Trip Ideas 10 Ways to Find Holiday Hometown Vibes and Family Fun in Niagara

Sometimes the secret to creating lasting memories with your kids is as simple as changing your scenery and stepping out of your routine. A quick holiday season getaway is a great way to press pause on the hustle and bustle and focus on being present instead of buying presents!

Here are 10 simple, affordable, family-friendly activities to enjoy together on a day trip or overnight escape to Niagara. 

1. Have Breakfast With Santa

Skip seeing Santa with hordes of other kids at the mall and enjoy breakfast with the Man in Red at a cozy Niagara inn! Inn on the Twenty’s (opens in a new tab) two Breakfast With Santa (opens in a new tab) seatings include a photo to capture the special moment.

2. Get Crafty Together At A Holiday Workshop

Spend a few hours making holiday memories with a hands-on activity designed for parents and kids to enjoy together at The Watering Can (opens in a new tab) and take home a Grinch Tree (opens in a new tab) or a magical winter wonderland scape (opens in a new tab). St. Catharines’ 4Cats Art Studio (opens in a new tab) also has an excellent assortment of hands-on holiday workshops (opens in a new tab).

3. Decorate Cookies Together

Decorating holiday cookies together is more fun for everyone when someone else cleans up the mess! Jordan House (opens in a new tab) is hosting two Gingerbread Cookie Decorating workshops (opens in a new tab), complete with all the sweets and treats for decorating and a tasty lunch!

4. Trim the Tree with Unique Ornaments from Local Shops

Let your kids pick out a tree ornament each year that means something to them to build a personal collection they can put on their own tree when they get their first home. Niagara shops like The Watering Can (opens in a new tab), 13th Street Winery (opens in a new tab), and Avant Garde Emporium (opens in a new tab) offer wonderful selections of unique ornaments that are miles above what larger chain stores often carry.

5. Go on a Caffeine-Fueled Hunt for Holiday Vinyl In One of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods

Convince your teens you know “what’s in” by taking them to St. Catharines, where downtown was recently ranked among the 10 coolest neighbourhoods on the planet! (opens in a new tab) Stop by a favourite coffee shop or two, like Chocolates Etc (opens in a new tab)., Kalsada Coffee Bar (opens in a new tab), Brindle (opens in a new tab), Mahtay Café (opens in a new tab), or Wandering Spirits (opens in a new tab), for coffee or hot chocolate, then browse the collections at Mindbomb Records (opens in a new tab), Niagara Records (opens in a new tab), and Roly Poly Records & Vintage (opens in a new tab).

6. Catch A Christmasy Retro Reel

Kids get a kick out of seeing what entertained their parents when they were young, and The Film House (opens in a new tab) in St. Catharines is serving up retro holiday gems on the big screen, including Muppet Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, and Die Hard.

7. Head Out On A Holiday Hike

Niagara’s typically mild winter weather makes it an ideal destination for a family hike. Hit the trails at Short Hills Provincial Park (opens in a new tab) or Rockway Conservation Area (opens in a new tab) to spot Niagara Escarpment waterfalls and local wildlife, and then warm up with hot chocolate and freshly baked treats at Campden General Store (opens in a new tab). Families who prefer a more urban stroll can wait until sunset and take in the stunning light displays in Port Dalhousie offered as part of the annual Let It Glow: A Celebration of Light (opens in a new tab).

8. Sing Your Hearts Out at a Holly Jolly Holiday Concert

Families who adore festive music can join in on the jam at several concerts celebrating the season, like Lincoln Museum’s Winter Concert in the School House (opens in a new tab), Chorus Niagara’s Family Sing In The Season Concert (opens in a new tab), and FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre’s Sing-a-long Sound of Music (opens in a new tab). Those who prefer listening over singing along will love Niagara Jazz Festival’s The Music of a Charlie Brown Christmas (opens in a new tab).

9. Find Some Very Vintage Holiday Gifts Together

Introduce kids who are trying to save their pennies to the fun of shopping for vintage items at some of Niagara’s most popular spots for thrifting. Prudhomme’s Antique Market (opens in a new tab) boasts a massive collection of curated antiques, timeless pieces, and handmade finds. Downtown St. Catharines (opens in a new tab) also has several vintage shops, including Pink Bubblegum Vintage (opens in a new tab), VS Resell (opens in a new tab), and Out of the Past (opens in a new tab).

10. Discover Some Favourite New Holiday Treats

Enlist the kids as official holiday helpers and build a signature cookie tray, showcasing sweets collected on a cross-country tour of Niagara’s best bake shops, that you can stash in the freezer for holiday entertaining. Can’t-miss sweet stops include: RPM Bakehouse (opens in a new tab), Plant No.1 (opens in a new tab), Tay’s Treats (opens in a new tab), Grand Oak Culinary Market (opens in a new tab), Beamsville Bakery (opens in a new tab), Blossom Bakery (opens in a new tab),  13th Street Bakery (opens in a new tab), Black Bear Bakery (opens in a new tab), St. Joseph Bakery (opens in a new tab), St. Catharines Farmer’s Market (opens in a new tab), Niagara Food Company (opens in a new tab), and Sugar + Butter Baking Co. (opens in a new tab) Don’t forget some treats for your four-legged friends too! St. Catharines’ Little Chief & Co. (opens in a new tab) has an excellent assortment of goodies for dogs and cats.

These activities make for a delightful day trip, but adding an overnight stay (opens in a new tab) creates a family getaway with time for multiple experiences. St. Catharines has an extensive collection of family-friendly hotels, including Best Western St. Catharines Hotel and Conference Centre (opens in a new tab), Hampton Inn St. Catharines (opens in a new tab), Staybridge Suites St. Catharines (opens in a new tab), and Holiday Inn & Suites St. Catharines Parkway Convention Centre (opens in a new tab), all of which are excellent options for your holiday getaway home base!