After 2.5 months on the road, we finally reach Niagara Falls! Normally I do all sorts of research on a location as busy and chaotic as Niagara BEFORE we visit… but alas I found myself in the car, on the way there and frantically searching up things such as:

• where to park
• what tourist activities are offered
• how much everything costs

At least we had enough foresight to bring the passports so crossing to the Canadian side was an option!

This is not going to be a tourist guide for families, we simply didn’t have enough time to cover all the things there… but I will share the basics:

Cave of the Winds Tour

Parking:

Niagara Falls is a state park, good to know because if you are staying in another New York State Park Campground, such as 4-Mile Creek State Park, then you can show them your camping tag and you will get free parking for the day.

There is parking near the visitor center, on Goat Island or near any of the areas where tourist activities depart.

We parked at the Cave of the Winds area. We were told by local rangers to prioritize Cave of the Winds if it is on your list as you have to schedule your tour time and often there is a long wait. For us on a Tuesday, the wait time was 10 minutes.
Remember, the wait to go down is only part of it… plan on a wait to go back up the elevator when you are done as well.

Activities:

Many people take the day to walk around and see the falls from the various look outs. Others want a more up-close experience and both the U.S. and Canadian sides offer some fun things!

The U.S. offers 5 main activities:

Maid of the Mists – boat ride up to the base of falls

Cave of the Winds – take the historic elevator down to the base of the falls and hike the boardwalks upclose

Aquarium – Enjoy time at the local aquarium learning about the wildlife and fish

Niagara Gorge Discovery Area

Niagara: Legends of Adventure Theater

You can also do all five activities if you purchase a discovery pass. The cost of the pass is far less than paying for each activity individually. If you want to choose one good activity then I would say to the cave tour or the boat ride and plan on getting wet!

Canada also offers similar activities, including a boat ride, hike down below the falls, zip-line, and more. While we didn’t do any of the Canadian tours, I sort of wish we’d done their version of the up-close hike, as according to brochures it included going behind Horseshoe falls and climbing through caves.

American Side or Canadian??

Canada has by far the more complete and better views of Niagara Falls. However, there are some subtile differences in the excursions they offer (mentioned above) as well as a different cultural feel on each side.

I am not going to outline all the activities that can be done on either side of the border. Rather my goal is to help you plan and prioritize your family’s visit based on the experience you desire. Each side can offer vastly different experiences.

Niagara from the United States

Niagara Falls from the U.S.

Large open grassy areas, wooded and shaded walking paths, access to the different falls including Horseshoe falls, American Falls and Bridalveil Falls. The U.S. side has much to offer.

American landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, worked with renown people in the mid-1800s to buy back the Niagara Falls land from factory owners and tear down the factories that once raped the landscape on the U.S. side. (A great video highlighting this history is included in the Cave of the Winds Tour.) The goal since then has been to return it and maintain it in its natural state– a goal I love. The U.S. side reflects the feel of keeping things natural with quieter areas and less urbanization.

Niagara from the Canadian Side

Niagara Falls from Canada

The Canadian side has unarguably the better views, being able to view all of Niagara Falls at once and from a superior angle.

However, the cultural feel is entirely opposite from the U.S. side. In short, it is super busy and urbanized. I hate to call it circus-y but it is. Lots of big building, haunted houses, circus rides, loud music, go carts, wax museums, etc.

While this carnival feel can be fun, it just totally depends on what your family’s goal and preference is for your experience at Niagara Falls.

We spent an afternoon and evening exploring Cave of the Winds and walking to the Canadian side. And honestly, that felt like enough.

Buffalo, NY

If you are in the area for awhile, I would also suggest a visit to the Buffalo Naval Canal. I took my son on a mom/boy day  to the Naval Park in Buffalo, NY and climbed all over a destroyer, guided missile light cruiser and submarine. It was a perfect addition to last fall’s exploration of the USS Midway in San Diego.