Vacation: Niagara Falls, Canada
Niagara Falls draws millions of visitors each year. It is a composed of 2 huge waterfalls on the Niagara River which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The Canadian side of Niagara Falls has the best view of the two waterfalls, the “American” and “Horseshoe” falls. These are the most powerful waterfalls in North America – more than 6 million cubic feet of water flow over the falls every minute during high flow. The roaring sound as the water goes over the falls and hits the bottom is very impressive. You can just sit here and watch for hours! They also light up the Falls at night in different colors.
The American side certainly has its fair share of attractions. But, I’ve always preferred the Canadian side due to the spectacular view of the Falls and the unique activities. They have “Skylon Tower” which has the highest overhead view of the Falls. If you want to get a closer look of the Falls, they have a ride called “Whirlpool Aero Car” which is a cable car that takes you over the whirlpool at the bottom of the Falls. A fun tour on the Canadian side, called “Journey Behind the Falls”, sends you through a series of tunnels near the bottom of the Falls and there is also an observation deck. Furthermore, they have 2 casinos nearby that are very popular – Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort (opened in 2004) and the older Casino Niagara (opened in 1996).
One of the really fun areas on the Canadian side is an area called Clifton Hill. It is a series of streets next to the Falls that has tons of restaurants, themed attractions, haunted houses, gift shops, wax museums, nightclubs, arcades, and hotels. Some of the more popular attractions include Ripley’s Believe it or Not and 4D Moving Theater, the Guinness World Records museum, and the Niagara SkyWheel Ferris wheel. As far as restaurants go, they have a Rainforest Cafe, a Planet Hollywood, a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, and a Hard Rock Cafe. Some other fun attractions include an indoor golf course, the Hershey’s store, the Coca Cola store, and several fun motion rides in the arcades. There is so much to do here, packed into such a relatively small area, that you can keep yourself occupied for quite some time!
Bored yet? If so, you can also catch a helicopter ride to view the Falls from above. Or you can getaway from the Falls briefly and hit an indoor waterpark. There is the “Waves Indoor Waterpark” or “Fallsview Indoor Waterpark”. And, of course, you can catch a ride on the famous “Maid of the Mist” and get up close and personal with the Falls and the bottom. I’ve been on this and I can tell you that this is a must if you are at the Falls. There is so much spray off the bottom of the Falls that you will get soaked if you don’t have a poncho (which they provide). Want to see a show? They have a “Niagara Falls Grand Dinner Theater”, “Oh Canada Eh?”, an IMAX theater, “Legends of Niagara Falls 3D/4D Movie”, and “Mystery on the Lake – iTheater”. You can also get away for a bit and visit some of the many wineries in the area.
So, if you thought that there was nothing do to at Niagara Falls than just look at the pretty waterfalls, then think again! Plan your next vacation here and you won’t be disappointed.
