Do Not Miss seeing the Canadian side - remember your passports!!! The Canadian side of the falls was absolutely beautiful!!! Their park and visitor center is right on the Horseshoe Falls.

We actually visited the Canadian side of the falls on our first day in town. Prepare to get very wet, but you won't be sorry that you got to experience the falls this way. If you want to see the falls up close and personal, you have to do a tour that includes the Maid of the Mist and the Cave of the Winds. The park is well kept and clean, and the views are pretty amazing. There are walkways that lead you down to observation areas that get very close to the water. The New York Side of Niagara Falls is beautiful, and the park is very pretty. As it is only a 3 1/2 hour drive, we will definitely be returning and hope to try some different activities. Hotel rooms are less expensive and lines are significantly shorter.

I recommend visiting on a week day if you can. We thoroughly enjoyed just watching the amazing falls and enjoying the beautiful morning. The hotel was within walking distance of the Horseshoe Falls visitor center and lookout point. The room was clean, the restaurant was good with excellent service, and the Starbucks in the hotel lobby was an plus. We paid more for a room with a view, but it was worth it to see the Falls illuminated at night, and it was perfect for watching the nightly fireworks display. We stayed at the Double Tree on the Canadian side.

After the boat ride we climbed the steps to the Crow’s Nest for a beautiful view of the American Falls and great photo ops. With either one you will get wet, but to my surprise the souvenir rain poncho kept my clothes dry. I also recommend doing at least one of the typical tourist activities, such as Maid of the Mist or Cave of the Wind.

The water is a stunning blue, reminiscent of the Caribbean. We spent time at the Whirlpool State Park - I highly recommend it. I hadn’t visited the Falls since I was a child, and I had forgotten just how beautiful and mesmerizing they were.

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