Niagara Falls, the vast, glorious
cascades on the border of New York, U.S.A. and Ontario, Canada,
attracts site seers from across the globe. On the New York side
one can get side views of the American Falls and the Bridal Veil
Falls’ impressive 180-ft. drop. The best view of the Horseshoe
Falls can be seen from Goat Island’s Terrapin Point.
Goat’s
Island is also the location of the Cave of the Winds, where the
walkways come within 25 feet of the roaring cataracts. For a panorama
of the New York side falls, visitors can take the elevator to
the top of the Prospect Park Observation Tower, or climb to the
Crow’s Nest, which comes so close to the edge of the American
Falls that it catches the spray. The Maid of the Mist leaves from
the bottom of the Prospect Park Observation Tower every fifteen
minutes, just like it has for the last 160 years, to give passengers
a look at the falls from the bottom.
Niagara Falls National Park has activities and tours to take.
Guests can watch a 22-minute film of highlights from the History
Channel’s 1999 documentary on Niagara Falls. The Niagara
Gorge Discovery Center offers opportunities for climbing, hiking
or white-water rafting in the Devil’s Hole. The Aquarium
of Niagara has penguins, sharks and performing sea lions.
Niagara Falls is especially beautiful at
night when they are painted in soft, rainbow hues when lit by giant
electric lights. The towns around the falls are the definition
of touristy. Think about making Buffalo your home base, where there
is better service and ambiance, and visiting from there.
There’s no getting around it: the
views of Niagara Falls are far superior from the Canadian side. If at
all possible cross the Rainbow Bridge and see them all.
