Stretching across the border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York is the majestic Niagara Falls that has been on my to-do list for a long time. Every time I see the photos or videos, I’m amazed at the magic of nature and I’m so ecstatic when I finally get to visit them over Memorial Day weekend with my friends and myself. I experience. To say, I am speechless and lost in thought would be an understatement.
Niagara Falls has two sides – the US side and the Canadian side. Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls. The spectacular falls can be visited by boat, helicopter or by your own feet. The largest of the three falls is Horseshoe Falls and is also known as Canada Falls, and two smaller falls – Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls are on the American side. I haven’t been to the Canadian side and would love to go see the Horseshoe Falls in its entirety, however you can see all three from the US side and believe me, it’s spectacular nonetheless.
One of my friends quote it and it reminds me forever “In Canada, you see the waterfall, and in the US, you feel the waterfall”.
How to get to Niagara Falls
We drove to Niagara Falls from Boston starting Friday night at 5pm EST and made several stops along the way and stayed overnight. Niagara Falls is about 460 miles from Boston. You can also fly to Buffalo Niagara International Airport and then drive to the falls about 30 minutes away.
Where
We stayed in Ellicottville, New York, about an hour and fifteen minutes drive from Niagara Falls. Check out the location This. We really enjoyed our stay here and it was perfect for our group of 10. Ellicottville is known for its ski resorts. We booked just a week before Memorial Day weekend and most of our favorite places near Niagara Falls were sold out. If you’re looking for an upscale hotel closer to the falls, check out Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino. Some other options closer are the Hyatt Place Niagara Falls and the Red Coach Inn.
Best time to visit Niagara
The best time to visit the falls is mid-May to mid-September. However, the peak season is in the summer from June to August. However, it has been said that there is no right or wrong time to visit. in Niagara. The colder winter months offer the chance to see the falls freeze, which is something I wanted to visit as well. If you also want to explore some of the parks around New York like we do, May is a great time as it is neither too hot nor too cold.
Must do things in Niagara Falls
Maid of the Mist – If there is only one thing you can do, I highly recommend doing this tour. This is an absolute must! Strolling along the water’s edge and seeing Niagara Falls from afar is one thing, but seeing the falls from the vantage point of the water via a boat tour on the Maid of the Mist is quite another. If you’re traveling during long weekends or at peak times, it’s likely you’ll have to wait two hours or more. Tickets for this tour are $25.25 for adults and I recommend buying them in advance, especially if you’re visiting at a busy time. They give you ponchos during the tour so you don’t get wet. Experience the roar and dense fog of a powerful and enchanting waterfall that is surreal. We were lucky to see two rainbows formed by fog in the air. You can check the schedule and book your own tickets This.
Things to know when traveling:
- Bring a waterproof phone or GoPro to capture the majestic waterfalls.
- Be prepared to wait in long lines. But don’t worry it’s worth the wait.
- The tour takes place every 15 minutes and lasts about 20 minutes.
- Visiting times cannot be booked in advance.
- Observation Tower – After the Maid of the Mist tour, we headed to the Observation tower for a panoramic view. It’s the only place where you can see both American Falls and Horseshoe Falls together.
- lighting waterfall – When the sun goes down, the striking Niagara Falls is illuminated every night of the year, starting at sunset until 2 a.m. in the summer and creating a beautiful scene that amazes visitors from near and far. . Did you know – the first illumination event took place in 1860 with 200 Bengal lamps to honor the visit of the Whale Prince as a one-night event. You can check the lighting schedule This. Normally, there will be fireworks at the falls every night at 10:00 in the summer, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, fireworks are canceled in 2021.
- Wind Cave – This was something we couldn’t do because the tickets for the day were sold out but can’t wait to go back and try this. Highly recommend booking tickets by going early as they are not sold out online to avoid tickets being sold out. I heard that there is no better way to safely experience the immense power of the falls than to stand under the torrential waters on the famous Storm Deck. They provide a yellow poncho for this experience but you will definitely get wet, so bring a change of clothes and appropriate footwear. Did you know – decking is removed each fall due to possible damage and reinstalled each spring by park officials to enjoy the experience. Can’t wait to go back and try this mesmerizing experience!!
- Rainbow – Unfortunately due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Canadian border was closed and we were unable to cross the border at Niagara Falls. You can walk or drive across the Rainbow Bridge to cross the border, but keep in mind that you’ll need a valid Canadian visa to go if you’re traveling from New York. It takes about five minutes to walk across this bridge. You can actually have one foot in the United States and one foot in Canada on this bridge.
- Terrain point– The most beautiful view point of Horseshoe waterfall outside the Maid of fog is from Terrapin point to see the waterfall and fog forming up close. This is a great place to check out the illuminated falls.
- Goat Island – You can also explore and walk around Goat Island. The best way to explore Goat Island is on foot. Goat Island is located in the middle of the Niagara River. The island bisects the Niagara River before it flows past the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. It is a great place to enjoy the natural beauty and see the waterfall. It is connected to Luna Island by a pedestrian bridge.
where to eat
- Kathi rolls on waterfall – Highly recommend you to try this food truck to enjoy delicious and attractive kathi rolls. My favorite kathi rolls are the Aloo roll and the Chana roll. I also love the paneer roll. They also offer many options for vegetarians and this place does not disappoint.
- Dosa Hut Fine Indian Cuisine – We also tried another food cart and tried masala dosa, idli sambhar, parathas, channa masala and samosa chaat here. Personally, I like the samosa chaat here the most.
Day trips from Niagara Falls
- Watkins Glen State Park – 2.5 hours from Niagara Falls. We took a day trip to Watkins Glen State Park. See the complete guide to what to do and where to eat This.
- Letchworth State Park – This is another great day trip to explore just 1.5 hours from Niagara Falls.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will be happy to answer all of your questions. Hope you enjoyed the article!
