Great museum with hidden gems! Nicely displayed of various…read moretypes of art collections. Worth the visit!

I love their programs at this museum. Artist talks are fun, relaxing and informative. It's an…read moreinteractive experience where you can learn and talk about art in a beautiful environment. Most exhibits have an opening reception where many times you can meet the artist and hear about their process. There are a few different galleries with changing exhibits. One is a very large space which is sometimes used for lectures and presentations. The museum is free. Easy access from the 190 but parking is limited. The volunteers and staff are helpful and knowledgeable. The exhibits are varied in styles. Right now there's one on tattoo artists and one on fairy tales and Greek mythology. I keep going back so I don't miss anything in this ever changing space.

Great free little art gallery, a lovely stop when the sun is beating down outside as well This room…read morewas by far my favorite, very calm and full of beautiful pieces. There is a small area upstairs to do some art work in your own or read further on the topics shown.

The Power Plant is a great space for art. It's also superbly situated at the heart of Harbourfront…read moreCentre - just by the lakeshore. The best thing about the Power Plant is that it's absolutely free (donations are welcome). It's well-ran and nicely curated. There's also a section for kids, with a scavenger hunt. My only complaint is that the art is rather sparse. I wish they could pack more art into the small space. I'm sure that there are lots of talented local artists who would love to be able to exhibit their art in this space. So, I think it behooves on the Power Plant to make it happen.

I loved my visit to the ROM. I didn't get to see all of it, but what I did see was impressive…read more Starting with the dinosaur skeletons and then on to the antiquities, it was really enjoyable. We had a 4 year old with us so we spent a lot of time on the 2nd floor with the bees and the bats and the animals, but I enjoyed it just as much. The play area they have set up for the kids is brilliant, it engages the kids while also getting them involved in 'art' and 'design'. We made a bee out of pipe cleaners and then played in the garden area. I plan on coming back to Toronto next year and I want to come back to see what I missed.

Toronto Review 7/Many: I went to the Royal Ontario Museum as the first of many museums/exhibitions…read morewe did in the city. Apparently, tickets are cheaper if you book them online, but they were reasonable enough, with the typical discounts for seniors or kids. We added both the special exhibits, and for those interested, I would recommend one (Psychedelics) but not the other (Bees.) The first floor included the first special exhibit, "Bees: A Story of Survival," which was a collaboration/moving exhibition by the National Museums Liverpool along with Wolfgang Buttress. The exhibit covered bees in many ways, including their habits, conservation, and other topics. This was all presented in a series of corridors with many touch screens, though one of them wasn't working right. The rooms overall were pretty dark, with the whole exhibit being pretty abstract, including hives large enough for us to walk through, among other things. In the background, there was a mix of classical music and the sound of bees, but I couldn't really hear the bees, which might be a good thing, honestly. Overall, it was a bit of a letdown as it was just a bit too abstract for my liking, which was a bit of a buzzkill. Soon after, we beelined (okay, I'll stop) to the other exhibit, which was on the 4th floor. The other, much better exhibit, was "Psychedelics: Art, Culture. Science." It was a bit hard to find, as it was through an extra door which probably needs a label, but once inside, it was excellent. It was quite large and included various methods cultures have used to consume said substances, some music and other things created by said cultures, and many paintings/albums inspired by psychedelics. The exhibit also included a video portraying a "trip," which was unique and quite loud. It also ended with a nice artwork by Brian Blomerth (or should I say blometh for this exhibit/I kid,) who also has a rather trippy homepage. Outside of the two special exhibits, we went through a variety of things before getting hungry. Another exhibit I enjoyed was "Shokkan: Material Encounters in Japanese Art," which included some touchable objects and some good details and facts that I wasn't personally aware of. There was also a room that went over the various fauna and flora of Crawford Lake, and otherwise we checked out some general things. The other exhibits included suits of armor/weapons, a good mixture of dinosaurs, a more general Asian gallery (which unfortunately had a lot of background noise as they were working on another room, so we left,) and a small exhibit on Judaica. A particular highlight of the rest was a section going over various periods of European history, ranging from Baroque to Renaissance to semi-modern styles, including examples of rooms, architecture, music, and other things. While not my favorite thing we did on the trip, this was an excellent museum overall. I can see why it's so popular, and I would go back to see other exhibits so I could see the rest of the museum.

The Martin House was a really cool visit during my day trip to Buffalo and the Niagara Region with…read morefamily. The building (interiors and architecture) was gorgeous and impressive, especially its history and restoration. There is a small quiet cafe between info center and the gift shop (the stables). We did the shorter guided tour. The tour is about the main home. It starts in the info center and ends in the stables (where the gift shop is). There is a longer tour that includes the other buildings on the property. During the tour, you aren't able to take photos of the interior spaces. You are able to explore the grounds and take photos without being in a tour. The tour was really informative. The volunteer guides knew what they were talking about. It was more information than what I have learnt in college.

