I go every so often in the spring when the water is high. We walk the trail along the river gorge on the Canada side. It is lovely and not too rigorous. Take the spiral staircase down at the nature center.
FallGirl, I think we also stayed at the Marriott. I remember it having a beautiful view of the fall.
Anyone remember South of the Border on 95 between north and South Carolina? I felt like the Canadian side looked like that. We stayed right in the falls and we did take one day to do a bus tour that got us behind the falls and way down the river. We also took a tour of niagara on the lake and the vineyards and it’s very charming there.
We went to the Falls when we were moving from Mass to Wis. I was seven. I remember the Ripple’s museum very well, walking behind the falls.
We also went to the Henry Ford museum in Mich and then when we reached the shore of Wisconsin (just like immigrants, we took a ferry across lake michigan) we reached the Promised Land - the Green Bay Packer’s Hall of Fame.
How much more Americana can one trip hold?
Grew up there. Make sure you go onto Goat Island (US side). The walk behind the bridal veil falls (accessed on the island) is great, especially the hurricane deck. I prefer it to the Canadian tunnel of the winds which used to be great 50 years ago when you could actually stick your hand into the waterfall but those tunnels/portals are closed due to erosion.
Canadian side has a nice butterfly house.
We stayed at the Oakes hotel, it has rooms with great view of the falls and is more reasonably priced than some others.
@ClassicMom98, the hotel at the casino in NF, NY is pretty nice and there is (or was) a pretty great steakhouse in the casino. You’ll be pretty much right down the street from the Rainbow Bridge to Canada, and you can walk across if the traffic is terrible (it shouldn’t be too bad over Thanksgiving - Canadian Thanksgiving is in October) and the weather cooperates. It’s also not a long walk over to Goat Island to see the falls from the American side. @KKmama, I grew up there too - small world!
As a kid my family went to Niagara Falls. I still remember eating filet mignon in the revolving restaurant on the top of the Skylon Tower overlooking the falls (probably my first big steak in a restaurant).
The Canadian side is such a contrast in attractions - the beautiful gardens and parks compared with the tacky wax museums and ripleys
We enjoyed Niagra falls so much we’ve been there 3x. We have seen it from the US and from Canada. We did like Niagra on the Lake as well as Trios Winery and the yummy (but expensive) food there (worth the zagat rating).
We stayed at Hilton Garden Inn on Canadian side–liked the free parking.
Was attending a wedding in upstate NY so met friends who lived not too far away and spent the day on the US side. I am glad I saw the falls. It is an experience.
I was in Toronto last fall and did a one day bus tour to the falls. Our tour group had lunch at Sheraton at the Falls on the Canadian side. The views were fantastic and the Buffett lunch is very good. Well worth going there. They have a small outdoor balcony where you can take pictures.
I liked the falls, but glad I went when i was close by. It’s beautiful, but not worth a 1,000 miles trip to see or anything like that. It is tacky around it, but we weren’t staying overnight or anything. Definitely go on the boat tour. It’s so powerful up close.
One thing we learned from our tour guide is that the falls, in about 5,000 years will just be rapids.
We went through the town Niagara on the Lake and it would be a nice place to spend the night or visit if you cam.
We visited once, years ago. I thought it was worth it to see the falls up close and hear the tremendous sound of the water. We took in the views from both sides, and did the walk under the falls on the US side.
We love Niagara Falls and have been several times, esp with middle son opting to go to college in Rochester making it a quick getaway from there. We’re nature lovers, so YMMV, but we can ignore a bit of the other stuff that is there.
Over the years we’ve stayed in many places, but our default now is to book a falls view room at the Sheraton right next to the Rainbow Bridge on the Canadian side. Then we often bring food in to eat enjoying our view. There are several restaurants within walking distance. This hotel makes walking anywhere (we want to go) easy, so we never have to move our car. I should note that walking a few miles is nothing to us. It could be to others, so there’s a bus that picks up right outside. We’ve never used it, but many folks do.
We always spend two full days there when we go. We devote one to the US side (my favorite for falls viewing) and walk across the bridge, then over to Goat Island. We love walking around the entire island going clockwise. This allows you to see the Niagara in all its fury - yet the calmness in areas too - often with birds standing and taking baths. The river builds in fury as you approach the falls. Do NOT skip going out to Three Sisters Islands. Nature’s beauty here is amazing - and the history told on signs is worth reading. Eventually you end up at the edge of Horseshoe Falls. Up the hill is the State Park welcome center and food, etc, if you are interested. We eat here supporting the park.
