Niagara

What I did:
Niagara Falls-
The United States and Canada each have their side of Niagara Falls.  Coming from Toronto, I visited the Canadian side of the falls.  Those coming from the United States rode past the falls on the Maid of the Mist, while those coming from the Canadian side (like me) rode on the Hornblower.  The falls are very impressive, and worth checking out if you get the chance.

Niagara-on-the-Lake-
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a charming little town near Niagara Falls.  It doesn't take long to walk through the town because it is so small.  If I visit the falls again I would try to stay here.

Visited a Winery-
​There are many different vineyards in Ontario, and there are also schools that allow student to study subjects related to wine and wine making.  Canada offers a unique style of wine known as "Ice Wine."  It was too sweet for me, but I was glad to get the opportunity to try it.

Where I ate and drank:
​Sunset Grill-
Sunset Grill is a nice cafe in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  They also have other locations in Canada.  It is a nice place to get a quality, well priced bite to eat.

The Exchange Brewery-
The Exchange Brewery serves quality craft beer in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  They offer flights, pints, and take home options as well.

Grand View Restaurant-
The Grand View Restaurant is right next to the falls.  While it did have a nice view, the food was overpriced and not particularly high quality.  I went with some friends so we could get out of the rain that swept into the area.  In retrospect, it would have been worth it to walk up the hill to some of the other surrounding restaurants.

Where I stayed and how I got around:
​I went to Niagara on a group tour that left from my hostel (Planet Traveller) in Toronto.  In hindsight, it would probably have been worth it to just take a local bus as transportation.  However, the tour guide did provide some context and there were some other perks such as cutting to the front of the line when we arrived at the falls.  Also, it conveniently picked us up directly from our hostel.

My favorite thing:
The falls are very impressive, and I really enjoy the opportunity to see them up close.

My least favorite thing:
Besides the falls, I did not get to see much of the surrounding area.  If I went back I would like to explore more of the area around the falls.

For next time:
In addition to exploring the surrounding area, if I go to Niagara Falls again it would be fun to try the zip line they offer there.