Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA famous Horseshoe Falls that, together, make up Niagara Falls. You can buy timed tickets on-line for the two 700-passenger catama- rans, Niagara Thunder and Niagara Wonder, so there is no need to wait in line. There are bathrooms, snack bars, fl at screen videos, glass-enclosed viewing areas and multiple language video tours on board, as well as disability access. One of the most spectacu- lar experiences is the late evening illumina- tion cruise with a bonus when fi reworks displays are staged—usually on weekends and holidays ( www.niagaracruises.com). VIEW THE SPLASH AND SPRAY FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE For a view of the river and the Falls from farther away, Niagara Helicopters will fl y you along the Niagara Gorge and high over the thundering waters. With their new fl eet of whirlybirds, this scenic adventure provides a unique view of the Niagara area and, on a clear day, you can even see the Toronto city skyline ( www.niagaraheli copters.com). To see the Niagara River up close, take a jet boat ride. Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours speed you along the Niagara Gorge where 53-m (175-ft.) walls line the edge, all the way up to the world famous Whirlpool and Devil's Hole rapids. Be prepared to get wet (www.whirlpooljet.com ). This is the year to experience the famous Whirlpool Aero Car ride, which is celebrating its 100 th year of operation in August. Take a ride above the whirling Niagara Gorge on six cables suspended 76.2 m (250 ft.) above the rushing water and its steep rock faces (www.niagara parks.com ). The aero car was designed by the eccentric but brilliant Spanish engineer, Leonardo Torres Quevedo, and is the only one of its type in North America. New this year, WildPlay Element Parks is opening a zip-line attraction and aerial adventure rope course at the Niagara Parks Commission's Grand View Marketplace and Thompson Point locations, respectively. They will provide a whole new way to splash around in Niagara. PAIRED PERFECTION Niagara is synonymous with good food, so it is logical that some of Canada's celebrity chefs are moving to Niagara and producing superb locally-sourced food. One of the best ways to experience the culinary gems that exist here is on a walking tour with Niagara Culinary Tours, where a three- hour tour will introduce you to some local history, restaurants, food and wine ( www. niagaraculinarytours.com). There are excellent affordable dining options in the area, many designed for fami- lies. One of the most comforting places for a traditional British cream tea is the Queen Charlotte Tea Room & Restaurant in Niagara Falls, where the selection of specialty teas is astounding, and the tea is served, loose leaf, in a real teapot ( www.queencharlottetea room.com ). Another casual eatery is the Tide &Vine Oyster House where fresh oysters and savoury chowders are paired with Niagara wines (www.tideandvine.com ). Former NHL great Marcel Dionne's Blue Line Diner is the perfect place for sports fans to enjoy breakfast or lunch, surrounded by sports memorabilia, with the possibility of an encounter with the legend himself (www.bluelinediner.com ). The Syndicate Restaurant and Brewery serves "simplifi ed gourmet" food along with craft beers in a relaxed casual atmosphere (www.syndicate restaurant.ca ), while The Olde Angel Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake provides comfort food in a cosy atmosphere, just a few blocks WHirLPooL aero Car • on toUriSM triUS WinerY • toUriSM PartnerSHiP of niaGara/nataSCHia WieLinK ONTARIO