Niagra Falls Vacations

Niagra Falls vacations are one of the few places in the world where you can see the open display of Mother Nature’s furious power. Tons and tons of water plunging down into the gorge. The sight will keep you mesmerized.

Think of the most fearsome and deadly beast you can imagine. Now imagine what it would be like to walk up beside it, pet its furry face and put your hand in its open mouth. All in complete safety. That’s what a Niagara Falls vacation is like.

The heart of a Niagra Falls vacation is the magnificent pair of water falls located on the border between New York and Canada. America Falls is on the U.S. side and Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side.

There are a variety of ways to enjoy them. You can take in the whole scene with a tower or a helicopter view.

You can get close up in a boat either above or below the falls. The Maid in the Mist boat tour will take you right up to the bottom of the falls for a good drenching. You can walk right up and touch the cascading water. The Cave of the Winds will take Right to the base of the falls. You get there from Goat Island Park on the U.S. side.

The Maid of the Mist boat ride is by far the most popular attraction and usually is the only one with major wait times. Doing it first thing in the morning is the best way to cut out the wait time.

November brings the first snow it continues into March. The snow usually melts off fairly quickly. Only a big storm will keep the snow around for more than a few days.

Typically the ice is gone from the river by mid-March. Many of the attractions are closed. Also, getting wet is not as much fun in the winter so close up encounters should be avoided.

But the falls are beautiful in the winter and there is still plenty to do. The Festival of Lights is a wonderful part of a winter Niagra Falls vacation. It is a yearly tradition and is really quite beautiful. Not to be missed. Lots of performances of all kinds are fun too. This usually lasts from Thanksgiving to New Years.

The popular opinion is that the Canadian side is better than the U.S. side. You can see the whole picture better from the Canadian side however the America Falls are visually more exciting.

The Canadian side has many more attractions and is generally much nicer. The U.S. side is less attractive around the area and some people consider it “seedy”. There is a lot more to do on the Canadian side. They also have a better class of restaurants and hotels.

There is a bridge at the border and it can get backed up with cars during the summer. All the attractions on the U.S. side are within walking distance so this makes staying on the Canadian side the better choice for many.

Along the Niagara River is a parkway that runs to Niagara on the Lake. This is a very popular side excursion for people taking a Niagra Falls vacation.

A Niagra Falls vacation is one that you and your family can enjoy together and never forget. It is truly on of the great wonders of the world.