Niagara Falls Information

Known traditionally as one of Ontario’s most popular honeymoon getaways, Niagara Falls has grown into a buzzing tourist mecca that possesses everything a traveller could want, plus many more hidden attractions that exist to please everyone from an international tourist group to a young family. However, no matter what a visitor chooses to enjoy in this southwestern Ontario city, there is one common fixture that continually dominates the landscape, and that, of course is the stunning and powerful Niagara Falls.

Tourists have been coming to see this natural spectacle since the 18th century, and whether then or now, they have always been guaranteed an amazing experience. The Canadian side of the twin city of Niagara Falls boasts the larger and more powerful Horseshoe Falls (790 metres wide and 53 metres high) versus the American side’s Bridal Veil Falls, which are 320 metres wide and 21–30 metres tall (the shifting height range is due to the large boulders at the base of falls). The U.S is also home to American Falls, the third waterfall of the Niagara trio.

Each waterfall is a sight to behold, but Canada’s Falls are without a doubt the main attraction, and the oldest and most well-known method of viewing them in all their glory is aboard the Maid of the Mist boat cruise that takes passengers into the rapids directly below the falling water. A Niagara fixture since 1846, the Maid of the Mist is a must-do when travelling to Niagara Falls. But, if this voyage is just a little too close for comfort, travellers can also enjoy breathtaking Niagara helicopter tours, the Whirlpool Aero Car that takes people over the Falls’ whirlpool in an antique cable car, or the Journey Behind the Falls, which allows tourists to stand on an observation platform and walk through a series of tunnels near the bottom of Horseshoe Falls.

No matter what a visitor chooses to do, and no matter whether it’s their first time seeing the Falls, or their fiftieth, one thing is for sure: it’s impossible to ignore or discount the enormous size, power, and energy of the beauty that is Niagara Falls. Water flows over the cliff at a rate of six-million cubic feet of water per minute—the amount of water in about 2,000 average-sized swimming pools—and there’s no way to tune out the amazing force of Mother Nature’s roar.

Taking this into account, visitors to the area will be interested to discover that throughout history, Niagara Falls has attracted many daredevils attempting to conquer the falls, in one way or another. The first effort in doing so was in October 1829, when Sam "The Yankee Leapster" Patch jumped from a tower above the Falls into the gorge below. Miraculously, he survived, and his successful feat inspired generations of men and women to challenge the most powerful waterfall in North America. For instance, on October 24, 1901, Annie Taylor was the first person to go over the Falls in a barrel and survive. Taylor, of course, was not the last person to do this, and at least 14 others have tried to go over the Falls in some sort of protective capsule; some survived the plunge, but not surprisingly, some died as well. It’s now illegal to make such an attempt at going over Niagara Falls, but that hasn’t stopped people, as local lore will tell you.

If you prefer, however, to keep your feet and those of your family firmly on the ground, there are plenty of other attractions in Niagara Falls that will keep everyone from cozy couples to young children happy. Just a simple walk up Clifton Hill (a.k.a the Street of Fun by the Falls) will have the kids clambering all over you to let them enjoy things like The Great Canadian Midway, Movieland: Wax Museum of the Stars, Galaxy Golf, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and the Fun Factory. Older kids and adults alike will also enjoy the Crystal Caves, a mirror-maze adventure, the House of Frankenstein, and the Nightmares Fear Factory. The dazzling light given off at night by the Clifton Hill attractions alone is not something to miss.

During the day, kids will also love Marineland, whose main feature is a large aquarium where daily shows entertain those of all ages, but whose grounds also feature a walkabout wildlife park and exciting thrill-rides for the entire family.

Quieter pursuits for adults on a vacation sans children also exist in abundance in Niagara Falls. For the gardening buff, the Niagara Botanical Gardens offer not only stunning arrangements of perennials, a formal parterre garden, shade, herb, and vegetable plantings, and a world-renowned rose garden containing over 2,400 roses, but also an aviary, a Butterfly Conservatory, and an arboretum that boasts one of Canada’s finest collections of ornamental trees and shrubs.

The Heritage Walking Tour is another way to burn some calories, but take in some local history at the same time. This tour brings you to 15 places of historical significance in Niagara Falls, with buildings from as far back as 1857. And, if history’s your thing, you’ll definitely enjoy the Niagara Falls History Museum, Willoughby Historical Museum, and Battle Ground Hotel Museum, all of which bring different elements of Niagara’s past back to life in the present. Also, if your feet aren’t tired yet, a stroll down the White Water Walk shouldn’t be passed by. A sight that will captivate you, this boardwalk stretches along the edge of one of the world’s wildest lengths of whitewater, and you can see how this deep and narrow area called the Great Gorge was naturally created.

Yearly festivals, such as the Niagara Wine Festival, Winter Festival of Lights, and Niagara Ice Wine Festival also provide good reasons for visiting Niagara Falls other than in the more-popular summertime. The Skylon Tower, located in the heart of Niagara’s dining and entertainment district, is also something to experience year-round, as it offers the best view of all that is Niagara Falls, and you can usually see the skylines of Toronto, New York City, and Buffalo from the top observation deck. In addition, the wining and dining adventures to be had in Niagara Falls are something to take full advantage of, considering that you’re in the heart of one of Canada’s most famous wine countries. And, after one of these delicious dinners, adults can extend their evenings by enjoying either the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort or Casino Niagara—or both—before heading back to one of the many deluxe hotels in the city.

But, no matter what attractions the day has brought, and no matter whether you are in the city on a family vacation or a honeymoon, the nightly illumination of the magnificent Falls brings you back to basics, providing a lasting vision to the end of the day and a reminder of the truly amazing place that is Niagara Falls, Ontario.