, shoot-em-ups, and salacious saloon-gal reviews. Kids love the gun fights and gold panning, stagecoach rides and petting farm. Adults enjoy a...
Aviation aficionados appreciate the 300+ aircraft (and a few rockets) parked in this mainly outdoor museum (bring sun protection). Most are military planes from various countries and different wars – especially World War II. You can tour the Air Force One plane used by President Kennedy. Cooled hangars house several popular aircraft, but the largest exhibits are outside. One-hour narrated...
Mosey on down the wooden sidewalks of Trail Dust Town to this family and tourist-oriented steak house. It’s been here since the 1960s, recreates the wild west of the 1880s, and does a convincing enough job to keep visitors happy. Sit down to eat with a tie, and the waiter WILL step up with shears and cut that dang thing...
The foremost attraction in recent years is Nandi, a female elephant born at the zoo on August 20, 2014, which happens to be Tucson’s birthday as well. This was the first elephant to have been born in Arizona and although she is now no longer a tiny baby, she is still much smaller than the rest of the herd and...
Cacti and cliffs, wildlife and water abound in this splendid canyon – a must-see for nature lovers. If you have a car and only have a few hours available in Tucson, Sabino Canyon is easily accessible and will introduce you to the best of the desert in minutes. Spend an hour or two or bring a picnic and spend the...
The 3.8 mile road up into Sabino Canyon has been closed to private vehicles for decades, but a convenient shuttle bus can get you up there if you don’t feel like hiking. The open-air “bus” includes two carriages, one with and one without a roof. The driver narrates info about the desert scenery. A ticket is valid all day; passengers...
The national park has two districts separated by Tucson. The east side features older stands of cacti, flowing up towards the 8000+ ft Rincon Mountains. It’s moister here, and there is more vegetation. An eight-mile paved, one-way, loop drive gives access to scenic saguaro vistas. Numerous easy, flat or flattish trails of varying lengths take off from this road; there...
The west side of the park is lower, drier, and features thicker stands of saguaro than the east sector. Hiking trails range from short paved paths to long routes. An easy trail climbs less than a 1/4 mile from the Signal Hill picnic area to Hohokam Indian petroglyphs etched 800 or more years ago. Longer trails include the 4.9 mile...
This is like a miniature Old Tucson, but within city limits and open only in the evening. Originally a film set, Trail Dust Town now features a variety of western-themed gift shops and a cowboy steakhouse. Highlights include cowboy stunt shows ($4) outside the steakhouse at 7 and 8 pm nightly, a photo studio where you can dress up in...
From little Legos to terrible Tyrannausori, there is something here to engage kids. Plenty of hands-on workstations, robotic dinosaurs, and the opportunity to dress up in a firefighter’s uniform are big hits with the younger crowd. Educational exhibits include safety, medical and veterinary areas.