Niagara County: Water, Trails and Culture

Niagara County offers a range of different ways to explore, from water and navigation to lock technology, collections of historic machinery, and trails through forests, meadows and wetlands. If you’re looking for hotels in Niagara County, first decide which experiences you want to shape your stay. This will help you focus your search on the interests that matter for your trip.

Water Experiences and Boating

Fort Niagara State Park has a boat launch with access to the Lower Niagara River and Lake Ontario. Maid of the Mist offers a different kind of boating experience: the round trip travels into the rushing waters of the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. You can choose between a boat launch with access to two bodies of water and a named round-trip excursion to the falls as distinct highlights. Niagara Falls State Park adds a special historical perspective: it is America’s oldest state park.

Locks and Getting Around the Erie Canal

The Lockport Locks allow boat traffic to ascend the Niagara Escarpment. On the seasonal Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises, passengers experience the canal on a two-hour narrated cruise. The locks raise and lower them by 50 feet as they pass through Locks 34 and 35. Check the dates of the seasonal cruise when planning your visit.

The Erie Canal Discovery Center is an interactive multimedia museum about the early days of the Erie Canal in the 1820s, and it also houses Lockport’s visitor center. It is open year-round. The seasonal Lockport route of the free Discover Niagara Shuttle connects Niagara Falls and Lockport and serves a stop at the Center. The shuttle operates on a hop-on, hop-off basis at designated stops; check service dates before traveling. Connect Niagara offers another way to get around: for passengers who cannot reach a scheduled stop, the service may deviate up to three-quarters of a mile from its route. Refer to the current county transit schedule.

Museums, Carousels and Local History

The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is housed in the factory building of the Allan Herschell Co., which is listed on the National Register. The museum’s Music Hall is dedicated to its collection of band organs. In the Wurlitzer Music Roll Department, working historic equipment still demonstrates how paper music rolls are made. The collection includes more than 1,600 original, hand-punched master music rolls from around the turn of the 20th century. The Jeanette E. Jones Children’s Gallery also encourages participation: it offers interactive activities for families and houses a Kiddie Carrousel. Admission includes all exhibit areas, including the interactive rides Number One Special, also known as The Big Carrousel, and Kiddie Carrousel.

The Van Horn Mansion is a fully restored Victorian mansion. The tour runs from the basement to the attic and explores the history of Newfane; access is seasonal, from March through December. The Lewiston Museum features seasonal exhibits on the history of the Town and Village of Lewiston in New York State. Olcott Beach Carousel Park is also seasonal. Its attractions include a 1928 Herschell-Spillman carousel, a historic arcade and historic children’s rides.

Parks and Outdoor Activities

Wilson Tuscarora State Park combines a varied landscape with several ways to spend time outdoors. More than 395 acres encompass forest, open meadows and wetlands with plant and animal life. A four-mile nature trail is designated for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The park also offers fishing, a boat launch and an 18-hole disc golf course.

Artpark also combines nature and recreation: the grounds include numerous hiking trails, natural areas, fishing platforms and picnic areas. Teens can take part in art, theater and rock camps. The offerings range from outdoor trails and spaces to camps specifically geared toward young people.

Events and Local Products

The Newfane Apple Harvest Festival is a free annual event held in September and has been running for more than 40 years. The program includes food, music and performances. If the festival is a reason for your trip, check the current event dates.

Chateau Niagara Winery is located on a 31-acre property along Eighteen Mile Creek in Newfane, New York. The winery produces artisan wines on site, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and dessert wines.

Explore Places: Lockport, Niagara Falls, Youngstown, Olcott.

Explore More Destinations: Oneida, Kings, Sullivan, Yates County.

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