Niagara Falls Driving Audio Tour Self Guided Journey from Toronto

You’re beginning to pass through the city of Hamilton, Ontario. When safe to do so, merge to the left hand or middle lane. Follow the sign that says ‘Niagara’. You’ll be curving to the left as you head towards the Hamilton Bay Bridge and a bird’s eye view of this city.

You’re now driving through St. Catharines, the largest city in the Niagara Region. St. Catharines is known as the Garden City because there are more than one thousand acres of parks and gardens located here.

On your right is the iconic CN Tower, perhaps the most noticeable feature of the Toronto skyline. The tower is 553 metres high and constructed of concrete. A LOT OF CONCRETE. Despite the challenges facing designers, the tower was built in under three years and opened in October of 1976, which coincidentally, is the last time the Maple Leafs had a season worth watching.

NOTE: The tour is over 52 miles long, with more than 100 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

You're passing the grounds of Exhibition Place on the drivers’ side of the vehicle. This is the location of the earliest European structure in this region. In 1750 French explorers built a small fort here named Fort Rouille. Today there is a monument on the spot of the old fort.

You're passing the grounds of Exhibition Place on the drivers’ side of the vehicle. This is the location of the earliest European structure in this region. In 1750 French explorers built a small fort here named Fort Rouille.

I'll let us know where to turn in a few minutes. As you continue down McLeod, let’s learn about another iconic Niagara Falls attraction, the Skylon Tower. The tower is 570 feet or about 160 metres high and provides a commanding view of Niagara. On clear days it is possible to also see Toronto and Buffalo, NY.

The park has been around since 1961 and has gone through a few incarnations using animals for amusement. It does appear that they are shifting the focus towards thrill rides. So, if anyone in the car is interested in spending a few hours in an amusement park, check it out. I have my heart set on the power plant tour.

If you want to visit the modern face of Niagara’s historic carnival atmosphere, get into the left lane to turn left onto Clifton Hill. I’ll direct you on a quick orientation loop back down to the parkway.

In a moment you’ll pass under the Rainbow bridge, the bridge that leads to Niagara Falls, USA. This structure was built after ice in the river destroyed its predecessor, the Honeymoon Bridge in 1938.

You are not far from what many folks say is the prettiest town in Ontario. What is even more interesting is that this flowery little town of less than 20,000 people, was the first capital of the province of Upper Canada - which was what all of Canada was called back in 1792.

The escarpment is to be greeted by a gentle plain that slopes towards Lake Ontario. Over the next 12 kilometres you will drop from 176 metres above sea level at the Brock Monument to the shoreline at 75 metres above sea level. The Lake, the plain and the escarpment create a perfect micro-climate for growing grapes and many other kinds of fruit.

In this park is the world's largest floral clock, which proves that Canadians in this part of Ontario will build nearly anything out of flowers and shrubs. The flower pattern that composes the clock’s face is re-designed and changed twice a year.