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When it comes to Niagara Falls as a travel destination, there are — quite literally — two sides to the story; the American side and the Canadian side.
Most who have been to both sides of Niagara Falls would agree there are pros and cons to each, with some favoring one over the other depending on personal preferences. So which side should a never-been traveler visit?
We’ve put together the ultimate planning guide to what this wonder of the world has to offer on each side of the border:
Getting There
If you have to fly to get to either side, the American falls are much closer to the nearest major airport in Buffalo, NY, where you can get to the Niagara Falls, NY, side in about an hour by car without traffic, or by a few different bus options. In Canada, you need to fly into Toronto, where similar transportation options to Niagara Falls, Canada, are available, but the time to get to the Canadian Falls is slightly longer, averaging around 90 minutes by car. If you prefer train travel, Amtrak provides a variety of options (some even include sleeping accommodations and dining) from a number of major US cities and even from Toronto. On the Canadian side, Via Rail train service and GO Transit also provide service to Niagara Falls, Canada.
Getting Around
Niagara Falls, USA, has a tourist-approved selection of ways to get around many of their its major attractions, including a fun trolley or a hop-on/hop-off shuttle. Niagara Falls, Canada, The Canadian side offers various transit services, but it’s a much more car-dependent area if you want to leave the main park overlooking the falls or the Clifton Hill fun zone (more on that below). Both sides provide options for car rentals, private or group tours and bike rentals.
Hotels
Naturally, both sides have numerous hotels and other accommodations that serve a broad price range and level of comfort and luxury, but most agree the Canadian side has more hotels with greater views and is the only side that can boast hotel rooms with a view of the falls themselves. (Naturally, prices for such rooms reflect this benefit!) The Fallsview Casino Resort is a popular choice on the Canadian side for great views, a variety of restaurants, a concert venue and its casino. It’s considered a luxury hotel in peak season with rooms sometimes costing over $500 CAD per night, but off-season can dip below $200 CAD if you don’t mind the cold! In New York, there are a number of chain hotels in the Niagara Falls area, but The Red Coach Inn Historic Bed and Breakfast hotel offers a nice ambiance and is highly rated by previous guests. Prices again run the approximate $250-$500+ USD gamut, depending on the season.
Restaurants
The Canadian side seems to have built up their hospitality more to cater to the large crowds of tourists that head there year-round, but especially in summer months. With numerous chain restaurants represented, along with all fast- foods options, and some high-end dining establishments, everybody will find something to appease their appetite. Just be prepared for both built-in gratuities on your bill and more expensive prices than you’d find in non-tourist area restaurants. Recommending restaurants is a tricky business that depends on what type of cuisine your palette is craving and what your wallet wants to spend, so it’s best to check Yelp and TripAdvisor for the American and Canadian lists of best eats. Both sites’ reviewers seem to like The Griffon Gastropub on the New York side and in Canada, Prime Steak House has a 5.00 rating with over 3,000 reviews on TripAdvisor for both its food and views of both the Canadian and American Falls.
Vineyards
Niagara Falls, in both countries, presents a unique micro-climate zone where wine grapes can be grown to create some delicious wines, particularly the regional specialty: ice wine. Niagara Falls, USA, offers some vineyards and tours, so it’s best to decide what you want to see and do and find what best fits your needs. Do you want to visit multiple vineyards with tastings? Do you want a tour or a class on winemaking? Would you like to eat at a vineyard? There are all kinds of options, and obviously, having a designated driver is important if you’re going to sample a lot of the products! One tour that stands out is the Niagara All American All Inclusive Boutique Wine Tour from Niagara Regional Tours that runs April-October and provides a small group unlimited tasting experience at four USA vineyards in the Niagara area. The Canadian side has also done a great job of curating their vineyards (found mostly in the nearby area of Niagara-on-the-Lake) into distinct agro-tourism destinations that offer a variety of interesting options for wine and dining. Many of the larger Canadian vineyards like Trius, Peller Estates and Two Sisters offer tastings, tours and decent restaurants.
Family Attractions and Activities
This is the category that most separates the American and Canadian sides, particularly if children are included in your trip. Hands-down, Canada comes out on top. They have built up their Clifton Hill area of Niagara Falls to resemble a carnival where all kids and adults alike can find multiple all kinds of fun. From a giant Sky Wheel, to an incredible array of arcade games, rides, fun house museums and mini-golf, there's no shortage of great times for families. In addition, the Canadian side boasts a number of indoor waterparks like Great Wolf Lodge, Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Waves Water Park and a few hotels/resorts with smaller waterparks. The closest water park to Niagara Falls, USA, is Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World in Grand Island, (about 15 minutes from Niagara Falls, NY) (but it’s only open until Labor Day). The American falls offers the Aquarium of Niagara, while Canada offers a unique Butterfly Conservatory. For those diehard thrill-seekers, the Canadian side also offers ziplining over the falls — if you dare!
The Views
Most visitors agree that each side offers unique perspectives, but only the Canadian side presents the full trio of Niagara Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The American side has an observation tower at Prospect Point and another lookout at Terrapin Point, while Canada has the Skylon Tower, which offers other attractions (for a fee) along with the view.
Family members of all ages will enjoy either the American “Maid of the Mist” or Canadian “Hornblower Niagara Cruise” boat rides that get really close and misty with at the base of the falls. Both the Canadian and American Niagara Falls offer helicopter rides and great hiking trails along the Niagara gorge, and if you want to walk close to the falls themselves, the “Journey Behind the Falls” in Canada or the “Cave of Winds” on the American side each present memorable ways to closely feel the power of the water rushing down.
History
American Niagara Falls has the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, and, in Canada, the Niagara Falls History Museum. Once again, both sides offer historical forts and important sites of historical importance that tourists can visit, like Fort George or Old Fort Erie in Canada and Fort Niagara on the U.S. side.
Shopping
Again, this is a personal preference in terms of what kind of shopping you’re seeking. Both the US and Canadian Niagara Falls provide plenty of souvenir shops (maybe even a few too many on the Canadian side!), with some boutique shops and a large Outlet Collection at Niagara in Canada and Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls, USA on the New York State side.
Nearby Attractions
In addition to its winery culture, Canada’s Niagara-on-the-Lake (about a half- hour drive from Niagara Falls) is an adorable little town with a main street full of lovely shops, restaurants, hotels/B&Bs and their an annual Shaw Theater Festival.
In America, you can travel to enjoy the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum about 20 minutes away in North Tonawanda, NY, or the Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises in Lockport (about 40 minutes from the US fFalls), or the Whirlpool Jet boat rides Tours departing about 15 minutes from the American Falls in Lewiston, NY (or from Canada at the Floral Clock display).
For those considering traveling to Niagara Falls and asking which country is the best one to visit, naturally, our recommendation is to spend some time seeing both!
Have any of you been to Niagara Falls? Which side did you enjoy the most? Let us know in the comments below.
