You’re now driving through St. Catharines, the largest city in the Niagara Region. St. Catharines is known as the Garden City because there are more than one thousand acres of parks and gardens located here.

You’re beginning to pass through the city of Hamilton, Ontario. When safe to do so, merge to the left hand or middle lane. Follow the sign that says ‘Niagara’. You’ll be curving to the left as you head towards the Hamilton Bay Bridge and a bird’s eye view of this city.

If you want to visit the modern face of Niagara’s historic carnival atmosphere, get into the left lane to turn left onto Clifton Hill. I’ll direct you on a quick orientation loop back down to the parkway.

In a moment you’ll pass under the Rainbow bridge, the bridge that leads to Niagara Falls, USA. This structure was built after ice in the river destroyed its predecessor, the Honeymoon Bridge in 1938.

You are not far from what many folks say is the prettiest town in Ontario. What is even more interesting is that this flowery little town of less than 20,000 people, was the first capital of the province of Upper Canada - which was what all of Canada was called back in 1792.

The escarpment is to be greeted by a gentle plain that slopes towards Lake Ontario. Over the next 12 kilometres you will drop from 176 metres above sea level at the Brock Monument to the shoreline at 75 metres above sea level. The Lake, the plain and the escarpment create a perfect micro-climate for growing grapes and many other kinds of fruit.

In this park is the world's largest floral clock, which proves that Canadians in this part of Ontario will build nearly anything out of flowers and shrubs. The flower pattern that composes the clock’s face is re-designed and changed twice a year.