Niagara Falls spans the Canada/US border, about an hour and a half drive from Toronto, and as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country it is hard to deny that the town itself is ever-so slightly, well, tacky. However, if you focus on the falls rather than what surrounds them, be prepared to be impressed. Actually made up of three waterfalls, a colossal amount of water – on average one hundred and fifteen thousand cubic metres per minute – tumbles over as it passes from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario via the Niagara River, giving the combined falls the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world. Swirling eddies and powerful spray make it remarkably invigorating and there are various options for getting up close, and a little damp:- for example venture into the tunnels behind the falls or take a boat trip to the base.

Nearby Niagara on the Lake is the perfect antithesis to the falls; a pretty town with a quaint high street offering a range of artisan shops and art galleries, historic sites and views over Lake Ontario. The areas is also home to around 26 wineries and we highly recommend sampling some of the local produce whilst here.