Heading to the Niagara area this fall, and wondering what do to?

We caught up with Anthony Annunziata, Vice President of Marketing for the Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa and the Marriott Gateway on the Falls, and asked him about the Wine Festival, best reasons to visit Niagara in the fall, family activities, and more. Here's what he had to say...

WE:  What are the best reasons to visit Niagara in the fall?

AA: The harvest, weather and festivals, as well as year round Niagara Falls attractions are all great reasons to visit Niagara in the fall. Niagara happens to be the home of Ontario’s grape wine harvest celebration. The 60th Niagara Wine Festival (niagarawinefestival.com/page/winefest_home), based at historic Montebello Park in downtown St. Catharines, features more than 100 events between Sept. 16th and 25th, including winery tours, tastings, concerts, Niagara cuisine, wine seminars, live entertainment and one of the largest street parades in the country. Niagara Falls, one of Canada’s leading tourism destinations, is only a short drive from the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake and is the base for many winery tour packages offered through local hotels. It also offers restaurants, shows, concerts, clubs, attractions and casinos, not to mention the Niagara Falls themselves, to add some diversity to your trip.

Winery tour packages not only take you to several different wineries to sample some of the wide variety offered in Niagara, but they also save you the worry of having to drive. Bicycle tours are a unique way to travel Niagara’s idyllic rural roads between wineries. Winery visits also enable you to learn how to properly store your wines, when and if they should be aged and what foods they will match best with.

WE:  How can travelers learn more about wineries, wine tours, and the Wine Festival?

AA: Travelers can learn more by visiting Niagara tourism websites, such as:

niagarafallsgateway.com/packages/wine-tour

magnificentniagarafallstours.com/niagara_wine_tour/

niagarawinefestival.com/page/winefest_home

WE:  What are some family activities available in the Niagara area?

AA: Niagara has a number of attractions that suit the entire family, including the Butterfly Conservatory, Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Niagara Wine Festival Pied Piper Parade, IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls, and much more.

More information on family attractions and getaway packages can be found at:

niagarafallstourism.com/thingstodo.html

niagaraparks.com/attractions/

niagarawinefestival.com/news/33/pied_piper_parade_presented_by_firstontario_credit_union

WE:  What should travelers look for in accommodations in Niagara?

AA: Travelers should try to book an accommodation that has proximity to attractions both in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. New accommodations that have a good track record for cleanliness, dining and getaway packages is also something to keep in mind. If you’re staying in Niagara Falls, take advantage of waking up to one of the seven natural wonders in the world by choosing a room with a stunning view of the majestic Niagara Falls.

WE:  Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

AA: Don’t forget that while harvest is an extraordinary time to visit Niagara’s wineries, they are also available all year. Don’t hesitate to visit during the Icewine Festival in late January and during the height of summer to enjoy all of the outdoor sights and sounds that the Niagara Region has to offer.

WE:   Thanks so much, Anthony. We're inspired to come visit!