Sterling Inn & Spa

Best from May to October. Late spring and early fall, May, June, September and October, are the most pleasant: mild 10 to 23°C with fewer rain days. July and August are the hottest, reaching 27°C. April is the rainiest month with 15 rain days, so skip it unless you enjoy drizzle. The Shaw Festival, a major theatre season, runs April to October.

Stay in the Old Town along Queen Street for the historic core, boutique shops, and the Oban Inn or the Charles Hotel. The York Road area near the highway suits drivers, with the Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Garden Inn nearby. The Niagara River Parkway offers vineyard views and the Riverbend Inn, ideal for a quieter stay. For a resort feel, the White Oaks area works well.

Start with Journey Behind the Falls, where you get behind the tumbling water. Butterfly Conservatory fills a tropical greenhouse with thousands of butterflies. Whirlpool Aero Car crosses the river's whirlpool, and White Water Walk puts you within reach of the rapids. For greenery, Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and Queen's Royal Park round out the list with flower beds and lake views.

You can take a day trip to the Niagara Glen Nature Centre, where you can explore the gorge and its trails. Queenston Heights Park, a National Historic Site with a monument to Sir Isaac Brock, is another option. The Whirlpool Aero Car offers views over the whirlpool, and the White Water Walk lets you view the rapids along the river. These are all within the Niagara Parks system.

Two days covers the town core, Fort George, Queenston Heights Park and Queen's Royal Park, plus one of the nearby falls sights like the Butterfly Conservatory. A third day lets you see the major falls attractions such as Journey Behind the Falls and White Water Walk. If you want a day trip to Niagara Falls itself, add one more day.