You don't say when you are going on vacation, but if you have time you can request a really nice paper map of the area from:

Tourism Niagara's website tourismniagara.com or the toll free information line at 1-800-263-2988.

I have one in my collection of potential ride maps and dream of riding the length of the Niagara River from Fort Erie down to Niagara-on-the-Lake, taking in the beauty and the history. This is the 200th aniversary of the War of 1812 (not being played up much in the States, but a big deal in Canada). There is a lot of history in the Niagara region from that war - http://www.tourismniagara.com/discov...a-history.html

Lots of geology to view at Niagara. I enjoyed hiking at Niagara Glen down to the river some years back. The gorge, whirlpool, and the falls themselves never fail to captivate my imagination.

An interesting tour can be had at the Adam Beck Hydro plant: http://www.niagaraparks.com/attracti...adam-beck.html I can't imagine any US hydroelectric plant having tours, post 9/11.

A stop at the Welland Canal observation area is worthwhile: http://www.infoniagara.com/attractio...g_complex.aspx Kids love to see the ships being raised and lowered through the locks and canal.

Enjoy the wine! We always do.

We stay away from the casino scene, but good luck if you partake. Having visited the area many times, starting in the 1960's as a little kid (when I think about it, I've probably spent a year of my life there, one week at a time), my take is that the casinos have changed the area substantially, and not necessarily for the better. It's less family-oriented now and the natural wonder has definitely taken a back-seat to the gambling. Sad, really. The pawn shop industry has really taken off, though.