What To Do In Niagara Falls And Day Trips From Niagara Falls
You will see many things to do in Niagara Falls while reading online and while in Niagara Falls, youll find that Niagara Falls tourism is mostly;unrelated;to the falls. Just be aware of the tourist traps.
See Niagara Falls from both sides: American and Canadian!
Take the Maid of the Mist / Hornblower or Cave of the Winds for a unique view of Niagara Falls.
Hornblower v. Maid of the Mist. Which one to choose?;If youre trying to decide whether to take the;Hornblower;or Maid of the Mist, note that the Hornblower boat goes from the Canadian side while Maid of the Mist departs from the New York side.
Both boats follow the same route although the;Hornblower boats carry more passengers. ;
Take a day trip;from Niagara Falls to;visit the adorable town of Niagara-on-the-Lake;for the summer Shakespeare festival and its famous ice wine. You can taste ice wine in Canadas wine capital. ;Ice wine is made by allowing the grapes to freeze on the vines, which makes the wine extra sweetand very alcoholic.;
See the Niagara Falls light show . The;schedule for the Falls Illuminationvaries throughout the year with the sunset, but if youre taking a day trip, see if you can stick around for the magic of the lights!
For those with kids, add some of the many kid-friendly attractions in the area to your list.; One of the main attractions is the Fallsview water park.
How To Get To Niagara Falls; Do You Need A Car To Visit Niagara Falls
If youre staying in Niagara Falls for 1-2 days, you dont need a car.
The best airport for the United States to get to Niagara Falls is from;Niagara Falls International Airport;OR;Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Fares are usually cheaper from the Buffalo AIrport. From the Canadian side, youll want to fly into;Toronto International Airport.
If you fly into Buffalo Niagara International Airport, I strongly recommend renting a car. This area has public transit, but it is much easier to drive.
If you use public transit to get to Niagara Falls from Buffalo Airport, you will spend a lot of money on a taxi OR spend two hours on a bus Note that the bus only runs 5am to midnight, so if you come in late, you cannot take the bus.
From Niagara Falls International AIrport to Niagara Falls, it will take one hour on the 55 bus to reach the American side of the falls.
You can also take the train or Megabus to get from Toronto to Niagara Falls, which will take about two hours. Its much easier with a car.
If youre going from New York to Niagara Falls without a car, you have four options.
- Take a Greyhound from New York City to Niagara Falls .
- Ride a Megabus towards Buffalo
- Take an Amtrak train from Penn Station to Niagara Falls direct.
- Fly from New York to Buffalo . ;
How Much Does The Entrance To Niagara Falls Cost
You really pay the entrance fee of $ 18 to get on the boat; this includes the raincoat, so you dont get completely soaked.
When you pay the entrance to the falls , they give you a blue raincoat so that the cloud of water caused by the falls does not soak you.
Do not worry that it will not do you much good, and you will get soaked like it or not. But hey, it serves to cover the camera a bit and not get too wet.
We didnt have to wait long in line, really, and we got on the boat pretty quickly. The journey is very short. I would tell you that in total, you are on the boat for half an hour, at most. It takes you up to the waterfall and stands very close.
The truth is that it is quite impressive to see it up close, but what is most impressive is the noise and the wind. The water rush down there generates a constant wind in the form of rain that soaks you completely. When we were up, there was not a drop of air.
Everything gets wet, and it doesnt matter if you wear that blue raincoat or whatever you want, everything gets wet. So I recommend that you be very careful with your mobile or with the camera. If you want to take photos, youd better carry your phone in a waterproof case. One of these plastic ones that cost you five euros is enough.
Niagara Falls are not the highest in the world nor the widest in the world , but they claim they are the largest in the world.
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Cave Of The Winds Tour
If youre visiting Niagara Falls from May to October, you might enjoy the Cave Of The Winds Tour
This is a timed ticketed attraction where you will be outfitted in souvenir sandals and ponchos to experience the tropical storm-like conditions of The Cave of the Winds.
After taking an elevator 175 feet down into the Niagara Gorge, you will experience wooden walkways that bring you to the Hurricane Deck where you are within feet of the crashing Bridal Veil Falls!
Find out more information about the Cave of the Winds Tour
After taking in all the views at Prospect Point, we decided to cross the American Rapids via the pedestrian bridge to Bridal Falls and Luna Island.
This is an awesome photo that I took of the Ontario skyline and the American Rapids while walking to the Crows Nest.
