Niagara Botanical Gardens- Niagara Falls, Ontario

September 2011

The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens are located on the scenic Niagara Parkway around 9 km north of the Falls. The gardens cover an area of 100 acres and are one of the largest and most diverse plant collections in Canada. The gardens features over 3000 different types of plants including deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs, herbaceous perennials, alpines, native plants, rhododendrons, azaleas, vines, roses, tropical, aquatic plants, shade, herb and vegetable plantings , and many landscape features such as ponds, pergolas and waterfalls. Not to miss in spring the spectacular blossoms of Crabapple Vista.

There are several footpaths that wind past ponds and an arboretum which includes one of finest collections of ornamental trees and shrubs in Canada.

The Botanical Gardens are open to the public free of charge every day of the year. The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory are also located within the gardens but charge an admission fee. It takes around 2 hours to cover all the gardens. Add another hour if planning to visit the Butterfly Conservatory.

While in the area be sure to visit the Niagara Glen Nature Centre which features beautiful trails leading into the Niagara gorge .It is located on the parkway very close to the gardens.

 The Rose Garden with its classic pergola is reminiscent of an English estate garden covers an area of 2 acres and features over 50 rose beds and over 2400 hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora and climbing roses.

 

 

 

 

 

The Herb Garden is a formal style garden that feature displays of world culinary, medicinal, perfume and aromatic plants. The 560 sq.meters (6000 sq feet garden ) is enclosed by an Oriental Cedar Hedge and is composed of flagstone pathways, brick bed-edging, unique obelisks, and Haddonstone urns. The garden also features an “inner room” of hedge walls, where a knot garden and sundial can be found in the centre.

A large cortan steel butterfly sculpture and butterfly garden which attracts native butterflies marks the entrance to the Butterfly Conservatory which is filled with over 2,000 free-flying butterflies.

 

For more information visit the following related links.

Niagara Botanical Gardens Map

Niagara Botanical Gardens Facts and Informaton

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Niagara Glen Nature Centre- Niagara Falls, Ontario

September 2011

Niagara Glen Nature Centre is a hidden gem that few people know about and miss entirely while visiting the Niagara Falls area. It is situated on the Niagara Parkway about 8 kilometers north of Niagara Falls midpoint between Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Glen features several kilometers of marked trails that wind their way through a pristine pocket of Carolinian forest, unique rock formations, huge boulders and spectacular gorge scenery. A metal staircase descends into the gorge providing access to the network of trails that will take you deeper into the gorge and close to the water’s edge.
Follow the River Path trail which runs along the Niagara River with amazing close-up views of its turbulent water and gorge. Most often you will see the Whirlpool Jet making its way up and down the river as it rides the Class 5 rapids.


Across the river is the US side. The US side also has a network of trails that connect Devil’s Hole State Park with Whirlpool State Park where awesome views of the river, gorge and whirlpool can be seen. A visit to these 2 New York state parks will not disappoint.

Other points of interest in the area include Queenston Heights and the Niagara Botanical Gardens which is only a few minutes away.


View of Niagara River from Niagara recreational trail at Niagara Glen visitor centre

 

 

 

 

Niagara Glen hiking trail

 

 

For more information visit the following related links.
Niagara Parks:Niagara Glen
Niagara Glen Trail Map

Niagara Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour

July 2011

The Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour is a top rated adventure in the Niagara area. It is a must do and definitely belongs on everyone’s bucket list. Each year, thousands of visitors embark on specialized jet boats to witness one of the world’s top whitewater rapids on the Niagara River.

 

The Niagara Whirlpool and the Hamilton 360 are some of the top highlights of this 1 hour plus tour. The boat tour departs from three different departure locations, two on the Canadian side of the Niagara River (Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON & Niagara Falls, ON) and 1 from the United States (Lewiston, NY). The jet boat makes its way along the scenic Niagara River towards the ultimate whitewater experience in the narrow Niagara Gorge. This is where the action takes place.

 Over the last 12,000 years, a spectacular 7 mile long canyon gorge has been carved out of the escarpment by the turbulent currents of this river creating towering waves and swirling cross-currents making for amazing whitewater rapids. The best time to go is on a hot summer day in the wet jet with the purpose of getting completely soaked…and you will get soaked especially if you sit in the front row. The Whirlpool Jet provides an incredible adrenaline rush that will have you coming back for more.

These are some photos taken from a camera mounted on the boat as we surfed the rapids.

 

Here are some photos of the jet boat taken at different times and locations while hiking in the gorge on the Canadian side (Niagara Glen Nature Centre) and  US Side (Whirlpool State Park)
 

For more information visit their website at www.whirlpooljet.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whirlpool State Park and Devil's Hole State Park- Niagara Falls, New York

May 2011

There are 3 state parks on the US side of Niagara Falls which are worth a visit: Niagara Falls State Park, Whirlpool State Park and Devil’s Hole State Park.

Whirlpool State Park and Devil’s Hole State Park can be accessed from the Niagara Gorge Trailhead Centre which is situated on the Robert Moses Parkway about 1 mile (1-2 kms) from the Falls. The Centre is the gateway to some of the best hiking in the area and offers beautiful views from both the rim trail and the gorge.



View of Niagara River and hydroelectric plant from rim trail

View of the niagara whirlpool from the rim trail

Stairs leading from rim trail to gorge trail

Cave of the Evil Spirits,Devil's Hole State Park

Devil's Hole State Park Trail

Devil’s Hole State Park is a 42 acre park which is situated on the American side of the Niagara River right next to Whirlpool State Park. The two parks are linked together by the gorge trail which spans several miles. The park can also be accessed from an entrance off the Robert Moses Parkway where there is ample parking. A 300 ft steep winding staircase comprised of roughly 400 steps leads down into the gorge. Once in the gorge the trail leads to a unique geological formation called Cave of the Evil Spirits which is a 4 ft tall by 30 feet deep fissue in a large block of dolostone.

 

 

 

 

Whirlpool State Park

Whirlpool State Park offers amazing views of the famous Whirlpool and Whirlpool Rapids. You will be completely mesmorised by The Niagara Whirlpool with its 125ft deep swirling waters which is a result of a dramatic turn in the flow of the river. This is an extremely dangerous and turbulent stretch of the Niagara River which is located downstream from the Niagara Falls. The narrow canyon walls force a massive amount of water through a smaller space resulting in Class V whitewater. For those seeking adventure, the only way to really get up close to the whirlpool is by going on the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour. The Whirlpool adjacent shoreline can also be accessed from the Canadian side via the Niagara Glen Reserve which features some more hiking trails that have nice views of the turbulent rapids. The park is accessed via a steep staircase which is overgrown with weeds from the Gorge Rim Trail. From the Gorge Rim Trail you will get great views of the Whirlpool and the Spanish Aero Car which takes passengers 250 feet above the whirlpool.

 

For more information visit the following related links.
New York State Parks:Devil's Hole State Park
New York State Parks:Whirlpool State Park
Niagara Falls State Park.com
NYFalls.com-Whirlpool State Park
NYFalls.com-Devil's Hole State Park