Niagara Falls Attractions

The best place to view the falls on the New York side is at Prospect Point. The point sits at the edge of the American Falls’ 1,000-foot cliff – stand there and you can look straight down into the foaming waters. Rainbows are often formed in the mist below, making it an even more spectacular sight. There are three falls; let’s take a quick look at each.
• Horseshoe Falls is by far the most spectacular of the three falls. Its shape gives it its name. Horseshoe Falls is also known as Canadian Falls, because it’s situated entirely on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

• American Falls is thought by some to be less impressive than Horseshoe Falls because significantly less – almost nine times less – water flows over it. Its brink is linear, not curved, so it is less visually striking.

• Bridal Veil Falls is smaller than the Horseshoe and American Falls. Like the American Falls, it's on the American side.

There are plenty of tourist attractions in the area. Here are some of the better ones:

• Maid of the Mist. Taking the 15 minute Maid of the Mist tour boat ride will bring you close to the water – so close that you’ll get wet. Boats leave frequently from both the Canadian and American sides. The boat will drop you off where it picked you up. Boasts operate from May to October, with prices around $9 for adults and $5 for children.

• Journey Behind the Falls. A fairly short walk takes you behind the Horseshoe Falls – it’s the best way to get an “inside” view of the falls. You’ll get an immediate sense of the power and volume of the rushing water.

• Observation Towers. Both the Canadian and American sides have tall observation towers to give you a wonderful overhead view of the falls. Tickets are less than a dollar.

• IMAX. Don’t want to get too close to the water? The IMAX theatre provides cinematic view of Niagara Falls on a huge IMAX screen.

• Illumination of the Falls. The falls are lit on both sides of the border at night. The colors change periodically through the evening. The falls are typically illuminated until midnight during peak tourist season and until around 10 p.m. in mid-winter.

The falls are open year-round, and are operated by Niagara Reservation State Park. Admission to the park is free, but parking costs $5 at the Prospect Point and western Goat Island lots; the eastern Goat Island is free. Depending on the time of year you visit, you’ll want to dress appropriately: upstate New York can be extremely cold in winter, and the mist from the falls adds a significant chill to the air. In the summertime temperatures average in the 80s and 90s, so wear shorts and a t-shirt if you take the Maid of the Mist boat ride, but also bring along a jacket – evenings can still be cool.

There are other attractions you can visit: across the border in Canada is the Aquarium of Niagara Falls, a renowned aquarium containing over 2,000 marine animals. The aquarium is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with extended hours in the summer until 7 p.m. Admission is less than $7 for adults and $5 for children. On the New York side is the Schoelkopf Geological Museum, where you can learn about the geological history of the falls.

Want to learn more about some of the thrill-seekers who found fame (but probably not fortune) at the falls? Visit the Daredevil Museum: you can find out about the 63 year-old schoolteacher who rode over Horseshoe Falls in a wooden barrel in 1901 and about the tightrope walkers who have traversed the falls. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., and admittance is free.

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