This book takes readers beyond the lights and the sounds of the City of the Falls to venture to lesser-known but equally fascinating sites that abound across the region.

The first-known European to gaze upon Niagara Falls was a Jesuit priest and explorer named Louis Hennepin in 1688. He took his somewhat exaggerated description of its size and power back to amazed Europeans. From then on, the Falls became a must-see destination for people from around the world and one of Canada's leading tourist attractions.

But there is more to the Niagara region than a mighty cataract. There are the world-class hotels and casinos, the Shaw Festival, the wineries, the hydroelectric generators, the natural wonders, the historic sites, and the Welland Canal -- an engineering marvel and vital transportation link.

This book is the story of the falls and beyond, covering:

• The geological evolution of the Falls
• Pioneering development of Ontario's hydroelectric power
• Niagara's wine region
• Niagara's Indigenous legacy
• The War of 1812
• Niagara's Black history and heritage
• Modern hotels and historic hostelries
• The Niagara Parkway
• Bridges across the Niagara River
• The gardens of Niagara
• Hiking trails and conservation areas
• Casinos, hotels and midway rides
• The Shaw Festival
• Historic downtown streetscapes
• Niagara's historic mansions
• Lost villages and ghost towns
• Niagara's railway legacy, and more!

Ron Brown is a freelance travel writer and photographer. He has published twenty books on the visual heritage of Ontario, including The Lake Erie Shore: Ontario's Forgotten South Coast; Behind Bars: Inside Ontario's Heritage Gaols; The Train Doesn't Stop Here Any More: An Illustrated History of Railway Stations in Canada; Ontario's Ghost Town Heritage; and Top 100 Unusual Things to See in Ontario. He is past chair of the Writers Union of Canada, and is active with the Travel Media Association of Canada, Access Copyright, where he sits on the board of directors, and the Book and Periodical Council. He lectures and directs bus tours based on his book topics. He lives in Toronto.

Ron Brown's profile page