American Rapids at Niagara Falls, NY. Photo by Livin Life With Lori
If you walk behind the Crows Nest restaurant, you will see some of the best views of the Rainbow Bridge which crosses into Canada and the American Falls!;
This is where I think we found the secret spot for photographs of Niagara Falls.;
Walk further down the stairs to Luna Island for an awesome up-close view of the falls.
Plus we were able to get cooled off from the mist of the falls!
Looking at the Rainbow Bridge and Niagara Falls, NY. Photo by Livin Life With Lori
The Best 3 Niagara Falls Bus Tours From Nyc
Two of New York States most exciting attractions are New York City and Niagara Falls. However, if youre hoping to see both on your trip to the Big Apple, its worth noting that New York is certainly no small state and getting from Manhattan to Niagara is a bit of a trek.
Opting to take a bus tour from New York City to Niagara Falls, though, can make getting between the two locales convenient, easy and affordable with no need to rent a car or navigate the states busy highways on your own. Check out our top three Niagara Falls bus tours from New York City, for the best options for your money.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls in One Day
If you dont exactly have a ton of time in your itinerary for a lengthy jaunt out to Niagara Falls, youll want to go with this tour that takes place over the course of one day. You get convenient, round-trip transportation that departs right from Times Square in Manhattan and then youre off, traveling by comfortable bus to Niagara Falls State Park. Once there, youll still have plenty of time to explore the park in full and, if you want, you can even upgrade your experience to include a Maid of the Mist boat cruise or Cave of the Winds entry. From $200 per person
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Niagara Falls One Day Itinerary
I hope you will love Niagara Falls, NY as much as we did.
We hope to return to Niagara Falls one day to experience the tours and explore the surrounding area.
But for this one-day trip, we were fine with just standing by the falls, mesmerized by its magnificent power and beauty.
What were some of your favorite experiences at Niagara Falls, NY?
Send me an email!
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Niagara Falls: The American Side
The American side might not have the panoramic views that Canada has, but it lets you get super close to the water. There is one big observation deck which you can enter for free and where you get the best vistas of a big part of the falls.
You can also take the 30-minute boat ride into the rushing Horseshoe Falls and get soaked that way, or you walk along the wooden walkways of the Cave Of The Winds experience. The cave that it is named after is long gone , but the walkways and viewing points, 175 feet deep into the Niagara Gorge, get you so close to the waterfalls that you basically get a free shower, especially on the appropriately named Hurricane Deck at the bottom of the American Falls. On this deck, you are only 20 feet from the Bridal Veil Falls! Admission for the Cave of the Winds experience is USD12 per person, the Maid Of The Mist is USD17.
In addition to these paid-for experiences, there is are several viewing points at the rim, one right in between the two American Falls .
There is a hop-on hop-off trolley service in the Niagara State Park for only $2 per person if you have difficulties walking.
Winner: Canada, these views are just unbeatable!
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Can You Walk On The Rainbow Bridge Without A Passport
The Rainbow Bridge walk is the route you will take from the USA side to the Canadian Side or vice versa. You do not need a passport if you are only visiting the New York side and are staying in the US. However, you will need a passport if you intend to cross the border to the Niagara Falls Canadian side.
On Your Way To Niagara Falls
Road day trips are a whole lot fun with scenic pitstops and small town strolls. Here are a few pitstops you could consider on your way from New York to Niagara.
Located in the village of Watkins Glen, this State Park is nature at its best.A stream gushes through the two-mile-long glen, and there are 19 waterfalls along the course. Hike on trails that runs over and under waterfalls, past cliffs, and between rocks and lush greenery.
The Corning Museum of Glass is home to the largest collection of art glass in the world. You’ll gain a whole new perspective about a seemingly common place material – glass. Witness a molten blob transform into something exquisite and you’ll never look at glass the same way again.
Nestled in the hallowed halls of hollow earth, a walk through the Secret Caverns takes you through a prehistoric passageway encrusted by the patient hand of time. Catch a glimpse of natural stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones as you walk down 103 stairs. The tour culminates when one reaches the world famous 100 ft underground waterfall.
In the heart of the Finger Lakes region, Canandaigua is an idyllic stopover offering small-town charms and scenic attractions. Take a lunchtime cruise aboard the Canandaigua Lady, or tour Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, a stunning Victorian home from the Gilded Age and sprawling 50-acre estate.
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Luna Island: The Rainbow Connection
Sights Youll Get in Your Photo: American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls
Dramatically straddled by the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, tiny Luna Island offers a unique vantage point to both. In case you missed it , the island is named after the lunar rainbow phenomenon a rare occurrence that can manifest over the island. Now thats what we call photo op!
