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Title travel niagara

Niagara Falls: Top things to do in Niagara Falls

Jairam Poupart September 12, 2021

Niagara Falls is located at the border of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York, USA. It is comprised of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls (also called Canadian Falls), American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The biggest of these falls is Horseshoe Falls and is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by flow rate. This is why Niagara Falls is recognized as a valuable source of hydroelectric power.

Many tourists go there every year to take pictures of this amazing natural wonder. This makes Niagara Falls one of the most famous touristic spot in Ontario and in New York.

The region of Niagara is also recognized as one of the best for wine and fruit picking because of the favorable microclimate. The wineries in Niagara Falls offer an impressive selection of traditional, native, late harvest, and ice wines.

There are also many activites to do in that region. From admiring the beauty of the falls to wine tasting, you are sure to find things to enjoy.

Keep in mind that there are affiliate links, meaning that I will receive commissions from any purchase at no additional cost to you.

Table of contents

How to get there

Origin

History

Top things to do

Restaurants

Accomodations

Budget

How to get there

 

Origin

Niagara Falls were created 10 000 years ago by the Wisconsin glaciation. The retreat of the ice sheet carved a path over and through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean and left a large amount of melfwater that filled up the basins that the glaciers had carved, thus creating the Great Lakes as we know them today. According to estimations, Niagara Falls will cease to exist in 50 000 years due to erosion (source). So we still have a bit of time to enjoy this natural wonder.

History

Historians have different theories from which the name Niagara comes from. Bruce Trigger, an Iroquoian scholar says it comes from the local native Neutral Confederacy which are describes as the Niagagarega peole in the 17th centure, George R. Stewart thinks it comes from the Iroquois town called Onguiaahra (point of land cut in two). Another Iroquois interpreter said the name came from Jaonniaka-re (noisy point or portage). This name is Mohawk. It means, according to Mrs. Kerr, the neck; the term being first applied to the portage or neck of land, between lakes Erie and Ontario. (source)
Many famous historic figures have described the Niagara Falls, from Samuel de Champlain in 1604 to Jean de Brébeuf. This site became popular with tourism in the 19th century and many people would travel for pleasure or honymoon visits.



Daguerrotype_of_Niagara_Falls_by_Hugh_Lee_Pattinson_1840.jpg

First photograph of Niagara Falls

By Hugh Lee Pattinson in 1840 with an inverted daguerreotype.

In the 20th century, the falls were much more popular with tourists as automobiles made it faster to reach the region. At that time, many efforts were made to use the energy of the falls for hygroelectric power and to control the development to limit its negative effect on the area’s natural beauty.

Nowadays, it is still a popular place for tourists to go on either sides: Canadian or American side and many resorts and businesses have bloomed in the area. Tourists can enjoy a multitude of activities that will fit their every need.

Top things to do

Here are some of the most famous attractions and things to do in Niagara:

Admiring Niagara Falls

Viewpoint of Niagara Falls

The best thing to do in Niagara Falls is to admire the falls of course! There are many viewpoints to admire the falls to their full glory. Right by the visitor centre, you can see the top of Horseshoe Falls. Don’t forget to bring a raincoat because of the mist or you’ll get pretty wet.

IMG_1092.jpg

If you walk further, you will soon arrive to Clifton Hill Street where all the restaurants and attractions are. There are many tourists every day because it is such a popular spot to visit. Many people will stop to take pictures of themselves in front of the falls. From there, there is a great view where you can see both the Canadian side and the American side falls.

Table rock visitor center

Horseshoe Falls is right by the Table Rock Visitor Centre. You can find a lot of parking on that road but it will be expensive and cost around 30$ for the day. You can find parking for 5$/day further on Clifton Street, near the Go kart.

view of the falls from the trail

It is a great spot for photographers to capture the full beauty of the falls. The best thing: It’s free!

WildPlay Zipline to the Falls

zipline launch

A popular activity is to try the Zipline to the Falls. The prices for 2021 are 69.99$ CAD +tax, 49.99$+tax for the early bird special and 79.99$+tax for the nightime experience.

ziplining into the falls

It will take from 60-90 mins for the whole experience because a shuttle will take you back to the starting point.

Get a closer look with a Boat Cruise

boat cruise near the falls

A ticket from the Niagara City Cruises will cost you 31.25$ per adult and 21.25$ for children. Click here to book now.

There are two cruises that can bring you near the waterfalls: the Maid of the Mist and the Niagara City Cruises. The Maid of the Mist operates exclusively in Niagara Falls, New York; and Niagara City Cruises operates from the Ontario, Canada side of the Falls.

