Niagara Falls, NY Road Trips

The Niagara Falls consist of three sections. The large Canadian falls—with their distinctive curved shape—are also known as the Horseshoe Falls. They are separated by Goat Island from the American Falls, which are separated from the narrow Bridal Veil Falls by a small island at their south end. Each side of the falls offers a different perspective, and it is always best to visit both sides to maximize your experience. In contrast to the panoramic view of the falls afforded by the Canadian side, what is seen from Niagara Falls, New York is a heart-pounding, sidelong, close-up look at the rushing water at the moment it tumbles over the precipice. On the American side, the immediate vicinity of the falls is part of Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the nation. The presence of the state park (originally laid out by renowned landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted) serves to preserve the natural beauty of the area and prevent the kind of commercialization that you'll find on the Canadian side. Visitors looking to experience the falls as a natural wonder will appreciate this. During the winter season, a lot of maintenance of the falls, tours, and surroundings takes place. Many areas, such as Terrapin Point and Luna Island, are closed due to slippery conditions. Winter brings a different kind of beauty to the falls and a visit during that time is certainly worthwhile, but if you want to experience the full range of tourist amenities described in this article, plan to come in the warmer months.

Views of Niagara Falls are free and accessible. Access to the riverside walks and parks offer great views. You can walk across to Goat Island on the pedestrian bridge. There are a number of attractions designed to give different experiences of the falls. 1 Cave of the Winds, ☏ +1 716 278-1730. Daily 9AM-7:30PM from Spring 2013. An elevator takes you 175 feet down to a walkway that leads you right to the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls. You will definitely get a feel for the true power of the falls! This is the closest you can get to the falls on either side without actually leaping into them! Ponchos and sandals are provided, and you will definitely need them. $12, 6-12 yr: $8, younger children Free but must be 42 inches or taller. 2 Maid of the Mist. A boat ride, taking you down around the bottom of the falls. Some information is given about the falls, but the real experience is looking up at the falls from below and feeling the mist coming off the falls (hence the name). Wear a poncho to avoid getting wet. Boats leave from both the American and Canadian sides, so you may want to check the exchange rates to see which will be more cost-effective when you visit! Apr-Oct. Adult: $28.25, Child: $17.75, 5 and under: free. 3 Niagara Falls Observation Tower (Prospect Point). $1.25. (updated Feb 2019) 4 Aquarium of Niagara, 701 Whirlpool St, toll-free: +1-800-500-4609. 9AM-5PM. This is not a large aquarium by any means, but it's a long-standing and beloved attraction.

There are literally dozens of operators offering tours of the area; only a few offer value-added services on top of simply ferrying you place to place and describing the sites. Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours. It's safe to say it's hard to replicate the experience of flying over the falls without booking a helicopter tour. It's an awesome experience, though $165 may seem like a lot of cash for an 11-14 minutes ride. (updated Jul 2018) If you get bored with the scenery and don't much care for probability and statistics, the local Native American tribe has just the place: 1 Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, 310 4th St (between Niagara St and Rainbow Blvd), ☏ +1 716 299-1100, toll-free: +1-877-873-6322. Casino and hotel complex with stores and restaurants, a short walk from the falls. If you really want to take the gamble of a lifetime, throw your freedom away by tying the knot in Niagara Falls, the most famous honeymoon destination in the state: 2 Niagara Falls City Hall, 745 Main St, ☏ +1 716 286-4300. 8AM-4PM weekdays. A couple may obtain a marriage license in person from any city or town clerk in New York State at least 24 hours (and not more than 60 days) before the ceremony. The $40 cost includes the issuance of a Certificate of Marriage Registration. (updated May 2024) 3 Niagara Falls State Park, 332 Prospect St, ☏ +1 716 278-1796. Tie the knot at the Top of the Falls restaurant or in the park itself, year-round. 4 Falls Wedding Chapel, ☏ +1 716 285-5570. Multiple locations ranging from a chapel at the Quality Inn ($200) to an airborne helicopter ($900).

1 Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, 28 Old Falls St, ☏ +1 716 210-2525. The new home of Niagara County Community College's Hospitality & Tourism programs opened in 2012 and they're serving up some of the best food in the city. And by dining at their restaurants, you're helping to train the next generation of hospitality workers. (updated May 2024) Savor, ☏ +1 716 210-2580. Lunch: Tu-Sa 11AM-2PM; Dinner: Tu-Th 5PM-9PM, F Sa 5PM-10PM. The Institute's fine dining restaurant offers pizza, pasta, steaks, and seafood. The seasonal menu is based on locally grown products. $6-36. La Patisserie, ☏ +1 716 210-2587. Su M 9AM-6PM, Tu-Th 9AM-8PM, F Sa 9AM-9PM. A French-style bakery with breakfast pastries and desserts. $2-4. 2 David's, 7616 Niagara Falls Blvd (just south of the city proper), ☏ +1 716 283-3322. Home of the cheesesteak hoagie. It has some of the best cheesesteaks in the area. 3 Great Wall, 8233 Niagara Falls Blvd, ☏ +1 716 283-2354. Halal Mobile Foods, 26 Niagara St. The food is filling and is in a tourist location. 4 Misty Dog Grill, 431 Main St, ☏ +1 716 285-0702. The place for cheap eats. With over 100 menu items, you can't go wrong. From several different styles of hot dogs to venison, ostrich, buffalo, and Kobe beef burgers, this is the best place to eat lunch. Beef On Weck, a Buffalo favorite, is also available here. 5 Taste Good Chinese Restaurant, 1609 Military Rd, ☏ +1 716 297-9318. 6 Twist O' the Mist, 18 Niagara St, ☏ +1 716 285-0702.

