Niagara Falls welcomes back visitors
Long-shuttered tourist attractions open again
NIAGARA FALLS, ONT. — Visitors returned to long-shuttered tourist attractions and restaurant dining rooms in Ontario’s Niagara Region on Friday as the province rolled back pandemic restrictions for many indoor venues.
Step 3 of the province’s reopening plan allows restaurants, museums, casinos, cinemas and other venues to reopen for indoor service.
In Niagara Falls — a border city that relies heavily on tourism — attractions like the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, the Butterfly Conservatory and the Laura Secord Homestead were among those that reopened their doors. The Clifton Hill neighbourhood, which is popular with visitors, saw families with children, couples and others lining up at attractions and heading in and out of restaurants.
Sarah A. Samuel said she and her family decided to make a weekend trip to Niagara Falls after hearing about the province’s plan to ease restrictions on Friday. “I think we wanted to make more memories this year as a family after COVID was done because you were not able to see each other for a long time,” said Samuel, who lives in Durham Region.
“So, this weekend we’re being cautious but trying to make new memories together.”
Samuel said she and her family used to come to Niagara Falls for a summer trip every year but had to cancel that tradition last year due to the pandemic. She said she was particularly looking forward to dining in the area’s restaurants. “The portions in comparison to Durham where I live and Toronto are a little bit larger. I don’t know why, but for me, it’s like a perfect guilty pleasure,” she said.
Jon Knezevici was among those who decided to take advantage of indoor restaurant dining that resumed Friday. He said he’d been eager to take his girlfriend out for a nice meal, with a bottle of wine and a booth to themselves.
“I really enjoy coming out to restaurants and trying new foods, but I love doing that with my girlfriend,” he said after the couple finished a late lunch at Antica Pizzeria & Ristorante.
“We haven’t been able to do too much of that since last March but now that we can actually sit inside and not have to worry about what the weather will be like when we’re out to dinner two hours from now is a bonus.”
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said he was excited about the reopening, particularly since the city’s economy relies on domestic and international tourists. “For Niagara Falls, this is going to be huge. Forty thousand people count on tourism in the Niagara Region to pay their bills,” he said.
Two large casinos in Niagara Falls were not among the attractions reopening on Friday. Both the Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara are expected to reopen July 23.