Things to do / Travel Guide
Niagara Falls
The Canadian Horseshoe Falls are approximately 2,600 feet wide and 167 feet tall; the American Falls are 1,100 feet wide and the Bridal Veil Falls are 40 feet wide, and both are 176 feet tall. Niagara Falls are neither the tallest in the world, nor the mightiest. It's the combination of height and might, as well as their position and relation one to the other, that make the awesome Falls perhaps the best-known in the world.
The Falls has been a first-class tourist attraction for more than 200 years - and it shows. The whole experience is made up of lots of mini-experiences, and your mission as a tourist is to fit in as many of these mini-experiences as you like and are able, for the ultimate Niagara Falls extravaganza. Seek out (and soak up) every angle from which to view the beasts in action - from above, from below, from either side, from close up, far away, behind. Each vantage points may be better than the one before it.
All these attractions can fit together nicely like a puzzle - first you do this, then you go here, up this tower down this elevator and onto the boat - but you need to know how it all fits together. How does it make a whole trip, what's the best way to do it all?
Before you, then, is your Niagara Falls itinerary, the ultimate cookbook of one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world. The best judge of what you do on your trip is you; before you is all the info you'll need to make this trip the best possible:
Because the United States side and the Canadian side of the Falls are essentially separate, you can decide which one you want to do first. It is mostly accepted that the Canadian side has better views. However, don't think that the U.S. side is not worth the trouble. Far from it! When comparing the actual falls, bear in mind that the U.S. Falls can be seen head-on and the mist is not nearly as overwhelming as the Canadian Falls.
One last thing: Don't feel that you must explore the Falls with your car. There's transportation all over the place, and every pathway, and every type of transportation (railroad, elevator) has been crafted and situated to give you the best views and experience possible. So park your car, make your way toward the Falls, and begin exploring!
The following exploration starts on the U.S. side, from Rainbow Bridge.
- Walk through Niagara Falls, New York for a bit, and take the pedestrian bridge or the trolley to Goat Island. The forested paths on Goat Island include views of the Niagara River immediately before the plunge over the falls.
- Most islands are surrounded on all sides by water. One side of Goat Island, however, is facing air, with the water 176 feet below. This edge of the island is adjacent to the brink of the falls. Facing the gorge, the walkway on Goat Island goes right up to the brink of the American and Bridal Veil Falls. A short walk to the opposite side of the island leads to Terrapin Point, which stands at the brink of the Canadian Falls.
- Descend from Goat Island, walking on wooden scaffolding above the torrents, to the Cave of the Winds all the way down at the bottom of the American and Bridal Veil Falls. Get up to just a few feet away from these monsters! With the spray blinding and deafening you, there is no other experience quite like this in Niagara Falls.
- Returning to the U.S. mainland, you can take the glass-walled elevator up the 282-foot-tall New York State Observation Tower. The Tower's elevator will take you both above and below the falls for two very different perspectives.
Once you've exhausted the possibilities on the U.S. side, take a break, stretch your legs at one of the parks, and make your way back to Rainbow Bridge. By the way, for night activities at the Falls environs, visit Attractions - Off the Beaten Path and Attractions - Entertainment.
- Once across Rainbow Bridge on the Canadian side, walk (do not drive) along the verdant path to Victoria Park. Along Victoria Park you will see the most popular heads-on views of the American Falls. The view changes every step you take, in your approach to the Horseshoe Falls.
- At the end of the path you can catch an excellent view of Horseshoe's brink slightly beyond Table Rock House. You can also go right up to the spot where the water plunges over the Falls.
- From Table Rock House, go down behind the Falls; similar to the Cave of the Winds on the U.S. side, however not quite as wet and wild.
- To view the falls from above - go up to the Fallsview area where some of the major hotels are. The best way to the hotels, one favored by close to a million people a year, is via the famous Falls Incline Railway, a funicular. It's a great trip: You sit in a chair watching the view change as you ascend or descend.
- Once in the Fallsview area, there are a few towers you'll want to ascend: The Hilton has a great view from the top (eat at “The Watermark” restaurant, located on the roof), as does the Fallsview Casino Resort.
- The Skylon Tower, a landmark built in 1964, has the highest view in the area. It has a revolving dining room and an indoor/outdoor observation deck. The Minolta Tower offers a similar experience -a few feet lower, but closer to the Horseshoe Falls and cheaper. Can't decide? Pick one for the day view and one for the night.
- Table Rock Observation Point, right near the Skylon Tower, is where Marilyn Monroe walked in the classic 1953 film “Niagara.”
- On solid ground again, near the upper level of the Falls Incline Railway, explore the hotel parking lots until you find the best view of the Horseshoe Falls, below.
For generations it has been a fact that in order to experience the Falls a trip on the Maid of the Mist is a must. Maids depart from either side, and visit all of the Falls, though near the Horseshoe Falls the attraction isn't the view but the dense mist bellowing from the avalanching waters.
Going to all these attractions together can take quite a while, even more than a day. Also, at peak-season the lines can be long per attraction, so be prepared. Also, you will get wet. And then you'll get wet again at the next attraction. You can collect the complimentary ponchos the various attractions give out.
Everything Else
Believe it or not, there is more to this region than just Niagara Falls!
Western New York - Stop at the Watkins Glen State Park for inspiring views of the cascades. Take the 1.5-mile trail starting on Franklin Street in the town of Watkins Glen. The trail will lead you past, over and under 18 waterfalls. Be aware, however that the walk to the top of the trail requires ascending more than 830 steps.
South-central Ontario - For the hands-down best views of Toronto and Lake Ontario, ascend the world-famous CN Tower on Front and John's Streets. The structure is 1,815 feet-tall and is currently the tallest freestanding structure in the world.
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