Nick and his family are originally from the western NY area, so as a kid he visited Niagara Falls several times. As such, I had heard a lot about this wondrous place but greatly suffered from FOMO as I had never been. So when we had the opportunity during a visit for his cousin’s graduation party (also around my birthday), I was elated!
Of course, Nick and his aggressive touristic ways wanted to give me the full Falls experience for my birthday. We managed to do Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, Niagara-on-the-lake, Niagara whirlpool, and time on the Canadian side all over one weekend. For most of the trip, we stayed in a hotel on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We used this area as our jump-off base to see the main attractions of the Falls, and spend some time with family. It was a really fun trip, and I have to say it’s true, the Canadian views at Niagara are a little better!
Pre-trip Notes
We flew in and out of Buffalo, NY, but we obviously needed our passports to get into Canada. We mostly used the footbridge to experience the American aspects of Niagara Falls, so we always had our passports while we were out and about.
What We Did
Niagara Falls: A resulting feature of the Niagara Escarpment, which was formed by unequal erosion associated with glaciers that covered much of Canada and the Northern U.S. during the last Ice Age. I was surprised to learn that there have been multiple people who have tumbled over the Falls, and several lived to tell the tale! It’s truly a spectacular place that should be visited at least once!
Maid of the Mist: For about $19.25/adult, there was no way we were going to miss out on the opportunity to take a boat ride right up to the base of the falls. Rain ponchos are provided, but depending on where you stand, be prepared to get very damp!
Cave of the Winds: Being outfitted again with a poncho and some sandals, you get an up-close and personal experience of Bridal Veil Falls. For $19/adult, you walk around a series of wooden walkways with the highlight being the Hurricane Deck. Aptly named, as the wind and mist caused by the rushing water really did feel like we were in the middle of a tropical storm!
Niagara Whirlpool: The whirlpool is a natural phenomenon where a section of the river upstream of the Falls has a bend that causes a gyre to form. It is very large, and you can see entire tree trunks caught in the middle spinning about! You can experience this place a few different ways: from the Niagara Gorge edge on foot, via a cable car that goes over it, or a jet boat that takes you right to it. Companies offer various packages with the boats and cable car, but we only had time for the bird’s-eye-view from the edge of the gorge.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: A beautiful little Canadian town situated at the Niagara River head and the shores of Lake Ontario a couple hours’ drive north of the Falls. I wish we could have visited for longer to take in the Main Street quaint shops and the really gorgeous views of Lake Ontario! On our way back to Niagara Falls, we stopped at some of the wineries where we tasted something called “Ice Wine.” It is a dessert type, very sweet and delicious, that is made from the last grapes on the vine after winter freeze has begun. The grapes being left on the vine during the change in seasons actually concentrate the natural sugars. It is worth a try if you ever get the chance!
Niagara Falls, Ontario (town): After dark, we took a ride on the SkyWheel (ferris wheel) to get a good view of the falls lit up with multi-colored lights at night for $7/person. We also walked around the town, which reminded me a lot of Branson, Missouri, with a Ripley’s Believe it or Not, wax museums, and other various tourist attractions.
Food
Pillitteri Ice Wine: We didn’t stay for very long, but I’m glad we stopped here. The wine is delicious, and the countryside is beautiful. We recommend visiting, especially if you like the occasional sweet wine!
Tim Hortons: Yum. A Canadian staple, and a great stop for coffee and donuts.
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