Most people who visit America, or Canada for that matter, have the Niagara Falls on their list of must-sees. It is little wonder when you see pictures.
The falls really are spectacular. I have not been there yet, but it is definitely on my to do list and having just met someone who has just come back from a visit has inspired me to write a post about some of the things you can do in the area.
My new friends stayed in the Niagara Falls Marriott. I doubt that is where I will be staying when I go, but from the sounds of things, there is a wide range of accommodation available in the area, so it is possible to visit the falls on a budget.
Naturally, visiting the falls is an absolute must. I was amazed to find that you can walk behind the falls and get a unique view of the water as it crashes onto the rocks.
For those with deep pockets a helicopter tour of the falls has to be a breathtaking way to see the spectacular waterfalls. When I go, I will definitely see the falls, but as you know, I like to go off the beaten track a bit and it seems at Niagara it is still possible to do this.
One thing I did not expect to see in the area was vineyards. I didn’t know it was such a big wine growing area, which is strange because 75% of Canada’s wine is made from grapes grown in Ontario. For sure, some wine tasting is definitely on my activities list.
The Glen Nature Area is a hidden gem that few tourists know about. The natural woodland is ideal for hiking, which as you know I love. Apparently, there are boulders as big as a house in the park, which is renowned for its tranquillity.
I also fancy visiting the Butterfly Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The huge butterfly greenhouse is home to 2000 free-flying tropical butterflies.
Not far from the falls is an old shipwreck called the old Niagara Scow an interesting sight that many people totally miss. The Cham Shan Buddhist Temple is another Niagara sight that you never hear about. It is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Perhaps the best thing about the area is that apart from the hotels in the immediate vicinity of the falls it is relatively unspoilt. Right on the doorstep of the falls there are some great natural parks. I already told you about two of them, but there are several others in the area.
If you do visit and want to experience the falls in as many ways as possible the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass or Magic Pass is a good way to do it. You get access to the falls for two days, along with admission to the Maid of the Mist, the White River Walk, Journey Behind the Falls and the Niagara’s Fury tours. I can’t wait to go, not sure when I will actually get around to doing it, but after talking to my new friends I have a pretty good idea of what I will do when I get there.