Things To Do in Welland

Lions are typically considered kings of the jungle, but at Jungle Putt, that honor goes to elephants. A massive replica of the floppy-eared mammal oversees Jungle Putt’s two 18-hole courses, whose greens twist and undulate beneath the shadow of verdant trees. Celebrate holes-in-one with post-game sundaes and cones at the on-site Freddy's Ice Cream shop. Youngster's can also explore the other jungle at Jungle Putt: an outdoor jungle gym.

The six hard courts at Welland Indoor Tennis Club play host to friendly matches, leagues, and clinics conducted from October to April each year. Committed members and a welcoming staff of enthusiastic instructors run the inviting non-profit facility and readily help beginners, intermediate players, and professionals perfect strokes and secure facial tissue for post-Wimbledon nasal drip. Check out the schedule to plan ahead for court time.

It is estimated that 3,500 snow leopards currently make their home in the wild, where they use their claws and predatory stealth to scale central-Asian cliffsides in search of wild goats and rabbits. These secretive cats rarely let out so much as a purr, preferring solitude to contact with humans and even each other. Nevertheless, humans have helped their dwindling population grow in recent years through conservation efforts at zoos and habitats throughout the world.

Safari Niagara counts itself among the world’s safest havens for these downy cats. In working with the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the animal park provides a home for snow leopards and more than 500 other species of mammals, reptiles, and birds. The park’s conservationists lead educational presentations on threatened species and aim to shape children into the world’s future caretakers through up-close interactions with the park’s most social residents. Alpacas, river otters, grey wolves, and falcons are among the many animals that prowl the 110-acre facility, which also hosts an amphitheater where guests can watch musicians shimmy and shake in their natural habitat.

Within DanceFit 455’s air-conditioned, hardwood-floored facility, instructors guide dancers of all ages and experience levels through steps in jazz, tap, ballet, salsa, ballroom, and belly dancing for a fun way to get hearts pumping. Four types of Zumba classes are geared toward beginners, advanced, baby boomers, and kids respectively, and musical-theater and tap sessions prep clients for the stage.

The outdoor enthusiasts at Play Hard Niagara outfit visitors for romps on the water, beach, and street. Gear rentals ranging from sit-on-top kayaks to bikes equip explorers for adventures throughout the Port Colborne area, including trips along the old canal and Lake Erie shoreline. For a small fee, Play Hard's staff delivers equipment to nearby locations for full-day rentals. Back in Crystal Beach, the shop displays a multitude of recreational equipment, ranging from land-bound scooters to surf gear that stands ready to skim over a cresting wave or through layers of the upper atmosphere.

Bright orange orbs dominate the landscape at Mr. Pumpkin—one of Niagara’s oldest farms—along with a wealth of family-friendly attractions, which work together to signal the arrival of autumn. Outside, guests can wander through a 10-acre corn maze or stand still watching pumpkins get chucked up into the air. These flying fruits can reach speeds of up to 160 km/h and are shot up into the sky by air cannon or trebuchet-style Punkin Chunkin devices in an effort to knock down the sun. The farm also entertains younger visitors who can feed a carrot to Bella the pony or Darcy the donkey at the petting zoo or enjoy age-appropriate frights during a daytime haunt.