What an absolute treat to visit the Martin House!…read more The Martin House, formally known as the Darwin D. Martin House, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest architectural works and a defining example of his Prairie School style. Located in Buffalo, it was designed for businessman Darwin D. Martin and his family, and built between 1903 and 1905. This is a massive residential estate, which Wright considered it one of his finest creations. Some of its most distinctive features include the following. The house emphasizes long horizontal lines, broad overhanging eaves and low-pitched roofs mirroring the Midwestern landscape. And rather than dividing the home into many enclosed rooms, Wright created interior spaces connected by wide openings and carefully arranged sightlines. This was a radical departure from the Victorian homes of the time and that are notable popular in the neighborhood surrounding the property. Quick note: You are required to have a tour to visit the home interiors, but you don't need a tour to enjoy the welcome center and the grounds, including the long walkway connecting buildings. The pergola is one of my favorite features. And it is such a joy that it has a replica of the Winged Nike (The Nike of Samothrace, located in Paris at the Louvre, which is a beautiful sight!). It is placed on a 3-foot-high concrete plinth, prominently visible from a 180-foot view starting at the front door of the main house. A dreamscape, really. I was enthralled. But it is not the original, unfortunately. A fiberglass resin replica was installed in 2007. The estate includes the main house, the Barton House (for Martin's sister and brother-in-law), a conservatory, a pergola, the carriage house and the gardener's cottage. These structures were connected both physically and visually, so the entire estate looks and feels very cohesive. A favorite -- the art glass windows. Apparently, there are something like 400 or so art glass windows. Wright referred to them as "light screens" because they filtered light while preserving views and privacy. Wright embraced the idea of "total design." He designed not only the buildings but also much of its furniture, lighting, decorative glass, fireplaces and other interior details. This means that pretty much every element worked together as a unified whole -- striking! In addition to the daily public tours, the events calendar is usually full. There are summer evening events, lectures, nights dedicated to kids, plant decorating events, musical performances and more. Although the property fell into severe disrepair during the mid-20th century, a decades-long restoration completed in 2019 reconstructed missing buildings and restored many original architectural details. Today, the Martin House is a National Historic Landmark and is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved and most important examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie architecture. I highly, highly recommend a visit -- plan for at least an hour, two if you can swing it.

Interesting haunted house that offers three scare levels. Those scare levels dictate how the…read moreactors will come off with their characters and tactics. Overall, it was a decent experience. The music was classic horror movie tracks that set the stage. The haunted house was a lil too dark, didn't offer enough props and had a confusing layout, but there was a lot of suspense and really good sound effects. My friend was freaked out the whole time so clearly the experience was effective on some level.

This is a scammmmm!!! The worst haunted house ever.. not even the slightest bit scary. 1 actor…read moreinside that didn't try to scare us at all. Zero effort Same your money and time. Don't get scammed

I had an amazing time touring the center. I arrived just in time to have a guided tour by Mr…read more Saladin, who also helped build the center into what it is today. He did a terrific job educating us on the history of the Underground Railroad. The center is nice, an intimate experience created by people who truly wanted to capture the importance of Black history, American history. Mr. Saladin dropped a lot of gems but I will always remember this one specifically, " if you don't have a seat at the table then you are on the menu."

Located directly next to the Amtrak train depot in Niagara Falls (which is historically…read moresignificant), this museum is clear, concise, with reproductions of first and second person accounts of the trip to freedom (Canada) near Niagara Falls. Before 1848, this was done with a trip on a rowboat or ferry; after 1848 a train suspension bridge was the preferred highway to freedom. The museum takes 30-60 minutes to explore, and it's beautifully done in multimedia. The gift shop is worth a look too: Volumes of history, and T-shirts. As I was driving away, I looked over Whirlpool Drive to the gorge, and saw the ruins of the old suspension bridge. It made the heart ache: So much human drama happened there, and now it's incognito.

