Niagara Falls Tourism Info

The best way to get up to the falls is by cab.  You can experience the falls on both the American side and the Canadian side.  Both offer different experiences. 

Another hint:  Please DO NOT joke around with the customs officials.  If you are passing through in a car, they have the right to search your car and possibly impound it and/or not let you pass through altogether.  They take their job very seriously in this day & age.

Attractions Please Note: most of the attractions listed are on the New York side of the border. If you wish to experience the Canadian side of the border, please make sure to bring your passport and/or any other supporting documentation. Click here for more details. Interactive Niagara Falls Map Use the Interactive Map to find your way to all the sites in Niagara State Park. Or print a copy of the Niagara Falls Walking Map.   Niagara Falls State Park Adventure Theater Located on the lower level of the Visitor Center, the recently upgraded Adventure Theater is proud to present the 40-minute show that has been viewed by more than 14 million people worldwide. Learn about the explorers and settlers that put Niagara on the map and the daredevils who have tried to tame her waters at this fun Niagara Falls attraction.   Aquarium of Niagara More than 1,500 aquatic animals are on display at the Niagara Falls aquarium, representing ecosystems ranging from the Great Lakes to coral reefs. Every 90 minutes you can watch sea lions perform and penguin and shark feeds happen regularly. Other crowd favorites include the piranha, seal and eel exhibits.   Cave of the Winds The Cave of the Winds brings you face-to-face with the pounding waters of Niagara Falls! Clad in your yellow poncho and souvenir sandals, you’ll travel deep into the gorge and journey under the Falls. Get soaked on the Hurricane Deck where you are mere feet from the thundering waters. Be sure to plan a trip at night too when the Falls are illuminated in a rainbow of color! Seasonal. Admission. Goat Island Get in touch with nature on Goat Island while gaining access to the Cave of the Winds, Top of the Falls Restaurant, Three Sisters Island, Terrapin Point, Luna Island and the Rapids! Illumination Schedule Niagara Falls looks even more spectacular after dark. Every night, white and colored spotlights illuminate the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls, to create an ever-changing splash of color. The Falls Illumination Schedule for August 15 through September 30 is 8:30pm - midnight (note: times are approximations and subject to change according to light conditions).   Luna Island This small island between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls has an awe-inspiring view of both Falls. Maid of the Mist This world-famous scenic boat tour of the American and Canadian Falls is a spectacular half-hour ride. The memory lasts a lifetime. Access the tour via the Observation Tower elevator at Prospect Point in the state park. Waterproof clothing is provided. Operates mid-May until late October. Admission. Niagara Falls State Park Niagara Falls State Park is America’s oldest state park, established in 1885 and designed by great landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. It is ONLY at Niagara Falls State Park where you can get up close and personal with the Falls at these great attractions. Niagara Gorge Discovery Center Since the Ice Age ended, the Falls have been the scene of constant change. Through interactive displays, fossil and rock specimens, a multi-screen presentation and an exciting elevator ride, you’ll see how plant and animal life developed and rivers and lakes were created. The Discovery Center also serves as the gateway to the Niagara Gorge Trail System. Seasonal. Admission. Niagara Gorge Trailhead Building Guided tours into the legendary Niagara Gorge are offered from this building and hikes of varying length, degrees of difficulty and topics are yours to explore. This is the best way to learn about the science and unique environment of the Falls. Call for times and reservations. Seasonal. Admission. Niagara Scenic Trolley Stopping at several locations throughout the park, you can board and stay on for the entire 3 mile route or get on and off as you wish. A history of the park is provided by a tour guide. Seasonal. Admission. Observation Tower The Tower’s observation deck extends over the Niagara Gorge and is the only place in the USA to view both the American and Horseshoe Falls at the same time! Ride the elevator down to the lower landing for a view from below or to board the Maid of the Mist. Admission. Prospect Point The prime viewing area for the American Falls and Rapids, Prospect Point is also home to the Visitor Center, Niagara Adventure Theater, the Observation Tower and the Maid of the Mist. Seneca Niagara Casino At Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, you’ll find over 4,200 of the very latest and most popular slot machines with big progressive jackpots.   Terrapin Point Get next to the thundering Horseshoe Falls, shop at the gift shop and have a bite to eat at Top of the Falls Restaurant. Three Sisters Islands Three historic walking bridges link Goat Island to the Three Sisters Islands where you get a unique view of the upper rapids as the water races for the Falls. Visitor Center Information Center, ticketing, gift shop, food and home to the Niagara Adventure Theatre, the Visitor Center should be your first stop at Niagara Falls State Park. Footpaths lead from the Center to every area of the park and the Niagara Scenic Trolley departs from near the Center. (Information courtesy of Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation.

All About Niagara Falls Welcome to Niagara Falls! Experience first hand one of the world's most beautiful natural wonders. From the rich history to award-winning wineries, fabulous dining and great shopping -- there is something here for everyone. Scroll through the following pages and experience all that Niagara Falls has to offer. Please Note: most of the attractions listed are on the New York side of the border. If you wish to experience the Canadian side of the border, please make sure to bring your passport and/or any other supporting documentation. Click here for more details. Here are a few interesting facts about Niagara Falls.   The word “Niagara” was derived from the Iroquois Indian word “Onguiaahra” meaning “The Strait.”   Age of Niagara Falls: 12,000 years.   Niagara Falls are the second largest falls in the world next to Victoria Falls in Southern Africa. The highest falls in the world are “Angel Falls” in Venezuela, measuring 979 m (3,212 ft) high. What makes Niagara Falls so spectacular is the combination of their height and volume. Three different Falls make up what we call “Niagara Falls”-- The Canadian Horseshoe Falls, The American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. Number of tourists who visit the Falls every year: 12 million. Size of the Falls: The rim of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls measures about 792 m (2,200 ft). The American Falls measure about 323 m (850 ft). The Bridal Veil Falls measure about 15m (50 ft). Both the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls measure 57 m (188 ft) in height to the Niagara River below. Volume of water going over the American Falls: 567,810 L/second (150,000 gallons/second). Volume of water going over the Horseshoe Falls: 2,271,240 L/second (600,000 gallons/second). Source of water going over the Falls: The 683,760 km2 (264,000 square miles) of water that plunges over the Falls comes from four of the great lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie. Once the water flows over the Falls, it travels down the Niagara River to Lake Ontario, where it then flows into the St. Lawrence River and finally into the Atlantic Ocean. Depth of Falls: Before the upper waters were used for the generation of power, the depth of the water on the rim was about 3 m (10 ft). Today, the water over the Falls measures an average of 0.6 m (2 ft) along the entire rim. Deepest section of Niagara River: 52 m (170 ft), just below the Falls. Number of Nights The Falls Are Lit Up: 365. During the summer, the Falls are lit up between 9 pm and midnight. At other times of the year the Falls are lit up when it gets dark. Length of Whirlpool Rapids: 1.6 k m (1 mile). This is where the water drops 15 m (50 ft), and speeds can reach as high as 9 meters per second (30 feet per second). Date first steam-powered boat was launched into the waters beneath the Falls: It was on May 1846, that the Maid of the Mist was launched into the swirling waters. (The above information provided by the IMAX Niagara website