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The Best Things To Do In Niagara Falls With Kids (Canada)

Niagara Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world and is often cited as ‘the Honeymoon Capital of the World‘.

While it's definitely a wonderful spot to celebrate a special occasion, the falls are an excellent family destination as well.

There are many things to do in Niagara Falls with kids, whether making a quick weekend trip or planning a longer stay, there is plenty to keep the little ones entertained!

Things to do in Niagara Falls with kids (Canadian side)

Niagara Falls in autumn colors from above

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This is a post by Kim of Being An Adult Is Hard. Kim was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.

When she's not writing about the trials and tribulations of adult responsibilities on her blog, she loves to discover cool places to write about and show them off whenever she can. 

Why you should plan a family trip to the Niagara Falls Canada

We have lots of long-distance family and friends who come to visit us. They usually fly into Toronto and our first stop when showing them around is Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls makes for the perfect Toronto road trip as it is only 90 minutes by car and has so much to offer.

Having visited countless times with many different children, we wanted to share the family-friendly attractions that are a hit with all of our visitors!

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Visit the Canadian Niagara Falls with kids: map

In the map below you can find all the Niagara Falls highlights mentioned in this post, as well as recommended accommodations and places to eat with kids.

Click here for the interactive map

The best family activities in Niagara Falls, ON

Best family hotels in Niagara Falls (Canadian side of the falls)

In the table below you can find the best family hotels on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, based on personal experience.

Further down in the post, you can find more information about these family-friendly Niagara Falls hotels.

HotelStarsRatingPriceBook
The Skyline Hotel☆☆☆6.7US$153 / 197 CADClick here
Great Wolf Lodge☆☆☆☆8.6US$378 / 486 CADClick here

Note: Prices for these hotels depend on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Therefore, the prices mentioned above are a rough indication of the price per night to help you compare the different options. Use ‘click here' to see the latest prices on Booking and book ahead to get the best deal.

Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour

Located near the base of the Clifton Hill tourist area on the Niagara Parkway, this experience of a lifetime takes you as close as possible to see, hear and feel the incredible power of the Falls from below!

Take the elevators to make your way down to the boarding dock at the bottom of the Niagara Gorge.

Then climb aboard a 700+ passenger, 2-level catamaran for an awe-inspiring 20-minute boat ride of the Canadian and American Falls from below.

Important note: be warned that you are very likely to get wet despite the protective rain ponchos provided.

Click here to book a tour including the Voyage to the Falls

Skylon Tower

The viewing platform of Skylon Tower offers a different perspective of the incredible views of the American and Horseshoe Falls, the Niagara River, and the surrounding area.

On a clear day, you can even see the CN Tower all the way in Toronto! Have a meal at the revolving restaurant or take the kids to the Family Fun Centre on the lower level of the tower for interactive games and rides.

Go after sundown to see the illuminated falls. And during the summer months, you can watch the nightly fireworks display.

The indoor observation deck is a must when the weather is too cold to spend much time on the outdoor observation decks.

Click here to buy a ticket for the Skylon Tower

Niagara SkyWheel

The Niagara Skywheel is another fun way to take in the incredible views of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area.

Located in the heart of Clifton Hill, this 175-foot Ferris wheel takes you around a minimum of 3 times (depending on the lineup) in climate-controlled gondolas, making it rideable year-round.

Children love to watch the dinosaurs and the erupting volcano at the Dinosaur mini golf course below. It’s especially magical at night when the falls are illuminated and if the timing is right to see the fireworks.

Click here to buy a ticket for the Niagara SkyWheel.

Dinosaur Adventure Golf

After riding the Skywheel and seeing the dinosaurs, the kids always insist on a game of mini-golf.

Dinosaur Adventure Golf offers 2 fun and challenging 18-hole courses (‘Raptor’ and ‘T-Rex’) and is a great way to keep the kids entertained in a unique setting!

Giant dinosaurs scattered around the courses, 3 ponds with moving rapids, and an ‘erupting’ volcano gave the feeling of a real-life Jurassic Park.

Insider travel advice: make sure you visit the Tim Horton’s outside the gate for a potty break prior to entering, as there are no washrooms inside the grounds.

Zipline to the Falls

If your family is adventurous and all over the age of 5, this unique experience is for you!

Located just south of the Hornblower Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour, up to 4 people can ride in tandem on this safe, organized, and professional zipline.

Feel the mist and take in the stunning views of the Falls at up to 70 miles per hour, landing at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.

Insider travel advice: book a ticket online to avoid the long lineups!

Niagara Falls by dusk

Niagara Glen Nature Area

Located off the Niagara Parkway, this is hands-down my favorite thing to do in Niagara Falls with the family!

Away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist attractions of Clifton Hill, the Niagara Glen Nature Area offers 4 km of hiking trails down the Niagara escarpment.

Stop at the information center to pick up your trail map and set off on your adventure. The well-marked trails begin at the staircase by the visitor center and end at the Niagara River’s edge.

One trail even leads you to an overlook of the famous whirlpool and offers a glimpse of the Whirlpool Aero Car, an antique cable car that’s suspended 200 feet above the Niagara River.

Whirlpool Aero Car

Take a picnic lunch with you, pack some water, and spend an hour or several hours just hiking the trails, watching the wildlife, and enjoying the scenery.

I highly recommend this free excursion to anyone who enjoys the beauty of nature.

Family-friendly places to eat in Niagara Falls

There are so many dining options in Niagara Falls that it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few favorite choices. I have chosen the two that are a big hit with the kids, as well as adults.

