by Ilona Kauremszky
Niagara Falls is a bucket-list item for folks around the world. Only a few hours from Toronto, this iconic site is a super easy place to visit on your next trip to the 6 – and here’s what you should check out. [Image credit: iStock.com/DenisTangneyJr]
For wet and wild
Head to the rolling rapids of the Great Niagara Gorge and battle on a watery canyon ride guaranteed to make you wish you hadn’t. A ride on the Whirlpool Jet Boat is no easy sail in the park. It’s the ultimate challenge for anyone who wants to test their brawn. Picture a jet boat ride that whizzes past rapids named “Devil’s Hole.” Consider yourself warned!
For up close and more up close
To sense the rush of Niagara Falls pouring over you, take the famous boat ride that passes the American Falls and stops in front of the acclaimed Horseshoe Falls. The new Hornblower Niagara Cruises – famous in its own right for ferrying folks around Manhattan and taking tourists around the infamous Alcatraz Island in California – has taken over from the Maid of the Mist. This thrilling sail has a bigger boat and gets you 100 feet from the mighty Niagara Falls.
For the vertically unchallenged
Running as smoothly as a well-greased motor, the Whirlpool Aero Car is an iconic cable car trip that crosses the great Niagara Gorge and offers an unparalleled view of the whirlpool. You’ll also get a bird’s eye view of the crazy jet boats whipping by the fast flowing currents below. Operational from spring through autumn, a trip aboard the Spanish-designed antique cable car is truly magnificent. A classic ride that’s been around for years, it’s a definite must-do.
For behind the scenes
Can you walk behind Niagara Falls? Yes. For years, Journey Behind the Falls has been taking curious visitors down to see the cold, rock hard catacombs that weave behind the Horseshoe Falls. White water thrill seekers can don a souvenir rain poncho included in the ticket for this wet ‘n’ wild experience. You’ll never forget the rush and gush of 2,800 cubic meters of water thundering down right in front of you.
For nostalgia
Take a ride up the yellow bug. The Skylon Tower is that retro tower constructed in the swinging ‘60s that still has a fun vintage feel. Sightseers can take a ride on the iconic elevator; you can’t beat the fabulous view you get once you reach the observation deck. The Skylon Tower has been the stage for many events, one of which included 81 performances from the late legendary high-wire artist, Jay Cochrane.
For fun and kitsch
Clifton Hill is Niagara Falls’ answer to Vegas, with plenty of flashy lights on a strip that’s rife with tacky and big. Get some big frights at the Nightmares Fear Factory, learn about the weirdest discoveries at Ripley’s Believe It or Not, or see if you can beat a world record at the legendary Guinness Book of World Records museum – home to bizarre displays, some which are interactive. The new fun thing to do: hang out at the Niagara Skywheel, Canada’s largest observation wheel that right atop Clifton Hill.
For Lady Luck
Niagara Falls is home to two casinos. The larger Fallsview Casino Resort is a stellar option with plenty of shops, entertainment, and restaurants. While smaller, the older Casino Niagara has two action-packed floors and is within walking distance to the mighty Niagara Falls.