The drinking age in New York is 21, however, due to the fact that Niagara Falls straddles the border, 19 and 20 year-olds may cross the border into Canada to legally drink. Alcohol is more expensive in Canada. 1 Judi's Lounge, 2057 Military Rd, ☏ +1 716 297-5759. Townie bar specializing in wings.

There are not really any major luxury hotels in the area, but a new hotel is now at Seneca Niagara Casino. There are several other nice-looking hotels downtown by the Falls, and then a series of motels on Niagara Falls Boulevard, including several $20/night fleabag specials (where they really always charge you more than that anyway). Downtown, the best hotels are Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center, and The Red Coach Inn. There are several B&Bs: Butler House, Park Place B&B, and the Elizabeth House. 1 The Red Coach Inn, 2 Buffalo Ave (at Main St), ☏ +1 716 282-1459. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Historic bed and breakfast inn since 1923. Modeled after the Old Bell Inn in Finedon, England. Overlooks the Upper Rapids. Two-bedroom suites, one-bedroom suites and guestrooms, uniquely decorated with period antiques and reproductions, kitchens, fireplaces, canopy beds, air conditioned, other luxury appointments. Continental breakfast and newspaper are provided daily in the restaurant, plus champagne with fruit and cheese in your room upon arrival. Smoke-free. Pets are not allowed. $99-199. 2 Wanderfalls Guesthouse & Hostel, 601 Spruce Ave (at Main St), ☏ +1 716 804-6235. Check-in: 4PM-9PM, check-out: 11AM. There are three dorm rooms (four beds per room) and one private room (twin bunk). Free Wi-Fi, guest kitchen, BBQ grill, parking, laundry. Dorms $16-22, private room $36-55. 3 Gorge View, 723 3rd St, ☏ +1 716 286-0707, fax: +1 716 286-0909. Hostel with male, female, and co-ed dorms, along with private rooms. All bathrooms en-suite.

1 Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG IATA). The closest airport to the falls, it is served by two low-cost commercial airlines as well as charter and private flights. Allegiant Air has regular direct flights to Punta Gorda, Orlando-Sanford, and St. Petersburg-Clearwater as well as to Savannah. Spirit Airlines flies year-found to Fort Lauderdale and seasonally to Myrtle Beach. Buffalo-Niagara International Airport (BUF IATA), just outside of Buffalo, is a major airport, with flights across the United States. It is about 30-40 minutes away. Buffalo Airport Shuttle, +1 716-685-2550, offers service from the Buffalo-Niagara airport to Niagara Falls. A family of 4 can expect to pay $22 per person and the drivers often have great tips on where to go and what to avoid. BUF Buffalo Airport Taxi Service, +1 716-292-4425, provides service from the Buffalo-Niagara Airport to Niagara Falls. Expected cost is $65 total for 1-7 people. John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM IATA) is about a one-hour drive west of Niagara Falls in the Canadian province of Ontario. The airport hosts Canadian carrier WestJet which offers frequent flights all over Canada. In addition, Transat Holidays offers weekly direct flights to Cancún, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ IATA), in Mississauga is about a 90-minute drive from the Falls, assuming ideal traffic conditions on Toronto-area highways, which is not a good thing to assume. 2 Niagara Falls station, 825 Depot Ave W.

You can really do a lot without a car once you get to the immediate vicinity of the Falls. If you are staying downtown you may be able to get by without a car. The toll for walking the Rainbow Bridge westbound to Canada is $1 (both U.S. and Canadian currency accepted), paid on the Canadian side coming into Canada. (There is no eastbound toll.) If you travel with any baby carriage, you pay no extra toll. Do not photograph or film on the Bridge without getting Bridge Commission approval and signing a liability waiver first. You cannot walk across the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge. Bicycling can be faster than walking to get around. The toll for bicycling and walking the bridge across the national border is the same. On the bridge sidewalk, bicyclists are officially supposed to walk their bikes, but you may bicycle on the far right lane of the Rainbow Bridge and Lewiston-Queenston Bridge like a car. Reddy Bikeshare, Buffalo's bike-sharing network, expanded to Niagara Falls in 2019, with about three dozen locations spread out citywide but (as you might expect) most heavily concentrated in the downtown tourist area. To use a Reddy bike, sign in to the SoBi mobile app to find and reserve an available bike at any of the various Reddy racks around the city (or simply walk up to a rack and enter your account number and PIN on the bike's keypad to unlock it). Then, when you're finished, simply lock your bike up at whichever Reddy rack is nearest you. There's a $2 fee for locking a Reddy bike up anywhere other than a Reddy rack.

Downtown Niagara Falls — that is, the area immediately surrounding the falls themselves — is undergoing something of a renaissance, with a small boom in new hotels being constructed, new shops and restaurants on Old Falls Street, and a general sprucing up compared to a few years back. However, many of the residential neighborhoods surrounding downtown remain rundown, a victim of the economic malaise that swept over the region as a whole in the late 20th century, a time when many of the chemical plants and other industries that employed residents shut down. If you're straying outside of downtown, common-sense rules for any urban area apply: lock your car doors, avoid flashy displays of wealth, keep your wits about you. Exceptions to this rule are the DeVeaux neighborhood as well as adjacent areas along the lower Niagara River north of downtown, which are quite well-to-do residential neighborhoods, as well as the busy commercial strip of Niagara Falls Boulevard and the adjacent middle-class neighborhood of LaSalle, near Niagara Falls International Airport.