Serge Felicetti, Director of Business Development for the City of Niagara Falls says, "Casino Niagara, first introduced in the city in 1996 was the catalyst for growth resulting in a renaissance of 2 billion dollars worth of investment in new accommodations, attractions, golf courses, and restaurants." He's right. Smaller hotels and restaurants are quickly becoming a thing of the past and replaced by recognizable luxury hotels and inns like Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Embassy Suites and Sheraton. A second $ 1 billion Niagara Fallsview Casino Complex opened in June 2004 has spurred growth even more. The face of Niagara has literally transformed. Today, visiting Niagara, you'll be looking up more than ever. The once prominent Skylon and Minolta Towers are now nestled amongst a series of high rise hotels and more are yet to come.

What's New

The city seems to have a new life. Growth is everywhere. Felicetti says, "The future looks extremely bright when you see companies like the Great Wolfe Lodge and Ripley's starting to re-develop the downtown area of Niagara." This new $200 million dollar year- round family resort destination is scheduled to open in the spring of 2006 on a site north of the falls near Niagara's older downtown. A world-class Ripley's Aquarium of Canada will also open here in 2007.

A new Las Vegas type show geared around the entire family and featuring magician Greg Frewin, has come to Niagara.

If you like water try out one of the three new water parks that feature indoor water slides, pools, whirlpools, wave pools, and tipping buckets. It's always summer here and life's worth living.

If golf is your thing look no further. In addition to the twenty or so golf courses in Niagara, four new spectacular golf courses have opened since 2002. Two more are planned for next year.

Niagara's self-proclaimed Street of Fun and tourism's main drag, Clifton Hill, now has flashier neon and newer attractions.

Another thing worth experiencing is the Niagara Falls Aviary. You'll feel like you're in a rain-forest when you encounter free-flying birds such as the wax bill, wattled jacana and red whiskered bulbil. The setting includes 40-foot waterfalls, vertical gardens and a hand-carved house from the island of Java. To keep this tropical feeling, visit the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory north of the falls. Thousands of free-flying butterflies remain year-round crowd pleasers.

Summer in Niagara

Traditionalists will be pleased to learn great things never change. The shimmering natural cascade maintains a link to the past and still flows in all its glory. The 1720 hectare (4,250-acre) parkland between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario administered by the self- financed provincially owned, Niagara Parks Commission remains the jewel of Niagara. The re-birth of the Commission's gardens after a long Canadian winter are a sight for winter-weary eye. A blaze of yellow daffodils and multi-coloured tulips rear their heads in late April and early May confirming the warm lazy days of summer are ahead.

Strolling the pathways in Queen Victoria Park near the falls, under a canopy of mature shade trees with splashes of flowers across the landscape verifies Niagara is a place of extraordinary beauty. Take the same walk at night and see the falls brilliantly illuminated in the colours of the rainbows. Your dreams will be in Technicolor.

Once all the winter ice is out of the lower river Niagara's own love boats, the Maid of the Mists, begin their daily journey to the base of the falls, as they have since 1846. The anticipated opening for the season is the first week of May.

The drive along the Niagara Parkway, adjacent to the Niagara River, is still what Sir Winston Churchill referred to as the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world. The historic fascinating village of Niagara-on-the-Lake at the north end of the parkway offers soft adventure of the most mellow kind. Wine aficionados will discover vineyards that produce some of Canada's best wines. In a take-it-easy mode, then follow the Wine Route signs along winding roads and savour this deliciously peaceful experience as you pass vineyards and dozens of fruit orchards.

Another not to be missed treat is to travel back past the falls and through the quaint historic village of Chippawa to the town of Fort Erie which anchors the south Niagara Parkway.