Things to do / Travel Guide
A wide variety of tours (boat tours and cruises, helicopter tours, wine tours, and walking tours, among others) are available to the traveler looking for a more structured vacation experience.
Boats and Cruises
The Maid of the Mist Boat Tours, available on both sides of Niagara Falls is the famous and best way to get near the powerful, plunging water of the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls. Maid of the Mist Boat Tours have been running since 1846 and are one of the most popular attractions in Niagara. Tours run very frequently, departing from the Niagara Reservation State Park in New York and the Maid of the Mist Plaza, on the Canadian side. An adult fare on the Maid of the Mist costs around $10 and children cost a little less, and the roundtrip lasts about 30 minutes. Expect long lines during peak times, and don't miss the last boat of the day - as early as 4:45 p.m., depending on the day.
On Seneca, Canandaigua, Skaneateles, Keuka and Cayuga Lakes, several-hour sightseeing cruises are available, many of which offer meals. Finger Lakes cruises are especially beautiful in the spring and fall. Adult prices range from $12-$30.
There are a number of companies offering cruises of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Harbor, and the Toronto islands. Dinner and entertainment cruises, sailboat tours, and tallship schooners, among others, provide beautiful deck-side views of the Toronto harbor and skyline.
Helicopter Tours
Helicopter tours are available in Toronto and Niagara, NY both in the day and the evening. In Toronto, the cost is about $75 per person and rides take about 10 minutes. Helicopter tours in Niagara Falls provide outstanding, birds-eye views of the U.S. and Canadian falls, while in Toronto, helicopter tours give passengers a unique perspective on Toronto's downtown skyscrapers and urban geography.
City-Attraction Tours
Day tours of popular Toronto attractions and sights including the Canadian National (CN) Tower, the Rogers Centre, and various shopping districts, are available through various different agencies. For a unique city tour, try the Hippo Tour company, which offers a 40-passenger amphibious vehicle to give you a feeling of the city. The Hippo both rides through Toronto's streets, passing by noteworthy historical sites, and converts into a floating bus to explore Toronto's harbor! Tours often are about two to three hours long and can cost anywhere from $15-35.
There are many tour companies that offer driven day-long attractions tours throughout Niagara Falls, Ontario. The tours provide historical information on the area and its sights as well as stops to shop for souvenirs. The tours can be taken from Niagara Falls, Ontario or round-trip from Toronto. Costs range from $60 to $120.
Walking Tours
Guided walking tours of downtown Toronto are a good way to both get exercise and see the city. While it is possible to just pick up a map and do it yourself, tour companies also provide personalized, two-hour tours cost around $20 and five-hour tours usually cost about $70.
Wine Tours
There are organized wine routes along Seneca Lake (28 wineries), Canandaigua Lake (4 wineries), Keuka Lake (8 wineries) and Cayuga Lake (16 wineries). If you have a car, obtain a free copy of the various wine route maps and visit the wineries at your leisure. Even without a map, just follow the obvious “grapes” road-side signs and you'll find your way. If you are without transportation or would rather have a guided tour, many companies in and around western New York's wine country offer transportation and tours to the different wineries. Prices vary.
Maps for a self-guided wine trail throughout the Niagara Wine Country in New York are available, and allow you to visit the area's many wineries on your own. The
Niagara Wine Trail Map should help you out.
Afternoon, lunch, and dinner wine tours of the cottage-style and boutique wineries in Ontario's Niagara Wine Country leave from hotels and lodgings in Niagara Falls, Ontario and Toronto. Tour costs range from $50 to $115.
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