Continuing on clockwise you get to an area where you can go down beside the falls in season - this is well worth it too for nature lovers. It allows you the closest view of the falls and allows you to feel the force of the Hurricane Deck - this all from Bridal Veil. One can only imagine how strong it would be from Horseshoe. I doubt this will be open at Thanksgiving unless you are talking about Canadian Thanksgiving vs American.
Continuing on from here you can go across Bridal Veil on walking bridges to be between that and Niagara - again - getting a view one can’t get from the Canadian side. Many feel the view is better from the Canadian side. We disagree. They’re different, but for us, being next to the falls is the best and Goat Island allows one to be next to both sets of falls. Table Rock merely allows it for Horseshoe.
After we leave Goat Island we usually take the Maid of the Mist from the US side as we think they go a little closer to Niagara than Horneblower does (haven’t been there in two years now in case Horneblower didn’t continue the contract for the boats). The US boats are also more traditional and we like that. If you don’t want to get wet, choose the Canadian Horneblower boats as they have sections that are pretty much enclosed. If you go later in the day they aren’t as crowded. Early morning works too. Again, by US Thanksgiving the boats aren’t running. Canadian Thanksgiving I think they still are.
For our day on the Canadian side we like to do the tunnels and sometimes pick something else. Eating in the tower has been good, but that depends upon our budget for the trip. With a room overlooking the falls we no longer go up in the tower merely for the view. The Daredevil Museum is fun and the movie with it is interesting. The 4D movie at Table Rock is one we watched and wished we hadn’t wasted money on. The butterfly museum is good and going down to the Whirlpool Gorge can be interesting, but we rarely do that - mainly due to needing to drive there. We skip pretty much everything else unless I’m missing something, but walking around and seeing it - people watching - can be relaxing. My guys did the beer tasting once.
Not everyone likes the falls. We can’t relate, but to each their own - even those who go there mainly for the casinos, etc.
Almost forgot to add that one should try Poutine if they aren’t totally opposed to the local food (well, local having started in Quebec). Smoke’s Poutine is a can’t miss for us - often once each day just choosing different types.
I stayed at a place right next to the falls last time I was there. I forget the name but I think it was one of the Sheraton hotels. There were two. The butterfly conservatory is a must. Go during the week to avoid crowds. Oh, and don’t go on july first. I learmed that the hard way.
On the american side, for a lunch or a dinner, you need to go to the Anchor bar in Buffalo. Proclaim themselves as being the inventors of the Buffalo wing. Dive bar, kid friendly, and wings actually are good.
Agree, Niagra on the lake is a nice place to visit, go through the wine country.
@runnersmom Thanks! We are looking forward to it.
Nothing really new to add, but trying to swell the vote count on the best options:
– You don’t have to choose between sides! Visit both the Canadian and the American sides. They are 5-20 minutes apart, depending on the immigration backup on the bridge. But for staying someplace, my preference would be the Canadian side, and Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is 20 minutes from the Falls. Many gorgeous inns there.
– Maid of the Mist, absolutely. Also, Cave of the Winds, on the American side, which takes you behind the Bridal Veil.
– Go to see at least one play at the Shaw Festival, in the main theater if you can.
– Butterfly Conservancy, absolutely. Plan on a couple of hours there. It’s between Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Falls.
– There are beautiful (and fairly short) hiking trails on the Canadian side in the Niagara Gorge, below (i.e., north of) the Falls. That’s worth a couple of hours, too, if the weather is nice.
– Things I am not that into: Winery visits (you can drink the wines elsewhere), eating at the Skylon (yes, lovely views of the Falls when your table is on that side of the building), Anchor Bar in Buffalo (claim to have invented Buffalo wings is debatable, but they are not so different there vs. anywhere else).
We love Niagara Falls, no apologies. Something that hasn’t been mentioned is if you go down the viewing deck/bridge elevator, youcome out at a lovely plaza with nice bathrooms plus there is a windy staircase with railings that goes up the side of the American Falls. Hands down, my kids’ favorite part, and it’s free. Somewhat subject to weather, though.
We’ve never done Maid of the Mist, but we’ve enjoyed the Canadian tunnels and the walkout at the bottom over there
If you go the entire way up towards Horseshoe, but on theUS side, there’s great views. And since I married a geek, don’t miss th Tesla monument. Look for the black squirrels!
If you don’t mind the drive, Ft Niagara is very nice and on a clear day you can see across the lake to Toronto. We stayed outside Buffalo as it was much less expensive.