Flying Saucer Drive-In

In business for over 40 years, the Flying Saucer Drive-In is a family favorite and we eat there at least once every time we visit Niagara Falls.

Kids love the novelty of eating in the ‘authentic’ spaceship and parents love the classic friendly diner ambiance, the variety of menu options, the large portions, and the reasonable prices.

From appetizers and soups and salads to finger foods, seafood, specialty meals, sandwiches, and burgers, this licensed restaurant offers something for everyone.

It can get very busy, so breakfast might be a better option if you have timelines to meet.

Rainforest Cafe

With its jungle theme, animatronics, aquariums, and periodic thunderstorms, the Rainforest Cafe was designed for children and they love it! We found the ambiance engaging yet calming for overtired kids.

We find the food quality is consistently acceptable, albeit it's a little pricey, with a large selection of menu choices including appetizers, salads, and various entrees. Of course, there’s also a kids' menu.

Hamburger with fries

Where to stay in Niagara Falls, ON: family-friendly accommodation

When traveling with children, it’s helpful to find accommodations that provide additional entertainment for them without having to leave the hotel.

Fortunately, Niagara Falls offers two options with access to indoor water parks and other child-friendly amenities that I absolutely recommend.

The Skyline Hotel

The Skyline Hotel is conveniently located across from Casino Niagara, is a short walk to the action on Clifton Hill, and provides access to the 3-acre Fallsview Indoor Waterpark through an indoor Skywalk for an additional charge.

The hotel offers basic, comfortable family and bunk bed suites, free WiFi, paid on-site parking, and an on-site Perkins restaurant which is convenient but pricey.

Most rooms are laid out around a central courtyard where kids' activities are held daily. This is definitely a family hotel so don’t expect 5-star luxury or a quiet ambiance.

We prefer to stay in this hotel during the warmer months when we can walk around outside and enjoy the attractions and scenery without having to worry about the cold.

Click here to book the Skyline Hotel

Great Wolf Lodge

The Great Wolf Lodge is located on Victoria Ave, just off the Niagara Parkway, and offers a variety of clean, comfortable, and spacious suites to suit various family sizes.

We have stayed in both the bunk bed and loft suites and enjoyed having a microwave, small fridge, and coffee maker in our hotel room.

We loved the Northwoods cabin decor, the animatronics in the lobby, and the themed rooms.

This resort offers everything kids love in one place, with a 100,000 sq ft water park, a bowling alley, a mini-golf course, a rock climbing wall, an arcade, the Cub Club, a spa, and 5 in-house restaurants.

The Great Wolf Lodge is a great place for a getaway, especially on those long Canadian winter days when you want to escape the cold, feel some tropical warmth, and splash and play in the water.

Click here to book the Great Wolf Lodge

The easiest way to get around in Niagara Falls with children

Niagara Falls has a bus service, WEGO, to get you around to all the attractions. WEGO features three different bus lines that all meet at Table Rock next to the Horseshoe Falls.

This transportation system can get you to all of the main attractions listed above and save you the hassle of finding parking.

It's the best way to get around and is affordable too. You can purchase a 24 or 48-hour pass, and young children (5 and under) ride free. For more information on routes, prices, and schedules, check the site.

American Canadian Niagara Falls

How to save money on your Niagara Falls family trip

Let’s face it: Niagara Falls is a tourist trap and takes advantage of the flocks of tourists that visit every day. To save yourself a bit of money it’s wise to do a bit of advance planning.

There are a lot of different tourist attraction passes offered at a discount when purchased in advance for specific groups of attractions such as those listed below.

The Clifton Hill Fun Pass allows you to enjoy six attractions and includes one-time admission to:

  • Niagara SkyWheel
  • Wild West Coaster
  • Dinosaur Adventure Golf (Outdoors) or Wizards' Golf (Indoors)
  • Zombie Attack
  • Movieland Wax Museum
  • Ghost Blasters Dark Ride

Click here to buy the Clifton Hill Fun Pass.

The Adventure Pass Classic includes:

  • Hornblower Niagara Cruises
  • Journey Behind the Falls
  • Niagara's Fury
  • White Water Walk
  • Two-day WEGO pass

The Adventure Pass Plus includes (in addition to the fun things mentioned under the Classic Pass):

  • Whirlpool Aero Car
  • The Butterfly Conservatory
  • Floral Showhouse
  • Two-day Falls Incline Railway pass
  • Four Heritage Sites

The Wonder Pass is Niagara Parks' winter version of the Adventure Pass and includes:

  • Two consecutive day pass for both WEGO and the Falls Incline Railway
  • Journey Behind the Falls
  • Niagara's Fury
  • Butterfly Conservatory
  • Floral Showhouse

More information on these and other passes available can be found here.

Niagara Falls: things to do with a family

Planning a family visit to the Niagara Falls, Canada? Check out this local guide with the best things to do in Niagara Falls with kids! Includes insider tips where to stay, where to eat and how to save money when visiting Niagara Falls with your family. #NiagaraFalls #Canada #FamilyTravel

Here is an easy checklist for your family visit to Niagara Falls. You can download the list below.

Visiting Niagara Falls as a family: in conclusion

Our whole family loves visiting Niagara Falls and we return at least once a year if not once a season.

The kids growing up so fast, so we will have to start looking into activities and attractions geared to older kids (tweens, and teens) such as the Whirlpool Adventure Course.

However, most of the attractions described above are timeless and enjoyable for all age groups. We hope your family enjoys Niagara Falls, Ontario as much as we do!


Want to read more about Canada? Also check out these posts:

This post was updated in February 2023.