Butterfly Conservatory

2405 Niagara River Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6S4 905-358-0025

Description: If you feel there's something magical about the presence of a single butterfly, imagine having 2000 of them flying about! Thanks to tropical foliage and flowers, a waterfall and an added dose of humidity, the experience becomes downright exotic. Visitors wander the facility's pathways, watching the creatures light on flowers, flutter through the air and create a show of color and fragility. More than 65 species inhabit the space; outside, native counterparts can be found in the butterfly garden. A cafe is available and staff members present butterfly-related programs regularly.
More Details

Floral Clock

14004 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T2 905-371-0254

Description: QUEENSTON. In the tradition of such cities as Geneva and Edinburgh, this floral clock combines both art and utility in a tourist-friendly package. The attraction, first created in 1950, utilizes approximately 16,000 plants to achieve its distinctive appearance. The entire face is changed out twice each year to accommodate temperature variations and plant tolerance. The clock, which is 40 feet in diameter, also features an oval pool at its base and is a favorite spot for tourist photos.
More Details

Niagara Falls State Park

Prospect St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 716-278-1796

Description: AMERICAN SIDE. America's oldest state park, this popular locale encompasses not only the Falls themselves but a host of related attractions. Landscaped gardens surround the visitor center, which features a film on the history of the falls. Other attractions include a discovery center (which details the region's geology), an observation tower, and a trolley that transfers folks easily from destination to destination. You'll also find other activities and attractions, including hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, concessions and fishing. (N.B. Savvy visitors often take advantage of the park's Niagara USA Discovery Pass, which offers discounts on all park attractions and other area activities.)
More Details

Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens

2565 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6S4 905-358-0025

Description: Initially established in 1936, these botanical gardens attract nearly a million visitors each year. In fact, folks can't seem to get enough of NPBG's 100 acres of manicured beds and plantings, which are maintained by a select group of students from the Park's horticultural school. The arboretum features a wealth of specimen shrubs and trees, including flowering cherry trees. Other specialty gardens include those devoted to roses, herbs and vegetables. You'll also see rhododendrons, irises and a wide variety of perennials.
More Details

Niagara Parks Floral Showhouse

7145 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON

Description: This somewhat futuristic-looking glass structure, dating to 1945, shelters a host of beautiful, delicate plants. Within its walls, visitors find specimens from all over the world, including orchids, lilies, cyclamen and succulents. Plants used for outdoor displays are also started in the greenhouse and seasonal flower shows are presented. As a special treat, tropical birds add extra color. Outside of the greenhouse are several beautifully kept beds, including one that caters to visually impaired visitors.
More Details

Oakes Garden Theatre

River Rd and Clifton Hill, Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, ON

Description: CLIFTON HILL. Built on the site of a destroyed hotel (and incorporating portions of the ruins), this garden was completed in 1937. Remaining faithful to the lay of the land, it takes the shape of an amphitheater, and the stage, engagingly, employs the Falls as a backdrop. Formal in nature, the garden features limestone hardscaping, iron gates, a curved pergola and geometric beds. Water features and rock gardens add character as well, a fact which is not lost on wedding planners and concert promoters.
More Details

Queen Victoria Park

Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T2 905-371-0254

Description: FALLSVIEW. Favored for incredible views of the Falls and its seasonal sweeps of floral color, this park is beautiful any time of year. Its plants hail from across the globe, and amply stocked beds are interspersed with open lawns for visual relief. Magnolia trees, tea roses, a rock garden and carefully clipped shrubs and standards create focal points amid a sea of cultivated beauty. Even in winter, the spare landscape gets a high measure of interest, thanks to the frozen offspray from the Falls.
More Details

Queenston Heights Park

14184 Niagara Pkwy, Queenston, ON L2G 7K3

Description: QUEENSTON. Currently a beautifully manicured park frequented by picnickers and folks in pursuit of recreational pastimes, Queenston Heights is also regarded as Canada's birthplace. During the War of 1812, a decisive battle between the British and Yanks resulted in a British victory, halting an American attempt to annex Canada into US boundaries. Along with its leisure-time facilities, the park features monuments to significant historical figures (Major-General Isaac Brock and Laura Secord), a restaurant and a trailhead. The Brock monument is temporarily closed for refurbishment.
More Details