If you didn’t know, Niagara Falls is so much more than the falls themselves. Without a doubt, in all its majestic splendor, the Falls are still the greatest attraction. Still, both the Canadian and American sides of Niagara Falls are packed with outlying attractions that you won’t want to miss.
On the American side, places like the Niagara Aquarium offer plenty of entertainment for both parents and children. For someone who likes to enjoy the outdoors, the place to visit is Niagara Falls State Park. The park offers you space for biking, hiking, fishing, and camping. The Daredevil Museum captures the history of the attempts to conquer the falls, while the Schoellkopf Museum deals with its history and geology.
On the Canadian side, Niagara Falls Ontario offers an attractive variety of attractions such as games and duty-free shopping. Other top Niagara Falls attractions include Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Goat Island, Fort Erie, and Niagara Falls Winter Garden.
The Maid of the Mist boat tours, a half-hour trip, will take you to the rough waters on the American side of the falls. Be prepared to get wet while traveling, although hooded raincoats are provided if you forget yours. On the Cave of the Winds journey, you take an elevator that goes deep into the Niagara Gorge. Standing on the “hurricane deck”, you get a view of Bridal Veil Falls from a distance of just 20 feet.
Two great spots for kids are Marineland, with killer whales, dolphins and sea lions, and Fun House, where they can play in the rolling barrels.
You’ll also find great restaurants like Betty’s, Happy Wanderer, Niagara Grand Dinner Theater, bars and clubs like Beer Garden, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, and Al Mac’s Bar and Grill.
If you are a compulsive shopper, you will find everything from toys to curiosity shops. Niagara’s Duty Free Shop, open daily, offers everything from spirits to crystals, many of them attractively discounted.