The first Maid of the Mist was used to ferry people, cargo and mail across in 1846. Once the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge was completed in 1854, they turned the cruise into a tourist attraction.

people dressed in ponchos in the falls

A ticket for the Maid of the Mist is 25.25$ per adult and 14.75$ for children.

The Maid of the Mist is North America’s oldest tourist attraction. Ridden by dignitaries and celebrities such as Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbechev and Brad Pitt, a visit to the base of the falls is a priority for all who visit the region. 

Journey Behind the Falls

journey behind the falls

To stand at the heart of Niagara, you’ll first need to descend 125 feet and explore 130-year-old tunnels through the bedrock, but you’ll feel the thunderous vibration of the Horseshoe Falls long before you see them. The observation deck at the foot of this 13-storey-tall wonder will leave you breathless (and maybe a little bit wet), but don’t forget the viewing portals cut straight through the rock, offering a once-in-a-lifetime view of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water crashing down in front of you.

journey behind the falls 2

A ticket will cost 23.50$ for adults and 15.50$ for children. Click here to book your tickets.

Enjoy Niagara Park

Statue of Nikola Tesla

You can see statues of Nikola Tesla and George VI in the park.

You can enjoy a stroll in this beautiful park filled with many plants and flowers, right by the waterfall.

lotus flowers in the pond

There are many different kind of flowers and trees. The perfect place to relax!

Skylon Tower

Skylon Tower

Admire the falls from above with the Skylon Tower. However, keep in mind that it may be closed due to the covid-19 measures put in place. I haven’t had the chance to visit the tower because of that but i’ve heard it is worth the visit. There is a restaurant on top and you have a 360’ view, perfect to admire the scenery day or night.

The tickets are 14.50$ for adults, 8.50$ for children and 17.50$ for the Day or Night Pass.

Clifton Hill Street

Clifton Hill offers attractions to every age and is a famous touristic place. There, you can find many activities like go-Karts, mazes, cinemas, restaurants, haunted houses or more…

Click here for a list of the prices of the famous attractions.

Here are some of the famous attractions on Clifton Hill:

Clifton hill street
niagara skywheel

Niagara Skywheel

175 feet above the air, Niagara Skywheel is one of Canada’s largest observation wheel. It is a great place to view Niagara from above ground.

Cost: 14$ per adult and 7$ per children

Niagara falls at night

It is open from 10am to 2am and the ride takes about 10 minutes. It’s one of the best place to see the illuminated waterfalls at night.

IMG_1600 (1).jpg

Dinosaur Adventure Golf

As the nations largest miniature golf course, you can choose between two 18-hole courses: Raptor and T-Rex. With over 70 000 square foot playing surface and over 50 life-size dinosaurs, sound effects makes it more immersive.

Cost: 11$ per adult and 7$ per child.

This golf course is open daily from 10am to 1:30am.

IMG_1344.jpg

Niagara Brewing Company

Born from the ashes of the Clifton House, the Niagara Brewing Company opened on June 2015 with the mission to represent Canada’s brewing heritage to satisfy beer lovers from around the world.

With live-music and a terrace, the ambiance is really fun. You can stop to eat or order beers online as well. Here is the beer selection:

NIAGARA PREMIUM LAGER 4.5% Alc. / 20 IBU

HONEYMOON PEACH RADLER 3.5% Alc. / 3 IBU

BEERDEVIL IPA 6.5% Alc. / 62 IBU

IRISH RED ALE 4.7% Alc. / 21 IBU

NIAGARA ICEWINE BEER 9.7% Alc. / 1 IBU

Niagara Speedway

elevated go-kart

Niagara Speedway is North-America’s largest elevated go-kart track facility. With it’s turns and ramps, you will find yourself like in a Mario Kart game.

Cost: 12$ for drivers and 4$ for passengers (per 5 min race).

Niagara speedway at night

It is open from 10am to 1:30am daily.

Visit a Haunted House

Attractions on Clifton Hill

Get spooked with one of the many haunted houses. Go on a rollercoaster on top of Frankerstein’s head or go fight zombies in a virtual world, many options are available for you!

4D cinema ride

4D/6D Cinema Experience

What happens when you combine a movie with a roaller coaster? You get a 4D/6D experience! This innovative technology combines air jets, water sprays and movement to make the movie as immersive as it can be.

Cost: about 10$ per person

Bird Kingdom

Picture from James Cousins unsplash

Photo by James Cousins on Unsplash

My biggest regret was missing to visit Bird Kingdom during my stay in Niagara. Because of the covid restrictions, it was temporary closed. It should be open now.

With over a hundred different varieties of colorful birds, Bird Kingdom is the largest free-flying indoor aviary.

