Upstate New York’s Niagara Falls is one of the top waterfalls in the world. You will hear it before you see it. The first glance is amazing as the power of water is the show. Best of all, you can enjoy Niagara from the side or up close from a Maid of Mist boat. You can also enjoy it at night. Here are the top things to do at Niagara Falls..
9 Top Things to Do at Niagara Falls
Visit Niagara Falls State Park
Learn about Niagara Falls
Take the Niagara Falls Scenic Trolley
Ride on the Maid of the Mist
Visit the Cave of the Winds
Tour the Aquarium of Niagara
See the Falls from Niagara Falls Observation Tower
Go for a Hike at Niagara Falls
See the Niagara Falls Illumination
Visit Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls is in a state park and Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the U.S. It’s free to visit and open year-round and 24 hours a day.
Hugging the Niagara River’s side, there are many viewpoints to see the falls and the rushing river leading to the big drop. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. There’s plenty of shade to toss a blanket out. You can also find lots of grab-and-go options in the park.
Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed Central Park in New York City, designed the park to preserve its natural beauty and allow visitors easy access to the falls. Before, the area was dominated by industrial businesses and threatened to destroy the area.
Niagara Falls is located near Buffalo, New York. It is free to enter the park and view the falls; however, other activities require a fee. There is also a fee to park ($5 to $15)
Parking Lot 1 is located at 333 Prospect Street. Find Parking Lot 2 at 15 Goat Island Loop Road. Parking Lot 3 is located at 50 Goat Island Road. Parking Lot 4 is located at Great Lakes 360. When I visited, I arrived early and found the best selection.
Learn about Niagara Falls at Ralph C Wilson Jr. Welcome Center
To learn more about Niagara Falls, visit the 28,000-square-foot Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Welcome Center.ss walls and offers great views and interpretive areas. Here, you can als It features glao buy tickets for attractions in the area, like the Maid of the Mist.
The water originates from four of the five Great Lakes: Michigan, Superior, Huron and Erie. Following the Niagara River, it passes the falls into Lake Ontario before heading down the St. Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean.
With 600,000 gallons of water falling over the edge every second, it’s a sight for waterfall lovers. Below the falls, it’s 170 deep, and the walls of the falls are the same height. Glaciation formed the falls, though they do not freeze solid.
Niagara Falls has three falls–Bridalveil Falls, Horsefalls, and American Falls. Thankfully, most fish survive falling over the falls. About 20% of the U.S. drinking water falls over the falls.
Visitors will find free Wifi, restrooms, a cafe and a gift shop. It is open year-round, starting at 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer and 9 p.m. on summer weekends with various closing times during the year.
Take the Niagara Falls Scenic Trolley
The easiest way to see Niagara Falls State Park is on the Niagara Falls Scenic Trolley. Each tour lasts 30 minutes, and you’ll see the entire park. The trolleys are air-conditioned and heated.
Adult admission is $3, and kids (6 to 12) are $2. Open daily from early July until Labor Day weekend. Tours start at 9 a.m. and run until 9:30 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on weekends). Trolleys run until December 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. a
Hop the Discover Niagara Falls Shuttle
If you are visiting several sites close to Niagara Falls, the Discover Niagara Falls shuttle stops at 21 destinations along the 14-mile route. The Falls to the Fort route connects stops like the Aquarium of Niagara and Whirlpool Falls State Park.
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Ride on the Maid of the Mist
You can view the falls from the edge, but it’s a totally different view from below. For the best experience, I recommend an excursion onc, the Maid of the Mist. The boats are all-electric, and the tour lasts 20 minutes.
I recommend you hop onboard and jockey for a spot on the railing to feel the fall’s power and mist. The Maid of the Mist lurches and growls as it fights the current to get close to the falls. The boat ride includes complimentary blue ponchos; you will get wet. So you might want to wear water shoes or quick-drying shoes.
After your ride, follow the stairs to the right of the dock for great photo opportunities, including a rainbow at Crow’s Nest. Most passengers miss this. Afterward, you can go ahead and ride the elevator from the pier to the observation deck for more pictures.
Know Before You Go:
Arrive early to ride the Maid of the Mist for the fewest crowds. During our trip, we hopped onboard the first tour of the day without having to wait.
Some younger kids might be scared of the noise and movement. So, move to the boat’s center, like I did with my youngest. But don’t miss it—it’s a fun, must-do experience. The ride is quick; before you know it, the Maid of the Mist is docking.
