The Fort Erie center point is around 4 miles west of Downtown Fort Erie and 5 miles west of Kavinoky Theater.
Fort Erie gets a lot of snow in the winter, and it dips into the low 30s on average. Summers are mild and warm, perfect for beach bathing. Come anytime of year, and spend some time playing hockey or skating at Fort Erie's Leisureplex Complex, where you also play broomball on one of two ice pads. Whether you're participating or spectating, you'll enjoy a visit to the pub and snack bar at the complex, each offering a view of the ice pads below.
All year round, you'll find something to do, because Fort Erie loves to throw a good party. Because there's so much happening in the city at any given time, it's a good idea to book your hotel early to guarantee availability and the best rates.
From Taste of Fort Erie to the Fall Festival and a Back-to-School Social, September is chock full of fun. Fort Erie bids farewell to the summer season with an end-of-summer parade in September, followed by Rail Days, a festival of model railways, vendors, and railway equipment exhibitions. Turn up at Party on the Patio at the Fort Erie Leisureplex, take a tour of Point Abino Lighthouse, or try to solve a murder mystery at Old Fort Erie.
Come October, get ready for Brew at the Zoo, the Crystal Beach 5K Run/Walk, All Hallows' Eve Tours, and a community Halloween parade and party. When November and December arrive, everyone gears up for the holidays with Santa's Fantasyland, the Christmas Bazaar, the Fort Erie Santa Claus Parade, and a community Christmas party. In the new year, take the Crystal Beach Polar Bear Dip and Chili Challenge if you dare.
AAA members will get excellent discounts at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre. The Clarion is also adjacent to the Fort Erie Convention Centre and boasts an on-site restaurant serving American cuisine, making this hotel as convenient as it is affordable.
From the indoor pool to the arcade room and childcare services (available for a surcharge), the Clarion is optimized for families and businesspeople. All guests receive complimentary wireless internet service during their stay and access to the 24-hour business center.
Check in to the Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown, and you'll have easy access to the best of Buffalo, just minutes from Fort Erie.
This hotel is elegant and pristine, from its indoor pool and spa tub to its fitness center and spacious, modern guest rooms. You'll discover unexpected touches in select rooms, from fireplaces to balconies. Enjoy cable programming, complimentary wireless internet access, and free local calls throughout your stay.
The hotel is connected to Waves Restaurant, specializing in Vietnamese cuisine, and is just one of five of the hotel's restaurants. Wake up each day to a complimentary hot and cold buffet breakfast.
The First Nations settled early on in Fort Erie, attracted by the flint deposits, a material that was ideal for carving arrowheads and other tools. The Neutral Nation were the first on the scene but were driven out by the Iroquois in the 1650s. Visit the Mewinzha Gallery and Interpretive Centre to see local First Nations artifacts.
After the French and Indian War, Britain assumed control of the area and soon thereafter established Fort Erie. Fort Erie figured into the American Revolution as a British supply depot, and many British veterans from Butler's Rangers returned and settled in the area after the war. The fort was attacked by the Americans twice during the War of 1812, was once occupied by the Americans, and was eventually sieged and destroyed in retaliation by the British.
Head over to Old Fort Erie to learn about Niagara's role in the War of 1812, the great struggle between the British, First Nations, and the United States. You can also attend antique firearm demonstrations and re-enactments.
The town of Fort Erie was attacked yet again in 1866 during the Fenian raids, when hundreds crossed the Niagara, occupied the town, and went on to fight the Canadian militia at the Battle of Ridgeway. To learn more about the raids, visit the Ridgeway Battlefield Site. You can also see exhibits on the First Nations, the War of 1812, the Fenian Raids, and more at the Fort Erie Historical Museum on weekends from September to May and daily from June to August.
After the wars, rail and ferry service brought Fort Erie to prominence as a resort town thanks to the city's beaches, a new amusement park at Crystal Beach, casinos, a race track, and hotels. During the Depression, the town rebuilt the original Fort Erie site as a work program intended to stimulate tourism.
Learn more about the historic locomotives, which drove the town's tourism economy in those early days, and see a historic CN 6218 locomotive at the Fort Erie Railway Museum, then head over to the Niagara Railway Museum. Don't forget to pop in to the LaFrance Firefighters Museum before you leave Fort Erie. The incomparable exhibition of historic firefighting vehicles and memorabilia is a great crowdpleaser for the whole family.
Come for the history, the beach, the fun in the snow, or for business. Your visit to Fort Erie will surprise and delight you at every turn.
Below are reviews of the city of Fort Erie, ON from an actual visitor's perspective.
The people are very friendly, The Barrel Restaurant was fabulous. The Old Fort Erie tour was really informative and interesting. Crystal Beach was beautiful.
A nice quiet place to stay with an amazing restaurant close by (the barrel).
Love it!