Your day is off to an adrenaline-fueled start: 45-60 minutes of zipping along the watery playground of lower Niagara Falls on a speedy jet boat. For thousands of years the falls' turbulent currents have carved out a massive gorge that you get to explore with a highly trained staff.

From the Niagara River, the guides will steer you along Class V rapids at 55 mph in either an open-air boat (bring a change of clothes for this splashy ride) or the covered Jet Dome vessel. You'll circle the famous Niagara Whirlpool, then venture through the Devil's Hole rapids. Soak up the scenery, but be sure to listen to your guides as they narrate the experience with bits of local history and folklore.

Next you'll get a completely different perspective of the mammoth waterfalls: a bird's-eye view from a helicopter. Drive yourself to Niagara Helicopter's location on Victoria Avenue, where you'll lift off in a chopper, coasting over the Sir Adam Beck Generating Plant (Canada's Hoover Dam) on your way to the Niagara River. On the 10-15 minute ride, the helicopter will swoop around the Whirlpool for a few moments of prime aerial photo opportunities, then hover above Queen Victoria Park, American Falls, and the soaring Skylon Tower. Get your camera out again for the final round, as the helicopter traces the deep curves of Canadian Horseshoe Falls where the mist creates momentary rainbows in seemingly every direction.

After all that adrenaline, it's time to relax. Take a short drive to Ravine Vineyards to wind down at a winery. The history-rich estate manages to stay in the present with organic wines and fresh farm-to-table fare. Sample the variety of wines produced by this 34-acre (14-hectare) vineyard at their tasting bar (a $35 gift card is included for use at the restaurant or wine shop), but leave time for exploring the early 20th-century farm and its heritage buildings, all in a scenic country setting ─ the perfect way to end the day.