The Maid of the Mist does not take reservations, but you can order your tickets online. Tickets are not date-specific, so you don’t have to wait in the ticket line on-site. However, you must wait in line for a boat ride, as those are first-come, first-serve.
Located at 1 Prospect St., Niagara Falls, New York. Open daily from early April until the end of November with seasonal hours. During the summer season, boats run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Adult admission is $28.25, kids (6 to 12) are $17.75, and kids 5 and younger are free with adult admission. Boats depart every 15 minutes, and the ride lasts.
Parking is available at the Niagara Falls State Park, located near its Visitor Center.
Learn about the Maid of the Mist
The Maid of the Mist’s maiden voyage was in 1846 to ferry passengers, parcels and mail across the Niagara River between Canada and the US. Today, close to two million passengers don the blue ponchos to get an up-close look at the three falls that make up Niagara Falls.
Obviously, there have been many boats named Maid of the Mist. The first ones were paddleboats. The original boats were made of oak. Now, the boats are all electric and zero-emissions.
Celebrities like Princess Diana with sons William and Harry. President Jimmy Carter and Marilyn Monroe have all rode the Maid of the Mist.
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Visit the Cave of the Winds
For an up-close look at the falls from the ground, head to the Cave of the Winds. Named after a natural cave behind Bridal Veil Falls, the cave collapsed in the early 1900s but was 130 feet high, 100 feet wide and 30 feet deep.
Today’s visitors can explore the power of Bridalveil Falls on a series of stairs and decks. On most days, visitors feel winds approaching tropical storm strength. Then, they can explore the multimedia exhibit.
Located at 10 Goat Island Loop Road. Timed-entry tickets are required. Adult admission is $21. kids (6 to 12) are $17 and free for those 5 and younger. Open daily at 9 a.m., though access to the decks ends in October.
Paid parking is available at the Niagara State Park parking lots.
Tour the Aquarium of Niagara
Originally opening in 1965, the Aquarium of Niagara is home to 120 species of rescued or non-releaseable animals. Visitors will find over 1,200 fish and invertebrates, along with marine mammals and penguins.
Popular exhibits include the Penguin Coast, the Aliens of the Sea jellyfish exhibit, and the shark and stingray touch pool. During the day, the Aquarium of Niagara hosts numerous feedings and penguin and seal encounters (additional fees).
Located at 701 Whirlpool St, Niagara Falls. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer (7 p.m. on weekends). Adult admission is $$22.95, kids (3 to 12) are $18.95 and babies 2 and younger enter for free.
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See the Falls from Niagara Falls Observation Tower
The Niagara Falls Observation Tower opened in 1958 and extends over the Niagara Falls Gorge, providing unparalleled views of American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. For those not riding on the Maid of the Mist, this is an option for a better view of the falls.
Maid of the Mist riders take the elevator to the boat’s pier, though non-passengers can enjoy the views from Observation Tower, then take the elevator down to see Crow’s Nest for a misty view of the falls.
Located at 332 Prospect St, Niagara Falls. It is open from early June to late December and costs $1.25 per person for those not riding the Maid of the Mist. During the summer season, the Niagara Falls Observation Tower is open from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with shorter seasonal hours for the rest of the year.
Go for a Hike at Niagara Falls
You can hike during your trip and Niagara Falls State Park offers many options. I recommend heading to the Niagara Gorge Trailhead Center for most hikes.
Great Gorge Scenic Overlook Hike–Easy and takes 1 hour.
Upper Great Gorge Scenic Hike–Easy and takes 2 hours.
Devil’s Hole Rapids and Giant Rock–Moderate and takes 2.5 hours.
Whirlpool Rapids Adventure Hike–Advanced and takes 3 hours with boulder hopping.
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See the Niagara Falls Illumination
Check out Niagara Falls at night if you are visiting in the evening. In an rainbow array of color, LED lights up the falls every night from 8:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is free to enjoy.
From mid-May until mid-October, a firework display is performed at 10 p.m. daily. Niagara Falls is sometimes lit up for charitable causes as well.
New York Road Trip?
If you’re road-tripping, like we did, consider visiting the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. The National Park Service tells the story of the Women’s Rights Movement that started in upstate New York in this building.
The first Women’s Rights Convention was held in 1848. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote in 1920.
Located at 136 Falls St., Seneca Falls, New York. This fee-free park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer season.
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