Niagara Falls is one of the most visited places in the world. This majestic waterfall is made up of 3 waterfalls, the Bridal Veil falls, the American falls and the horseshoe fall also known as the Canadian falls. The horseshoe fall, the largest of all three, falls in the province of Ontario, Canada and the other two, the bridal veil falls and the American falls are smaller compared to the horseshoe one and are on the US side whereas the niagara river flows between the two countries.
Every year more than 12 million people visit Niagara Falls to soak in the beauty of this place. Though you can watch Niagara Falls for free both in Canada and the USA, both sides provide a host of paid activities and experiences that you can enjoy with your friends and family. The best time to visit this place is from June to August, this is when you can enjoy all the outdoor activities. You can do so many things here, if you’re visiting for the first time these are some must visit attractions and activities you should not miss.
Top 7 Tourist Attractions at Niagara Falls
Maid of the Mist (US)
If you are in the US then you cannot miss the maid of the mist tour. This popular boat tour takes you past the bridal veil and american falls and into the curve of horseshoe falls. The passengers are provided with blue color poncho so that they can protect themselves from the water sprays as much as they can. The ticket price for adults is $30.25, children between 6-12 is $19.75, and 5 and under are free. Please keep in mind, the tickets purchased offline are valid for that day only and the ones purchased online are valid for the whole season from May to October. It is open from Monday till Sunday and the timings are 9 am to 7pm or 8pm.
Cave of the Winds, Niagara Falls (US)
Located on goat island, it’s a famous observation deck also known as the hurricane deck that falls on the US side. It takes you 175 ft down and shows you the close up view of the bridal veil falls similar to the Journey behind the Falls tour in Canada. This deck is so close to the falls that you are just a mere 20 ft away from the bridal veil falls.The Cave of the winds and the Maid of the Mist is a must do activity on the US side. The ticket price for Adults is $21.00, Children between 6-12 is $17.00, 5 and under are free. Please make your reservation in advance, you can purchase the tickets at the Cave of the winds or from the Jr. welcome center.
Niagara Falls Observation Tower / Prospect Point Observation Tower (US)
This state park observation tower will give you a 360 degree view of all the whole Niagara waterfalls and the surrounding area. You can view and click beautiful pictures of the falls from the tower. This famous Observation tower comes under the Niagara River Corridor which is a designated Audubon important bird area (IBA), and you can spot different bird species here.
If you have a little extra time, do visit this place at night to watch the light show and the fireworks, you won’t be disappointed. This observatory opens at 8:30 am in the morning till 10:30 pm and the price is $1.25 and if you take the Maid of the Mist boat tour, it comes in the package and is free.
Whirlpool State Park (US)
If you’re tired and want to escape the crowd, try the Niagara whirlpool state park. It’s a free entry park from where you can see the stunning Niagara whirlpool, where the river flow makes a 90 degree turn resulting in a circular swirl and creating a whirlpool. The timings of the park is 9 am to 4:30 pm in the summers, and is also connected to the other popular park, the Devil’s Hole State Park. One can go for hiking along the Niagara gorge trail, cycling, fishing by taking advantage of the beautiful views of the Niagara river at the place where it is very well known. This park has picnic tables for those people who would like to sit down and relax with their family members.
Journey Behind the Falls (Canada)
This observation deck that shows you the close up view of the cascading water will leave you breathless.In this unguided tour, to reach the deck you go down 125 feet and go through 144 yr old tunnels. There are 2 tunnels that are extended 151ft behind the waterfall and show the view of the waterfall. It takes around 45 mins to an hour to finish this tour and it’s a must do activity if you are not able to do the Voyage to the falls boat ride. The Journey behind the falls ticket price for adults is $29, for kids between 3-12 is $19 and 3 and under are free.
The Voyage to the Falls (Canada)
This 20 minute boat ride will take you close to the base of the waterfalls and you will get to experience the mesmerizing view of the niagara gorge, bridal veil falls, american falls and the legendary horseshoe falls. The team provides you with a free biodegradable poncho so that you do not get wet. The mist, the roaring sounds of the water adds to the stunning views making this once in a lifetime experience. The ticket price for adults i.e. 13 plus is $42.95 and for children between the age of 3-12 is $27.95 and kids of 2 and under are free. You can choose the time slot that suits you best. There are 2 options available, you can choose either the full mist experience (before dusk) or the light mist experience (after dusk), both of which are amazing.
Clifton Hill (Canada)
Clifton hill is another really popular attraction near Niagara falls. Also known as the street of fun, it offers many fun activities and one of them being the Niagara Skywheel. This ferris wheel, in clifton hill Ontario, is one of the main tourist attractions, it is an observation wheel from where you can get the 360 view of the 3 falls, the Niagara river, the city skyline in a temperature controlled gondola. Not just this, this place offers many other exciting activities that you explore such as wax museums, arcades, go karting, upside down houses, haunted houses, restaurants and even affordable hotels for stay. This place is open 24/7, the whole year but the outlet’s timing may vary.
Tips for Visiting Niagara Falls
Make a Budget
With parking tickets, the food and so many different tour plans and options, your expenses can really go up if you are not careful. Please make sure you have a budget set for everything and if you are on a budget crunch, only do the boat rides and a little research will help you find nearby attractions that you can visit for free. As there are plenty of things you can do around the falls that won’t cost a thing.
Plan Your Day Ahead
If you want to just do the boat rides and watch the falls, half a day is enough but if you want to explore all the whole area and activities Niagara Falls offer, weekend is a better option. The first day you can do falls related activities and the second day you can explore all the nearby areas.
Visit Both Sides
Another mistake visitors make is, they visit just one side of the falls. Do not forget to bring your passports with you and visit both sides, the US as well as Canada. Both sides have their own charm; for peace, beautiful parks and hiking trails alongside Niagara river then you will like the US more but if you want to have the front view of the falls then it is Canada for sure.
Carry Extra Clothes
If you are going to take a boat ride, wear something comfortable like waterproof shoes and jackets or clothes that dries quickly because even with the ponchos you will get wet and walking around the rest of the day in half wet clothes is not going to be comfortable. Also, Niagara Falls weather can be a little cold, so pack accordingly.
Conclusion
There are so many other amazing places to visit and activities you can do such as the helicopter rides (US and Canada), skylon tower (Canada), whirlpool aero car (Canada), bird kingdom (Canada), Aquarium of Niagara (US), Schoellkopf power station ruins site (US), Niagara Wineries (US). This breathtaking natural wonder has so much to offer. Whether you are looking for a thrill or some quiet and peace. There’s no shortage of ways you can experience this place, from the boat rides to the views, the historic sites and the peaceful parks, either way the Niagara Falls will give you one of the unforgettable experiences of your life.