Ugh, Canadian side was beautiful before the tourist trap stuff moved in. I would spend only the amount of time necessary to see the falls and ride the boat. Then go to Toronto or the US side which is much less crowded.
Agreeing with almost everyone.
Canadian side = better.
Maid of the Mist = fun (on the American side, btw)
Cave of the Winds (walking behind part of the falls) = better (also on the American side)
Botanical Gardens (w/ Butterfly Conservatory) = amazing, budget several hours
Niagara-on-the-Lake = lovely, Victorian, much more pleasant than Niagara Falls
Shaw Festival = try to get tickets to one of the shows, super nice
Peace Bridge = best place to cross, drive up the Canadian side, which is prettier anyway
Buffalo = could deserve a day if you have it and like turn-of-that-other-century architecture and 20th century art
but
Skylon Tower = eh
also
If it’s nice, and you have a few hours (maybe before or after the butterflies), go hiking in the Niagara Gorge on the Canadian side, below the Falls (obviously, because above the Falls, there isn’t any gorge) (which means north, not so obviously). There are lovely trails.
Everything is very close. Buffalo and the Peace Bridge are 20 minutes from the airport, and it’s another 20 minutes t to the Falls after you get across the bridge. That can take 3 minutes or an hour, depending on traffic and the mood of the customs officers. Niagara-on-the-Lake is another 20 minutes north of the Falls, and everything else is between the Falls and there.
Maid of the Mist, the cave behind the falls, and the walk along the shore at night when the falls are lighted are all good to do. Standing above the falls after you’ve seen them from below gives a nice perspective.
Lots of tourist traps. If you’re willing to drive even a quarter mile inland, you will find restaurants that are much less expensive than those along the river.
I’ve only been to the Canadian side, but the walk on the American side where you climb down to the water looked fun! And as long as you’ve come this far, drive another hour+ north and visit Toronto.
We walked along both sides of the falls, Canadian and American. We did mostly skip the gaudy touristy parts, but still found the area interesting overall. We did find a small museum on the Canadian side that was a short walk from our hotel. It had a restored old fire engine in it, as well as an exhibit about people that had gone over the falls, purposely and accidentally. It was a nice way to spend a few hours. They also had an exhibit about distinguishing counterfeit Canadian currency. We had a guide take us on a private tour for the group we were with. It provided a different perspective. He mentioned the relatively low cost of real estate in the area and all of us from HI and high COL areas were quite jealous.
After we had been in the area for a couple of days, my family members and I confessed to one another that we had all – individually and privately – experienced a weird hankering somehow to launch ourselves over the Falls! They seem to have sort of a magnetic pull.
I had a business trip to Niagara Falls a few years ago at the end of September, on the U.S. side. The Sheraton was the business hotel and worked well. Saw the falls and took the Maid of the Mist boat ride, which I remembered doing as a 10 year old kid. The falls are really impressive. We had nice dinner in the Culinary Arts center, I think it is part of a community college. We extended trip and spent the weekend in Toronto, absolutely ideal weather at the end of September and finished with 2 nights in Niagara on the Lake. i would go back there anytime. Because it was the end of the theater season for the Shaw festival, not all venues were still in operation but I thoroughly enjoyed the show we did see in the large main theater. Also such a quaint town to stroll around in, fine dining and enjoyed the wineries we visited about 4 and also we toured historic War of 1812 fort. Toronto is a great place to visit also and less than a 2 hour drive.
Niagara Falls is a 1 or 2 day max trip unless you like wax museums and outrageous tourist stuff. I’d stay on the Canadian side. You could spend weeks in Toronto and never get bored.
I used to work at the Park owned restaurant that overlooked the falls when I was 16. Man, it got hot and humid in the bakery…the mist from the falls and the heat would combine to make it feel like a Malaysian jungle!
NF is a bit tacky, with wax museums, casinos, go karts, and tourist shops. Go the falls both during the day and night when the lights are on, and take the town for what it’s worth. Have fun with it. Or not, and go to Niagara On The Lake, which is the highbrow version of NF, where you can have overpriced tea and crumpets and watch a Show play.
One major thing that Niagara Falls has going for it? It’s not Niagara Falls, NY. Trust me, the American side is worse, unless things have changed recently.