For a solid year, I wanted to go to a first Friday at the AKG. I didn't want to be there one to…read moreattempt Buffalo driving (we circled around to parallel park at 430) and needed someone to echo my musings. Well, I finally made it! We went through check in, where you had to fork over a suggested donation (instead of the usual 22 dollars). They take card, though we gave cash, which seemed like an easier way to exercise the discount. They offered an extra paid section to opt into for an extra 8 dollar charge that we turned down, taking our tiny tags. They're dinky and reusable and gotta attach somewhere to your person. She had also given me a wristband for the strap of Duckles, which had to be checked by a second girl who warned me that I could not wear my knapsack on my back. Could make it a tummy sack or an elbow purse to avoid bumping things, which is how I ended up cradling a stuffed duck around the museum. We hadn't nabbed a map and thought we could wing it. There are qr codes scattered about for info beyond the placards and finding where you have landed. We lucked out and scored a paper map abandoned on one of the numerous benches (there's also chairs and pull out chairs hanging for your resting pleasure) that we attempted to read. My directionally challenged self asked one of the security to send us off to the bridge, given two choices of route. We dodged the scenic way for a temporary outdoor escape, passing more art. Popping back inside we absorbed even more subsets of time and genre, respecting drawn boundaries and only touching things that said we could. There were things that touched us, our souls, that we could take photos of. There were also bizarre things and a bit of nudity. It's all art, including the special presentations and live music and everyday artists sketching in the hall. There was an interactive exhibit in the main that we skipped in the name of rumbling tummies, though we didn't try the cafe. Also avoided the gift shop, cutting out as the crowd began to swell around 6. The place was impeccably clean despite the abundance of windows and smudge worthy doors. It was worth coming out, though I'm unsure how often the exhibits rotate. Come see an authentic famous few and many more that'll have you saying the Albright is pretty *alright*.

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is our local pride, and requires no advertising or persuasion to visit…read more Believe me, it's a fantastic destination. It's a beautiful space with a nice collection of fine arts. There is a new, three-story extension, a whole new building actually. So, be sure to have plenty of time to explore everything. Their website is very informative and easy to navigate. Check out the current special events and exhibitions. Currently, among others, on display is the "One with Eternity" by Yayoi Kusama, which includes her two Infinity Mirror Rooms and "Pumpkin", a giant orange pumpkin in an orange room covered with black dots. Tickets for this exhibition must be purchased separately and are valid for specific time slots. If there is a big crowd that day, wait a little and don't come from the beginning of your time slot (or figure this out by yourself). We had to leave and come back after a ridiculous experience. Waiting twenty minutes in line to see the actual installation for forty five seconds!? It was very confusing, and I believe there must be a different way to actually enjoy Kusama's work. We came back to see the second room with no wait, but still, with the forty five seconds rule. Ugh... Yes, let's loop if this is the only way which works. Don't forget, the general museum admission is free on the first Friday of the month, and I like that price.

Movieland Wax Museum is exactly what it sounds like; an old-school wax museum. Do not expect…read morehigh-tech displays. Expect rows of wax figures of movie characters, celebrities, and horror icons. I had not been in 3 years, and there are actually quite a few new figures since last time! They added Barbie, Billie Eilish, and a Michael Jackson "Thriller" version which was a highlight. Still a good mix of old Hollywood, superheroes, and horror too. Cheap admission, air conditioned, lots of photo ops, and you can get way closer to the figures than at bigger museums. But watch out for the alarms. Lol Some figures are still super dated and dusty. Lighting is dim. We spent about 40 minutes here. It is a fun, quick stop if you're into retro stuff or need something to do with family. Just go in with the right expectations and you will enjoy it, especially if you have not been in a few years to see the new faces.

We have been to a few wax museums on Clifton Hill but never went here. This was not the best…read moreexperience as sometimes we had to look at the names of the stars because they were sometimes unidentifiable. Still entertaining and something to do on a rainy. It was not busy but not empty either. We were having fun with others walking around. Most of us thought the same thing odd looking stars. But it was a fun time. If you buy a pass there were some attractions included so you might want to see what attractions are included. But I think this is a must see.

A great time. Oddities, oddball facts, and obscure information to satisfy all tastes and likes…read more The vortex tunnel at the end is an absolute blast. I did it multiple times, the closest a straight-edge person can get to going on a trip, lol. They also have these trippy little pieced together displays, that actually become clearer when you take a picture of it too. Fun for all ages, and a great stop while you're on your trip.

This was a very neat place to visit. There's a ton of information there, but do you believe it?!…read moreThe tallest man to shrunken heads to optical illusions ... It's all super fun to learn and interact with in the exhibits.

I went to my first Ripley's believe it or not in Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls, ON. I loved it and…read morewas enjoying learning about the interesting facts around the world and truly learning about the history of Niagara Falls, seeing the amount of people who tried to go over the falls and all their antics. Definitely a must go to if you're in the area. Right after we went to Kelsey's for dinner so really cool to be able to not have to walk too far for food!!

My first time in Canada was awesome! We visited the Hill near the falls and the attractions there…read more We went to Louis Tussaud's which my fiancee really enjoyed. My favorite part was trying to guess who the faces belonged to on the walls. I would bring friends here.