Diving In~What to Do at Niagara Falls with Kids and Families

 

Niagara Falls is such bucket list attraction that people want to experience it fully.  Fortunately, there are as many ways to dive into experience as there are gallons roaring grandly over the Falls.  Okay, that’s a totally lie.  There are 625,000 gallons spilling over the Falls each minute, so it would be pretty hard to match that figure.  Still, there are many ways to experience the majesty and mystery of Niagara Falls, from helicopter rides to boats and caves.  Niagara Falls can be explored from the American side or the Canadian side, with different activities in each country.  Air Canada Flights to Toronto or flights through Buffalo International Airport in New York are your tickets to the splashing fun.

The standard viewing area above the Falls is topic of hot debate.  There is a dividing line of more than just a border crossing between the Canadian side of the Falls and the American side of the Falls, with each side claiming to have the best above the Falls viewing experience.  The American side offers a sprawling green park to stroll along as you view the Falls, but the Canadian side has the best opportunities for great picture angles. 

For the best experience, see the Falls from both angles and be sure to come back at night to see it in its all its colored light glory. 

If you are not willing to risk life and limb (and a $10,000+ fine) by climbing into a barrel, the closest you can get into Niagara Falls is a tour of the Cave of the Winds.  Cave of the Winds is not a cave at all, but rather a series of boardwalks that takes you up close and personal with the American Bridal Veil Falls.  At some points along the boardwalk you can reach out and touch the roaring water.  Just be prepared to get wet-really, really wet.  This gives “soaking it all in” a whole new meaning.

To get below the Falls, you want to take a ride on the historic Maid of the Mist.  You won’t get nearly as wet as you would think, but you will feel the mighty power of the roaring water.  It’s also your best chance of getting close to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

You can even go behind Niagara Falls with the Canadian based Journey Behind the Falls.  It’s true that the back of a waterfall looks surprisingly like the front, but with 1/5 of the world’s freshwater rushing torrentially past you with thunderous potency, you can’t help but be impressed.

To really experience Niagara Falls-to understand its movement and magnitude- you need to go over it.   Niagara Helicopter Limited, based in Canada, let’s you see Niagara Falls from this most memorable angle.  As you lift off, you will feel as though you are suspended in time and space as you take to a realm and view usually reserved for the birds.  

Each helicopter is equipped with narrated headsets to point out the features below, and large picture windows to be sure you don’t miss a single thing.  So surreal is the flight that the twelve minutes in the air seem to pass instantly while also lasting a lifetime.   When you put your feet back on the ground, you’ll know that you have had once in a lifetime experience that is worthy of the grandness of Niagara Falls.

~Niagara Helicopter Limited and Niagara Falls CVB hosted our helicopter tour and other Niagara Falls related tours.  They did not require that I express a particular viewpoint and all opinions are my own.~