Ready to experience;these amazing views? Download our;Travel Guide;today and start planning your Niagara Falls USA adventure.;
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Bonus Activities In Niagara Falls New York
There are a few other things near Niagara Falls USA that have nothing to do with the waterfalls:
Old Fort Niagara: This fort was built in the late 1600s and saw action in the French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812. Theyve done a great job at restoring it. There are staff in period costumes as well as musket demonstrations in addition to touring the fort sites. On a clear day, you might be able to see Toronto as you look across Lake Ontario.
Niagara Wine Country: The US version of Niagara wine isnt as well known as Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario but you could still spend a day or more visiting the 20+ vineyards. The wine trail is 30-60 minutes from the falls, so plan accordingly. If time is short, my two favorites are Arrowhead Springs and BlackBird Cider Works.
Art Alley: If youre into art, take twenty minutes to view the street art at Third & Niagara Streets.
Buffalo is only 20 miles from Niagara Falls, so you can get more ideas in my Buffalo travel guide as well.
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Is It Worth Going With Children
If you’re not too sure the excursion will appeal to the little ones, I’ll answer the question right away: they will be amazed. The scenery, the loud sound of the water, the waterfalls, the boat trip… If it’s easy to be impressed as an adult, children will literally live the adventure of a lifetime.
However, keep in mind that the bus ride is not a short one, so the decision will depend more on whether they tend to fall asleep during the trip, if they get tired or dizzy on the road, etc.
Are There Any Free Things To Do In Niagara Falls
Since we did not budget for this one day trip, I started looking to see if there were any free things to do in Niagara Falls.;
Viewing the American Falls and walking around the Niagara Falls State Park is free.
Parking, however, is not free.;
The Discover Niagara Shuttle is free and will take you to 15 destination sites along a 14-mile route.
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About Niagara Falls Ny
Niagara Falls consists of three different waterfalls. The American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls are located in the USA and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls is located in Canada.
Niagara Falls is considered the new 8th Wonder of the World. Niagara Falls Park is the oldest state park in America, which opened in 1885.
Niagara Falls straddles the United States of America and Canada. A trip to these Falls can be seen from both Niagara Falls, Ontario or Niagara Falls, New York.
The Canadian Side Of Niagara Falls
The Canadian side is where you get gorgeous panoramas of both the American Falls and the mighty Horseshoe Falls.
Its definitely the more glamorous side of Niagara Falls.
While you cant get right up to the American and Bridal Veil Falls, you can get right up to the brink of Horseshoe Falls.
Besides, many people find it sufficient to feel the raw power of the Niagara River from only this vantage point without needing to get close to other components of Niagara Falls.
You can even get direct views of the mighty Horseshoe Falls from the established lookouts along the Niagara River.
Of course, we paid a fairly hefty price for the privilege of being so well-situated at the falls.
After all, accommodations, restaurants, and parking definitely costed more on the Canadian side as opposed to the American side.
If youve had enough of Niagara Falls, there were numerous casinos and family activities both around the waterfall as well as further away downtown.
We even explored the historic Queen Street District, which was charming, relatively quiet, and provided a little bit of a nice culinary experience.
That said, the Vegas-like atmosphere of the city of Niagara Falls did make the Canadian side of the waterfall seem more like an urban side attraction.
In fact, most of Niagara Falls natural beauty had pretty much gone away on the Canadian side.
The last remaining vestiges of Nature required going well downstream and out of sight of the waterfalls themselves.
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Where To Stay In Niagara Falls New York
There are plenty ofbudget-friendly and luxurious hotels in Niagara Falls, New York. If you are traveling during the summer season, then its best to book your hotel room in advance. Some great places to stay during your trip to Niagara Falls, New York are:
Doubletree by Hilton in Niagara Falls
This hotel gives you a front and center view of the stunning falls and the river. The path along the Niagara River is just steps away, which is a huge plus. As you walk from the hotel toward the falls, the river begins fairly calm to turns into rapid waves as you get closer to the falls.
The hotel is located in the oldest state park in America and in fact, the park was designed by the same person who designed Central Park in NYC. The hotel is also a short walk to the falls. Stroll on the walkway along the Niagara River. Its pretty amazing. The river goes from calm to a bit of whitewater and rapids,
Wingate by Wyndham Niagara Falls
There are at least 30 restaurants and 12 attractions within less than .3 miles of the Wingate by Wyndham. Nearby attractions include the Seneca Niagara Casino, St. Mary of the Cataract Parish and the Niagara Falls Walking Tour. This hotel is within walking distance of everything plus their beds are beyond comfortable! After a long day of sightseeing, you can relax in the indoor pool or enjoy the free Wi-Fi.
The Giacomo