Location: Lockport
Top Things to do in Lockport
- 1. Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride
- 2. The Erie Canal Discovery Center
- 3. Niagara Landing Wine Cellars
- 4. Upside Down Railroad Bridge
- 5. Flight of Five Winery
- 6. Honeymoon Trail Winery
- 7. Arrowhead Spring Vineyards
- 8. Freedom Run Winery
- 9. Town of Lockport Nature Trail
- 10. Niagara County History Center
10 Things to Do in Lockport That You Shouldn't Miss
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. It is so named from a set of Erie Canal locks (Lock Numbers 34 and 35) within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Restaurants in Lockport
1. Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 330 reviews
Reviewed By SnowyShasta - Portland, Oregon
We stopped in Lockport to get a better sense of the Erie Canal and its history. While there, we heard about this cave and boat ride, so gave them a try as well. The Lockport Cave is a manmade tunnel, roughly paralleling the canal, that was used to divert water to power manufacturing and mill equipment. It is no longer used and instead is a tourist attraction. We first walked down past the original Lockport locks on the canal, with our guide giving us historical information. Then we entered the cave itself. We walked through most of it (it's very large and lighted, even my nervous about the dark child was fine with it), and at the end there is a boat ride. The boat ride was a bit of an anti-climax for my teens since the ride is slow and dark. You go about 10 minutes down into the cave and then return to your starting point. Overall we found the tour interesting, but somewhat expensive for what it was. It lasted a bit over an hour.
2. The Erie Canal Discovery Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By 38Y - Lockport, New York
The Discovery Center is a wonderful place to learn about the history of Lockport and the Erie Canal. But you must also see the live demo of the restored historic locks which are operated by volunteers in the manner of locks operators in the 1860s. Demonstrations run every Saturday Memorial Day through the end of September.
After you watch a demonstration, you can visit the Flight of Five winery or Lake Effect Ice Cream for more local flavor!
3. Niagara Landing Wine Cellars
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By Clubess1 - Lido Beach, New York
This is a diamond in the rough. It doesn't have the Napa Valley chateau-like tsting room that so many wineries think is necessary. Tastings take place in a building that looks pretty basic from the outside, but is beautiful on the inside. For us, even their driest wines were not dry enough, but if somewhat sweeter and fruitier is your thing, you will love it. The price is amazing: $3 for a flight of six. The gentleman pouring our wines was knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and suggested a good variety of wines based on our preferences. The rest of the staff was quite engaging also.Hands down, we all loved the "Hot Wine" which is a fairly sweet, red wine spiked with an essence of habanero peppers that give the perfect kick of heat in the finish. It is more of a sipping wine, so, sip away! Just a quick piece of trivia; we were told that this winery started out growing its grapes many years ago for Welch's, the grape jelly producer. Just sayin'
4. Upside Down Railroad Bridge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By Prawet J - Washington DC, District of Columbia
The Upside Down Railroad Bridge is located near the Erie Canal locks. It was built for trains to go over the Erie Canal. For layman not architecture, it is a nice interesting design. The tale tell information also adds to trivia knowledge for visitors. If you visit the Erie Canal Museum, it is right there with a few minute walk you will be under it.
5. Flight of Five Winery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By Larry W - Rochester, New York
I had never been at this winery when it was open, but had the good fortune of stumbling upon it (not literally!) this past weekend. It is a charming little place inside, with a wonderful sampling bar and very historic room. The ceiling is one of those old-style pressed-tin surfaces, and lots of historic artifacts surround the room.
The wines produced by this place are superb, and span the gamut from Chardonnays to Pinot Noir. I didn't sample much, but did find a nice fruity white that I decided to take away with me. The staff was very knowledgeable about their products, and was just nice in general. I highly recommend this place to anyone.
6. Honeymoon Trail Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By JJ D - Maine
Stopped by because I thought the logo was really cute. The ladies at the counter were very friendly and accommodating. The wine was tasty and very reasonably priced. I would certainly return if I am in the area again!
