Wine Down by the Falls: Our Niagara Falls Wine & Group Travel Experience
There are some trips where you come home and immediately think, Yep, we need to do that again.
That was Wine Down by the Falls for me.
When I put this trip together, I wanted it to be more than just going to Niagara Falls, taking a few pictures and coming home. I wanted us to experience both sides of the Falls, enjoy some good food, learn a little history, have time to explore on our own and, of course, spend a day sipping wine in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
And that’s exactly what we did.
Getting to Niagara Falls
We flew into Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which made getting to Niagara Falls pretty easy. From there, we headed across the border to Canada and checked into the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa.
And yes—the views were definitely part of the experience.
One thing I’ve learned from traveling is that you don’t always have to hit the ground running as soon as you arrive. Sometimes you need to check in, get settled and ease into the trip.
So that’s what we did.
After getting settled at the hotel, we took an Uber over to the Outlet Collection at Niagara for a little shopping.
Nothing too complicated. Just some shopping, exploring and getting into vacation mode before our itinerary officially kicked off.
Experiencing Niagara Falls, New York
The next day, we headed over to the New York side of Niagara Falls.
We started with our Welcome Lunch at the Red Coach Inn, a historic restaurant just steps away from Niagara Falls State Park. It was a nice way for everyone to sit down, eat and officially start our Wine Down by the Falls experience together.
Then it was time to see what we really came for.
Niagara Falls.
Pictures and videos really don’t prepare you for how powerful the Falls are when you’re standing there in person.
Our city tour included trolley tickets and the Maid of the Mist, which gets you right down near the Falls.
If you’ve never done Maid of the Mist, just know—you are going to get close, you are probably going to get wet, and you’re going to understand very quickly why Niagara Falls attracts people from all over the world.
It’s one thing to stand at an overlook.
It’s completely different when you’re on that boat looking up at all that water coming down around you.
A Part of Niagara Falls History I Didn’t Want to Miss
One of my favorite parts of the trip actually had nothing to do with wine.
We visited the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center.
Whenever I travel, I enjoy learning about Black history. If there’s an opportunity to learn something about our history in a destination, I’m probably going to find it.
And Niagara Falls has a story that I don’t think enough people know about.
Because of its location along the U.S.-Canada border, the Niagara Falls area played an important role in the Underground Railroad. For freedom seekers escaping slavery, crossing the Niagara River into Canada could mean finally reaching freedom.
Standing there and learning about the people who made that journey gave me a completely different perspective on the destination.
We had spent part of the day admiring the Falls because of their beauty. Then we learned how that same river represented something completely different to people fighting for their freedom.
That stayed with me.
Travel can be fun, beautiful and relaxing, but I also love when it teaches me something. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy incorporating history and culture into the experiences we create at Harrison’s Travels.
After our visit, we grabbed dinner at a local restaurant called Something Serious and had the rest of the evening to ourselves.
Then We Experienced the Canadian Side
Of course, we couldn’t come all this way and only experience one side.
We also spent an afternoon touring Niagara Falls, Canada.
One of the things I enjoyed about this trip was being able to experience both sides because they each have their own feel.
Later that evening, we had free time to do whatever we wanted.
Some of us headed over to Clifton Hill, and if you’ve never been, there’s a LOT going on.
Restaurants. Attractions. Entertainment. Lights. Shops. People everywhere.
It has a completely different energy from the peaceful views around the Falls and the wineries we’d experience later.
And this is also why I intentionally leave some free time in my group itineraries.
I don’t want every minute of your vacation scheduled.
Sometimes you want to explore. Sometimes you want to shop. Sometimes you want to find a restaurant that caught your eye.
And sometimes you just want to go back to your room and relax.
You should be able to do that too.
Now Let’s Talk About the WINE
Of course, you can’t call a trip Wine Down by the Falls without the wine!
We headed out to Niagara-on-the-Lake for our wine-tasting experience with Cellar Door Wine Experience.
And this area was beautiful.
I think a lot of people hear Niagara and immediately think about the Falls, but there’s an entire wine region nearby that deserves some attention of its own.
We visited four wineries:
Palatine Hills Estate Winery
Riverview Cellars Estate Winery
Pillitteri Estates Winery
Bella Terra Vineyards
This was the kind of day I had pictured when I came up with Wine Down by the Falls.
Beautiful scenery. Good wine. Conversation. Laughing. Taking pictures. Learning a little about the wines. And just enjoying the day.
No rushing around trying to figure out where to go next.
No worrying about who is driving.
Just get on the transportation and enjoy yourself.
We finished the experience with dinner at The Old Winery Restaurant, which was the perfect ending to our wine day.
And by that point, I was already thinking…
Yeah, we’re doing this again.
What I Loved About Wine Down by the Falls
What I loved most was the variety.
This wasn’t one of those trips where you do the same type of activity every day.
We shopped.
We saw Niagara Falls from both the United States and Canada.
We rode Maid of the Mist.
We learned about Black history.
We explored Clifton Hill.
We visited wineries.
We ate good food.
And we had time to do absolutely nothing if that’s what we wanted.
That’s my kind of trip.
I love an itinerary, but I also believe you need room to actually enjoy the destination.
Especially for busy women.
Sometimes we spend so much time taking care of work, family, businesses and everybody else’s needs that even our vacations can start feeling like another schedule we have to manage.
I don’t want that for the trips I create.
I want you to know the details have already been handled.
Your job is to show up and enjoy the experience.
Is Niagara Falls Worth Visiting?
After experiencing it for myself, my answer is yes.
And I’d especially recommend it if you’re looking for something different from your typical beach getaway.
You can experience two countries on one trip, see one of the most famous natural attractions in the world, visit wineries, learn some incredible history, shop, eat well and still have plenty of time to relax.
I also think Niagara Falls works really well for a shorter getaway.
You don’t always need seven days.
Sometimes you just need a few days away from home, a change of scenery, a good glass of wine and somebody else handling the details.
Wine Down by the Falls Is Coming Back in 2027
So here’s the part I already know some of y’all are going to ask me about.
When are we doing it again?
Wine Down by the Falls will return in Fall 2027.
We’re still working on the details, so I don’t have the exact dates, hotel, pricing or final itinerary to share just yet.
But after this experience, I already know this trip deserves another round.
If Wine Down by the Falls sounds like your kind of getaway, join our 2027 Interest List.
You’ll be among the first to receive the details when we announce the dates and officially open the trip.
And if you missed us this time around, don’t worry.
We’re just getting started.
Good wine. New experiences. A little history. Plenty of laughs. And all you have to do is show up ready to enjoy yourself.
That’s the Harrison Way.