Cost: 17$ per adult and 13$ per children.

Whirlpool Aero Car

Niagara Aero Car

Hop on the historic Whirlpool Aero Car for an unforgettable ride over the vibrant, teal-coloured waters of the Niagara River. Witness spectacular views of the swirling Niagara Whirlpool and the river’s Class 6 rapids as you soar 3,500 feet above the Niagara Gorge.

Cost: 17$ per adult and 11.25$ per children.

Helicopter ride

Niagara helicopter tour

What better way than a helicopter ride to see Niagara Falls from above? This thrilling 12 minutes ride will give you great aerial views.

Cost: 160$ per person.

Aerial view of the falls

With a good camera and telephoto lense, it’s possible to take great pictures from above with a steady hand.

Niagara Falls and visitor center

The waterfalls look very impressive from the air.

aerial view of Niagara Falls

Visit a famous Dam

Robert Moses Niagara power plant

This impressive dam is on the way to Niagara-on-the-lake up North. The Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant diverts water from the Niagara to power it’s generators. It was built and opened in 1961.

Botanical garden and Butterfly conservatory

Botanical garden picture

Photo by Chris Abney on Unsplash

If you have free time, you might want to visit the Botanical Garden and the Butterfly Sanctuary. I haven’t had the chance to visit because of covid restrictions but I heard it’s great. With 99 acres of maintained gardens, it is a great place to admire flowers. It is free.

The Butterfly Conservatory is one of the largest glass-enclosed butterfly conservatories in North America. Admire the beauty of over 2,000 vibrantly coloured butterflies fluttering freely around you as you explore 180 metres of winding pathways adorned with lush vegetation and trickling waterfalls.

Cost: 17$ per adult and 11.25$ per children.

Flower clock

Flower clock in the Niagara Botanical Gardens

This beautiful display of flowers at the North of the Botanical Gardens is called the Floral Clock and is made of 16 000 carpet bedding plants.

Brock monument

Brock Monument

The Brock monument is in Queenston Heights Park and is also the place where a famous battle took place. This battle took place in 1812 when Canada and the USA were in dispute of the border. If you are interested in history, it can be an fascinating place to visit. Click here for more.

Cross the border to the USA

View from the USA side

There are other viewpoints from the USA side. It is easy to cross the border to view other interesting activities offered. However, I think the best view is from the Canadian side.

Visit Niagara-on-the-lake

Niagara-by-the-lake street

There are lots of activities to do in Niagara-by-the-lake, from going wine tasting to riding bicycles. This region has a lot to offer. Check out this next article about Niagara-on-the-lake.

Restaurants

There are many options for food lovers out there. Here are a few:

Lundy’s Lane District

Fat Bastard Burrito co

American Space Restaurant

Afghan Food

Italian Food

Cliffton Hill

Accomodations

Budget option

Niagara KOA Holiday Campground

With access to water, electricity, restrooms and a pool, this is a good option if you have a camper or travel van for around 60$/night.

Best value option

Ramada by Wyndham

Located near Fallsview District, this hotel is very well located, has access to a bar, a fitness center and free wifi. It costs around 60$ per night. Click here to use my affiliate code and access a discount.

Luxury option

Sheraton Fallsview Hotel

With the best view of the falls, this hotel offers the best experience with restaurants, a spa, a fitness center and all the amenities you need to enjoy your stay to the max.

Budget

If you plan to do different activities during the day, I think you should expect to pay at least 100$ per day (without accomodation). It costs around 30$ for meals, 60$ for accommodation and 50$ for activities per day.

Conclusion

Niagara Falls is one of the most amazing touristic destination of Ontario for a good reason. While the falls aren’t Canada’s biggest, the whole experience is worth the trip. With many activities and many ways to admire the falls, it is a sight to behold and without a doubt worth a visit once in a lifetime.

If this article was helpful, be sure to leave a like and share with friends who might want to visit this amazing place. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Subscribe to the newsletter to learn about the new articles.

Keep on traveling!

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In Ontario Tags niagara, ontario, falls, traveling, canada, usa, waterfalls
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Hi, my name is Jay and welcome to my blog!If you want to learn more about unique destinations, cultures and beautiful places to visit, you are in the right place.Bilingual French-Canadian teaching English in Taiwan, I hope I can share interesting st…

Hi, my name is Jay, and welcome to my blog!

If you want to learn more about unique destinations, cultures, and beautiful places to visit, you are in the right place.

I’ve taught English in Taiwan, was a tour guide in the States for many years, and traveled to a lot of incredible places. I want to share these with you and give you the best tips so you can save money on your travels.

Let’s go on an adventure!

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