Choose Your Own Lake Ontario Adventure
There’s a reason it’s called a “great lake,” after all. Here’s how to make the most of a day along the water, no matter what type of lake person you are.
If You Want to Reel in the Big One
The crisp, cold waters of Lake Ontario are popular with trophy-worthy salmon and trout, especially along the Niagara Bar, where the Niagara River meets the lake. Book a charter to navigate toward the best honey holes, or bring your own rig — with boat launches at Fort Niagara State Park, Golden Hill State Park and Wilson Tuscarora State Park.
If You’ve Got the Family in Tow
Pack a lunch and head to scenic Krull Park in the quaint-as-can-be shoreside hamlet known as Olcott, where you’ll find picnic pavilions, a splash pad and playgrounds aplenty. From there, take advantage of the 25-cent carousel rides at the historic Olcott Beach Carousel Park, which is just a short stroll away, or hit the boardwalk at the Lakeview Village Shoppes to browse the wares or grab a sweet treat.
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/lake_ontario-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=6a81c84c381fc29ea263f19ddc1b43cf 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/lake_ontario-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c4ee8de750272e410613c9a8549049f4 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/lake_ontario-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f947e7f0ff40fc13aa810d02dc4a2ecc 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/lake_ontario-1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=a64e3dc67814ec8aaa388b5a4a8131c1 990w)
If You Want Your Strip Steak with a Side of Lake Views
For a taste of the nautical life, head to the Wilson Boat House for dockside drinks, live music on the patio and dinner with a picture-perfect sunset view. Open since 1907, this recently remodeled space is the perfect place to spend a summer evening on the harbor.
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/boathouseimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=06ac2fd0aa3a682a7c9429e6cf306210 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/boathouseimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=4d3a56e14e6c88ccde98b1975a7feb7a 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/boathouseimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=aeeae842c8ad031f70488dcfa710278e 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/boathouseimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=95f62ee046aa860506c11a8523a7b45e 800w)
If You Want a History Lesson
Located where the mighty Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, Old Fort Niagara was built by the French in 1726 to protect its interests in the Great Lakes region. These days, it’s a way to step back into the 18th century with live re-enactments and demonstrations — and also the perfect place to soak up panoramic views of the Lake Ontario horizon.
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/oldfortimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=bfa0198c38e70ce426f105de0a1e50a7 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/oldfortimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=fec73552ec9312c4fdb57acc1bce5edb 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/oldfortimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=0935515b2f7819794749f385a9a403d3 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/oldfortimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=b39f5b55bbe9e05a6df802c8e300c864 800w)
If You’re Seeking Thrills
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours operates along the Niagara River, offering white-knuckle trips through the Niagara Gorge and into its Class-V rapids. You can either stay wet or dry — your choice — but you won’t be able to escape the thrills and chills of this high-speed adventure.
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/6359/5_nf_experiences.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=902c73359937c74cbd6c9468d4e6d36d 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/6359/5_nf_experiences.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2507fbb2daf160f8f3770bd806b87f2a 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/6359/5_nf_experiences.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=92749938fd10b4e066cad12348483f82 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/6359/5_nf_experiences.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=c67ceb737463e81eee83ef13e7503f5e 990w)
If You Want a Taste of the Region
Many of the wineries along the famed Niagara Wine Trail, USA, are in cork-throwing distance of the Lake Ontario shoreline. Chart your own course (or just use Uber or Lyft!) or hire a private car, or just settle into one winery for the afternoon.
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/winetrailimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=db79dd6ddad82c0d50c3bac8dcf1ce74 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/winetrailimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f6f64b2bc4d3579723c655528570bbb9 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/winetrailimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=dedc2d6ba9485a5f75a575c711a292fd 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/archive/7934/winetrailimage_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=efbc3e48a4d78991afadff88171b5f89 800w)
MORE STORIES YOU'LL LOVE
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Olcott.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=3a2ace0cf28ee7c279f8b08cd80b5170 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Olcott.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=48d1b4d9246b10350ba0eae8d3e92734 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Olcott.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=ac679b4e7f45330f1cd72194f5adc094 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Olcott.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=464c53de61a2b21867b8883e99c6c0d6 1024w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Hero_Olcott.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=a89362125260740fd87183da4211a96a 1185w)
If you’re a “lake person” — or just someone who’s after a bit of nostalgia…
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/41_On-the-Fly.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=a1582af1c4a54085e9f560969d13781e 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/41_On-the-Fly.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=f57be5e5c820a03a3ba370a8f01c62cf 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/41_On-the-Fly.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=e513fad75823a67c5bc26cb4d09ca3d8 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/41_On-the-Fly.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=37ff7e44ecfbc0bb29182eaa078b1b4a 1024w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/41_On-the-Fly.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=4776b777492bfbb5fb227d684ddbe611 1185w)
Where to head (and when to head there) to reel in a trophy catch while…
![](https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/HERO_niagra-shuttle-0153-of-0360-1_1500x790.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=98ce758c9d443ffa4223f65cae06f221 320w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/HERO_niagra-shuttle-0153-of-0360-1_1500x790.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=ebcc2d6965581b764b48c9cb39b5e069 540w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/HERO_niagra-shuttle-0153-of-0360-1_1500x790.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=288ab35e0b76af031a41c10f62f3875c 768w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/HERO_niagra-shuttle-0153-of-0360-1_1500x790.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=a5b27cd6e22249c0fa76811d8ee6f8c2 1024w, https://niagara.imgix.net/images/meta-images/HERO_niagra-shuttle-0153-of-0360-1_1500x790.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=beb336f064c6206e171731077063311e 1185w)
Extend your stay and explore Niagara County with our list of summer must-dos.