Voyage to the Falls in the 2022 Volvo XC60

A voyage is usually associated with longer travels, but when a trip truly inspires, the length or distance is inconsequential. Our weekend trip to Niagara Falls in the impressive 2022 Volvo XC60, hardly more than an hour’s drive, thrilled and seduced us with its jaw-dropping views, adrenalin-filled adventures, fascinating history and delectable meals.

Here were our best voyage-worthy moments:

Visiting the Landscape of Nations Monument at Queenston Heights Park: Atop the Niagara escarpment, high above the Niagara River, is one of the most important battle sites of the War of 1812. Indigenous groups played a significant, yet under-recognized role, in this seminal event, and this tribute pays homage to their contribution. Here, it was easy to find inspiration in the artistic and meaningful design of this commemoration as well as in the unparalleled views from the top of the cliffs.

Journeying behind the Falls: Travelling at 65 kms an hour, over 2,800 cubic metres of water gush over the brink every second. We sensed this awesome power at the iconic Niagara attraction, Journey Behind the Falls. 

Savouring divine desserts and views at the Skylon Tower: The made-in-house chocolate amaretto torte was worth every calorie and tasted even better with the revolving views of the mist-shrouded Horseshoe and Bridal Veils Falls, complete with rainbows.

Immersing ourselves in electrifying history at the Niagara Parks Power Station: The architectural features of the 1905 limestone building provided the ideal atmospheric backdrop for Currents, an interactive light show. Mesmerizing lights and projected images surrounded us, creatively depicting the wonder of the Falls themselves and the engineering feats that harnessed their tremendous power.

Pairing Niagara wines with locally-sourced menu items at Table Rock House Restaurant: A winning Niagara trifecta at this FeastON-certified restaurant included veal tenderloin, a glass of Cabernet Merlot from Pondview Estate and a view of the illuminated Falls below. 

Getting into the yuletide spirit at the OPG Winter Festival of Lights: Three million lights and 75 displays brilliantly lit up the night sky at Canada’s largest free outdoor festival. 

Blissing out at Christienne Fallsview Spa: Between the panoramic views of the Falls in the reception and treatment rooms and an expert masseuse who kneaded out knots I didn’t even know I had, I completely understood why this oasis was rated #1 of 985 spas in Ontario.

BLunching at the historic Old Stone Inn: Flour Mill Scratch Kitchen Restaurant, located in this most inviting of historic hotels, served up buttery, melt-in-your-mouth scones and croissants and huge pots of tea and French-pressed coffee.

Romancing the Falls’ views at the Watermark Restaurant: Situated on the 33rd floor of the Hilton Niagara Falls, this fine-dining establishment was as romantic as they come. Seated at a tucked-away table with what felt like our own private glass lookout perch, I couldn’t help but wonder how many wedding proposals happened at this very spot. Quite a few it turns out.

Hovering over the Falls on a Niagara Helicopter Tour: The breath-taking aerial view of the 12,000-year-old natural wonder was well worth the butterflies in my stomach when the chopper leaned towards the gorge.

Touring stories of freedom: The hairs on my arms stood straight up several times during this Niagara Bound Tours’ excursion led by Lezlie Harper-Wells, which explored the region’s Black history ties. Harper-Wells is a direct descendant of one of the freedom seekers who used the Underground Railroad to escape slavery in the mid-19th century. Personal family anecdotes and her extensive historical knowledge gave us an intimate and passionate view of this history, as we visited crossing points, a cemetery and important landmarks. 

“The stories I tell are about what we’ve done and rising up,” she said. “I want them to inspire.” And that’s exactly what they did. 

www.niagarafallstourism.com 

2022 Volvo XC60

An integral part of any voyage is the transportation itself, and I was fortunate to test drive the Volvo XC60 for our Niagara Falls weekend getaway.

This review would be considerably shorter if I were to write about what I didn’t like about driving the Volvo. In fact, it would be one sentence: The superior design, comfort and amenities invoked emotional discomfort and disorientation much akin to the feeling of culture shock, when I had to return the keys to the dealership and drive my own car again.

The design, not surprising given its Swedish origin, was tasteful with clean lines and numerous luxurious finishes and details. A favourite touch included the crystal gear shift knob that shone in the sleek middle console and the panoramic sunroof that opened with a swipe of a fingertip. The perforated Nappa leather seats with adjustable lumbar support sat high above the road, feeling as though I was in a comfy recliner rather than in a vehicle. This sentiment was amplified by the massage feature, which provided setting options for types of massage, intensity and speed. After discovering this revelation, I wished my destination was farther away.

Not only was the interior relaxing, but so was the driving itself because of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), consisting of an array of radars, cameras and sensors, which automated much of the driving, especially on the highways.  The technology was intuitive to use and once set, the vehicle braked, accelerated and followed the roads’ curves on its own accord.

Other automated functions, in addition to the adaptive cruise control and lane assist, were the blind spot monitoring, collision avoidance (deployment of the braking system if the driver didn’t respond fast enough to a slowed or stopped vehicle ahead) and self-leveling headlights, which kept the headlights aimed down at the road at all times. All of this combined made the XC60 one of the safest vehicles on the road. And with so much technological assistance, all that was left to do was enjoy the ride and listen to some classic road trip songs on the Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system.

Navigation was also a breeze, as the map appeared right on the dashboard. This, along with the Heads-Up Display (HUD) -- a transparent image showing my speed, speed limit, warnings and street sign information -- meant I never had to take my eyes off the road. Road handling was also impressive and it drove like a much smaller vehicle. The electric super charger eliminated any turbo lag so there was immediate acceleration at any engine speed.

A final delight was when I filled up the tank at the end of the trip. With a less than 9 litre/100km highway fuel efficacy, I couldn’t believe how much petrol was still in the tank after driving all weekend. The pleasant surprise almost, but not quite, made up for the sting of returning the keys.

www.volvocars.com