Niagara Falls Early Departure Tour from Toronto with Skip-the-Line Cruise and Ponchos

This morning departure from Toronto goes straight to the water. The vehicle is climate-controlled, with reclining seats, storage for bags and a professional guide who shares local facts, points out lesser-known spots and passes on practical tips. The first stop is the Niagara Falls cruise. Arriving early means skipping the large crowds and queues and stepping right onto the boat. From the water the view of the falls is at its most powerful, with the river plunging over the edge, and keepsake rain ponchos are handed out on site. After the cruise there are about 2 hours to explore Clifton Hill, Journey Behind the Falls, the Skylon Tower, the SkyWheel or the zipline, which cost extra. In the middle of the afternoon the coach follows the Niagara Parkway, passing the Floral Clock, the power generating station, Queenston Heights, the Laura Secord homestead and Fort George, and stops at the whirlpool rapids. A final stop at Maple Leaf Place has a maple syrup tasting. In summer the tour adds time in historic Niagara-on-the-Lake. Boarding is at 55 York Street in front of Tim Hortons.