About 20 miles from the natural wonder of Niagara Falls, this quaint town showcases the man-made wonder of the historic Erie Canal. One of the region’s gems, Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises, boards at the Canalside Café. Bring your camera. The relaxing two-hour voyage glides past wildlife and waterfalls, under bridges, and between walls of solid rock as the Captain tells you about local folklore, architecture and other sights along the way.
Another popular attraction, the Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride, takes an exciting 70-minute guided tour through history. You’ll explore historic locks, walk through a 1,600-foot tunnel blasted out of solid rock in the mid-1800s, and ride on an underground waterway past stalactites, flow stone and other geological marvels. To learn more about life in a canal town, from pioneer days to the industrial revolution, visit the Niagara County Historical Society museum.
Browse the galleries at the Market Street Art Center, where 24 artists’ studios are housed in a former factory on the banks of the canal. Downtown, you’ll find antique shops and the Kenan Center, featuring rotating exhibits and programs like the annual 100 American Craftsmen show and a family performance series.
Nature lovers discover beautiful wildflowers, rocks, fossils and a waterfall along the wooded trails of Gulf Wilderness Park, a wildlife preserve on the Niagara Escarpment. Head out to nearby Lake Erie or the Niagara River for great boating and fishing for trophy-size bass, salmon and lake trout.
Lockport’s wineries along the Niagara Wine Trail are open year-round for tours, tasting and special events. Other Lockport events throughout the year include free concerts on the canal every Friday in summer.