7. Arrowhead Spring Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Arrowhead Spring Vineyards is a "Wine Lover's Winery". Our winery focuses on traditionally made, dry wines that are barrel aged 1-2 years. We grow Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. We also offer Icewine, Riesling and Pinot Noir from area vineyards. The view is spectacular and we offer tastings in a relaxed environment. Bus and Limousine Groups Please Note: We require all bus and limousine groups to make a reservation by calling the winery a week in advance. We will not accept any group that is drinking on their bus or limousine. Please respect this policy - there are plenty of wineries that specialize in accommodating party groups -- we are just not one of them.
Reviewed By carpe_itineris - Carlsbad, California
Quaint tasting room with a slightly subdued atmosphere. This was by far the most cerebral experience of the day along the wine trail. Nice Syrah.
8. Freedom Run Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Pam Clarkson S
Several weeks ago, I attended a wedding at Freedom Run Winery. The bride and groom also rented the house that was on the property. The house was lovely, very clean and comfortable for the bride and her wedding party to spend the day preparing for the ceremony. The barn on the property, which is where the reception took place was also very nice.
Although most guests were not aware of the underlying concerns, there were many. For example, the caterer forgot tables to prepare the food on for the reception. When a family member asked that the event coordinator allow the caterer to use additional tables, the coordinator refused. In fact, she made a very unprofessional comment as the member walked away. Perhaps the most disturbing concern was that there was not a bathroom. The coordinator assured the bride and groom that bathrooms would be complete before the wedding, however, they were not. When discovering that there would not be a bathroom for use, the coordinator offered the toilets in the actual winery for an additional $300.00 charge. Guests would have had to walk quite a distance to use the facility. What? Is this even legal to have a venue without a bathroom?
The venue was lovely; beautiful pictures! I would not recommend this venue due to the rude and unprofessional staff, as well as, multiple hidden charges.
9. Town of Lockport Nature Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Lori T - Clarence, United States
On a beautiful Friday morning in May I walked with a companion on the Town of Lockport Nature Trail. Located on Slayton Settlement Road off Route 78 the inviting entryway, visible signage and parking area are a very short drive from the main road. It is a bit difficult for me to describe the wonderful surprise I experienced when walking on this trail for the very first time especially since I have driven past this gem for over 26+ years without realizing the absolute beauty behind the high-standing foliage. We wore boots in anticipation of the potential soft soil, water and mud we expected to encounter since the region’s rainfall was well above average over the previous weeks. This recently designated (2001) Town of Lockport’s first park’s terrain is well maintained as one would expect for this natural environment: flat and dry in some areas, muddy and soft soil in other areas, and naturally steep inclines/decline along the way with some obstacles, sticks and stones (large and small) as well as narrow pathways. Periodically, benches were available as we hiked so as to rest and take in the natural beauty of spring coming alive with varietal green and plant life everywhere including two of the largest oak trees I have ever seen in my life. The natural sounds of the flowing stream and waterfalls were especially exquisite and particularly unconfined and fluid due to uncommon amounts of rainfall we had experienced earlier in the week and previous weeks. This hike took about 30-45 minutes and it is totally doable for someone who is not an avid hiker especially if you take the time to enjoy all of the natural surroundings along the way. In summary, the Town of Lockport Nature Trail is a wonderful, natural resource that may go unnoticed by individuals who drive on Slayton Settlement Road – So stop, park and take a small portion of your day to bask in this accessible nature without taking too much time out of your day, you will be really happy that you did!
10. Niagara County History Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
A seven building, three site, campus of museums, historic houses and interactive centers preserving and promoting the history of Niagara County and the Erie Canal through exhibits, programming, collaboration and more.
Reviewed By marianc95 - Belmont, Massachusetts
We actually only visited the Erie Canal Discovery Center, which is but one part of the larger History Center. If you're interested in the Erie Canal and the circumstances surrounding its construction, you'll likely be content to explore this well-conceived and nicely implemented exhibit area.
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