With three-day weekend vacations, festive parades and holiday retail sales, it might be difficult to imagine why the "L" in Labor Day doesn't instead stand for "leisure." While some students might lament not celebrating in their hometown with family or - for New York City folks - gallivanting in Labor Day parades, kicking back in Western New York or her neighbor to the north, Canada, might be quite a consolation prize.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, in Southern Ontario, is a trendy resort town on the banks of the scenic Niagara River. In addition to being one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Niagara Falls is home to thrilling attractions as well. Toronto, the New York City of Canada, has an eclectic mix of activities and sights for those looking for something more metropolitan.
A brief guide to Western New York and Southern Ontario's most popular attractions follows. Some are perfect for day trips, while others offer more than enough for an overnight. All are ideal for the expected warm and sunny weather expected this weekend.
Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park, referred to as "The Grand Canyon of the East" by Wyoming County's vacation Web site, has a host of activities for the nature lover. Only 50 miles from Buffalo, Letchworth State Park, named after William Pryor Letchworth who donated the land, has everything and more for those interested in spending the extended weekend outdoors. Horseback riding, hot-air balloons, whitewater rafting, biking and hiking trails, fishing, camping, picnicking and swimming are just a few of the activities that the park offers.
It is suggested that anyone planning to stop into the park visit the museum as well as make a stop into the visitors' center for information about the park.
Toronto
For those who would prefer to spend their Labor Day weekend surrounded by more buildings than trees, Toronto might be a welcome environment. Located about 105 miles from Buffalo, Toronto has all the attractions expected of a big city. Highlights include the Canadian National Tower (CN Tower), the tallest freestanding building in the world; Paramount Canada's Wonderland, Canada's leading amusement park; Casa Loma, a Medieval-style castle; Art Gallery of Ontario, the eighth-largest art museum in North America; and the Royal Ontario Museum, which has more than six million items on display.
Toronto also has a thriving theater district, with Broadway's "Hairspray" and "Mamma Mia" running indefinitely, as well as more than 20 professional theater companies.
The Vacations Made Easy Web sites lists prices for a Toronto package starting at $59 per night with the nights of a three-day weekend priced at $129.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
For those three-day weekenders who would prefer to get away from the big city but do not wish to go as far as a state park, Niagara-on-the-Lake offers best in high-end extravagance with small town charm. Located by the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, the quaint town's main stretch is full of unique boutiques and classy wine bars. The town is also home to the acclaimed Shaw Festival, which presents the greatest in American, British and Canadian theater.
Don't let the high prices of the town scare you, however. Its natural beauty is more than enough to make an afternoon drive or evening stroll worth the trip.
Niagara Falls
And then there's Niagara Falls, perhaps this region's most popular - with good reason - attraction. The debate, locally at least, is whether to visit the Canadian or American side. Both sides offer sightseeing of the falls with great views, as well as adventurous attractions.
The American side, which rests to the north of the grand Horseshoe Falls, allows visitors to get extremely close to the falls, which connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. For extreme close-ups, the Cave of the Winds, on the American side, gives visitors the most direct contact with the mighty Falls. Wooden walkways wind around and up the rushing rapids.
The famous Maid of the Mist, accessible from the Canadian side, is a ferryboat that takes passengers right into the heart of the larger Horseshoe Falls, the most picturesque of the two falls. Donning the traditional blue ponchos, those who ride the Mist feel - in more ways than one - the extreme force of Western New York's most prized natural possession.
