The Niagara Falls

Arguably the most famous waterfall in the globe, Niagara Falls consists of three separate waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls (also wel-known as the Canadian Falls), the American Falls, and the adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. It is the second largest waterfall in the world, second only to Victoria Falls in southern Africa. Imagine its power, with more than 168,000 cubic meters of water falling over the crest line every minute! A spectacular sight indeed. Attracting 14 million tourists annually, Niagara Falls straddles the Canada-US border and is shared by the cities of Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario.


If you did not know, there's much more to Niagara Falls than the waterfalls itself. No doubt in its complete majestic grandeur, the Falls remains the biggest draw. Still, both the Canadian and the United States sides of Niagara Falls are full of peripheral attractions that you won't like to miss.


On the American part, places like the Aquarium of Niagara offer both parents and kids lots of entertainment. For someone fond of outdoor enjoyment, the place to visit is Niagara Falls State Park. The park offers you room for biking, hiking, fishing and camping. The Daredevil Museum captures the history of attempts to conquer the falls, while the Schoellkopf Museum deals with its history and geology.


On the Canadian part, Niagara Falls Ontario offers an appealing variety of attractions like gaming and duty-free shopping. Other top Niagara Falls attractions include Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Goat Island, Fort Erie, and Niagara Falls Winter Garden.


As glaciers melted and retreated after the last Ice Age, land rose behind it to form ridges such as the Niagara Escarpment. It also formed today's Lake Erie and its surrounding lowlands. The lake overflowed almost 12,000 years ago, and Niagara Falls was born. Erosion has shifted the falls from its original location seven miles north in Lewiston.


During summer, Niagara Falls draws the highest number of visitors. After dark, floodlights illuminate both sides of it until midnight, from the Canadian side. From the American side, you can have a view of American Falls from walkways along Prospect Park or from an observation tower.


Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side contains gardens, and platforms that offer admirable views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. The underground walkways in the park lead to observation rooms creating an illusion of being within the falling waters. For the highest panoramic view of the falls, you can visit the observation deck of the Skylon Tower. If you look at the opposite direction from the tower, you can get a view of far-away Toronto as well.


Since 1846, the Maid of the Mist cruises have carried visitors into the whirlpools beneath the falls. The Spanish Aerocar, a cable car designed by a Spanish Engineer and built in 1916, carries passengers over the whirlpool below the falls on the Canadian side.


Maid of the Mist boat tours, a half-hour ride, will take you into the swirling waters on the American side of the falls. Be ready to get wet during the ride, although hooded raincoats are provided if you forget your own. In the Cave of the Winds trip, you take an elevator deep into the Niagara Gorge. Standing on the "Hurricane Deck" you get a view of Bridal Veil Falls from a distance of just 20 feet.


For children, two great spots are Marineland, featuring killer whales, dolphins and sea lions, and the Fun House, where they can play in the rolling barrels.


You will also find some great restaurants like Betty's, Happy Wanderer, Niagara Grand Dinner Theatre, bars and clubs like Beer Garden, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Al Mac's Bar and Grill.


If you are a compulsive shopper, you will find anything from toys to curio shops. The Niagara Duty-Free Shop, open daily, offers anything from liquor to crystal, many of them at an attractive discount.


Packages


Niagara Falls is a popular scenic spot both in United States and Canada. Because of its majestic scenery, millions of people go to visit it every year. As the falls are in a remote area which is far away from major cities in America, visitors need at least two days to get to their destination. However, this doesn't affect people's passion and excitement. Moreover, the falls area has unique culture, and visitors can experience it when they visit 'Ripley's Believe it or Not'. So this seems much more interesting than taking photos of natural scenery. If you want to take Niagara Falls Tours, you must know that it doesn't have mild climate. And people have to be careful when they took packages tour to the waterfall. The trail will become very rugged in winter.


Niagara Falls is a world-famous scenic spot. Many foreigners come to visit this majestic waterfall, because they may know this great place even when they were in primary school. They think the waterfall is an important site during their tour to United States. The waterfall has a good reputation all over the world, so more and more people come to see whether it is as breathtaking as described in movies or in books.


The waterfall has never lost its glamour, because it is actually amazing. No one will disappoint to what they have seen there. So many tourists many come back for a second time or a third time. The classical Maid of the Mist boat ride always make people exciting, and the boat will take visitors into the falls. They will experience nature's grand scenery. Moreover, those towns nearby are good places. People can get away from the bustling life in cities and get peace in this dramatic beauty.


Carrying Niagara Falls packages, every tourist can find its own pleasure in this pure and fresh area. I want to visit this place as a hiker. And I plan to stay a longer time than usual tourists. So I will get me closer to Niagara Falls.