Niagara Falls is Exciting for the Entire Family – Niagara Falls, Canada and Niagara Falls, United States
What is It? - There are three great waterfalls in the world and all three of them straddle the borders of two countries. Africa’s Victoria Falls has dramatic locations to see in both Zambia and Zimbabwe and South America’s Iguazu Falls can be viewed from both Argentina and Brazil. The third one, Niagara Falls, is on the border between Canada and the United States. It can be visited much easier than the other two by driving about twenty miles from downtown Buffalo in New York or driving about fifty miles south of Toronto in Ontario. The Niagara River connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and at Niagara Falls it separates into three different falls which plunge approximately two hundred feet into a rocky gorge. The falls create a roar that can be heard for miles, torrents of water, and a beautiful mist. A popular honeymoon site for generations, Niagara Falls is a destination that both teenagers and children can enjoy too.
Things to Do Here - There are three different ways to see the falls and experience its power up close. First, some people enjoy looking down on the falls from above by visiting the observation towers which offer a panoramic view of the entire area. On the American side, the Niagara State Park is readily accessible and features a 240-foot-tall Observation Tower. After an elevator ride to the top of the tower, visitors can look out on all three falls and see an interesting mix of bird species including some bald eagles, falcons and gulls. On the Canadian side, the mammoth 775-foot-high Skylon Tower has been attracting thousands of visitors each year since 1965. A ride on a glass enclosed elevator rushes patrons up to several observation decks which offer views of the Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, the Niagara River and sometimes the distant cities of Buffalo and Toronto. The Skylon Tower also has a revolving dining room at the top with a fine dining menu, and a family buffet and entertainment center at the base with a 3D movie theater, arcade, and gift shop. The towers are also popular at night when the falls are sometimes lit up with colored spotlights or fireworks shows.
A second way to experience the falls is to visit one of the many observation spots around the falls where the sound, spray, and mist of the falls are upfront and personal. On the American side, visitors can get a close look by stopping at the Terrapin Point viewing area on Goat Island or by enjoying a boat ride to the base of the falls with raincoats and hats on the iconic Maid of the Mist vessel or a jet boat tour. Another way to visit the base of the falls on the American side is to take a ride down on the Cave of the Winds elevator.
By crossing over the Rainbow Bridge to the Canadian side, visitors can also access several g points of observation at the Table Rock Welcome Centre or by traveling to the base of the Horseshoe Falls on the Hornblower Cruise vessel or a jet boat tour. Perhaps the most dramatic way to experience the falls up close is to sign up for the Journey Behind the Falls excursion. This tour guides visitors down some stairs and through one hundred-year-old tunnels to rocky caves behind the falls. From there, tour guests visit a protected ledge next to the falls to see 3160 tons of water per second crash down.
For a real adventure, the falls has installed a zipline that runs across the Niagara River Gorge and a portion of the falls. After receiving instruction and their equipment, riders leave the launch deck for a 2200-foot ride at high speed and receive photos of their experience. In addition to this virtual flight over the falls, helicopter rides take passengers across and around the falls. Although some daredevils have attempted to experience the falls by riding over them in barrels or crossing them on high wires, such dangerous activities are now illegal.
Interesting Facts- Niagara Falls attracts over 12 million visitors each year. There are many different types of family and recreational activities offered in the area around the falls. There is the Niagara Sky Wheel, an amusement park and splash world attraction, an aquarium, a comedy center, two casinos, and other entertainment venues plus numerous restaurants and stores.
When to Go- Although the falls have a distinctive and beautiful look during cold or freezing weather, it is best to avoid visiting them during the wintertime to fully enjoy the experience. Many amenities such as the Discover Niagara Shuttle, some boat tours, and some viewing points are closed or restricted during the winter and the wet spray makes it seem even colder. The best times to see the falls are from early May to early October when daytime temperatures rise above 60 degrees. Even during the summer, when prices rise and the crowds are large, the mist makes the day seem cooler when temperatures are high.
How to Get Here- Buffalo is served by an international airport with direct flights to and from 23 cities in the United States. Southwest, Delta, and American Airlines have the most flights to the city. For people driving to the falls from the west in Pennsylvania or Ohio, or from the east in Albany or New England, there is easy access to Niagara Falls from several exists on Interstate 90. People arriving from New York City and points south may find that taking Interstate 86 and 390 to Interstate 90 is a better route.
Where to Stay – There are numerous hotels located close to the falls on both sides of the Niagara River. On the American side, there is the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino, the Hyatt Place Hotel, Doubletree by Hilton, Wyndham Grand, and the Comfort Inn The Pointe. Across the river on the Canadian side, there are two Marriott hotels overlooking the falls, the Fallsview Casino Resort, Hilton Niagara, and Four Points by Sheraton. Weekend bookings can fill up, but rooms are generally available on weekdays except during the middle of the summer.
Cost- There is no fee to enter the Niagara Falls State Park on the American side or the Table Rock Welcome Centre on the Canadian side or to view the falls from the observation points near those facilities. Parking fees range from $10 to $20 per car at most lots around the falls and Goat Island and there are charges for other activities such as the entering the observation towers, taking a boat ride, or joining the various tours.