What’s not to like about tried and true Niagara Falls? Those of us who live in Southern Ontario or Western New York largely take it for granted. Living in Toronto, Niagara Falls is just a short drive down the highway. 90 minutes if the traffic is good; 2 hours or more if it’s not so good. From Buffalo, Niagara Falls is 30 minutes give or take. Over the years, I’ve probably been to Niagara Falls 25 or 30 times, maybe more. It’s intoxicating and a fun place to visit.
Niagara Falls USA
Before COVID-19 and 9/11, a quick trip across the border was a semi-regular event. Lunch, dinner, shopping, etc. Buffalo was normally the final destination but it’s always a treat to cross the border at Niagara Falls. As you cross the bridge, you get the full view of both the American and Canadian Falls. Niagara Falls U.S.A. has the American Falls, the Seneca Casino, outlet shopping, hotels & motels. They also have some authentic American food restaurants like Villella’s Italian Restaurant (795 Rainbow Blvd), Buzzy’s (7617 NiagaraFalls Blvd.) and Sammy’s Pizzeria (1400 Hyde Park Blvd). Great chicken wings, pizza and beer.
Niagara Falls Canada
Niagara Falls Canada gives you the full view of both the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian Falls), 2 casinos, not so great shopping and many more hotel & motels. The better side for falls views and other activities. There are 27 wineries within 20 minutes and several championship golf courses nearby. There always been this “vaudeville” feel to Niagara Falls with the walks, jumps and plunges that have taken place for almost 200 hundred years. In 2012, Nik Wallenda walked across a tightrope from the U.S. to Canadian side and an unidentified man became just the 3rd person to survive an unprotected trip over the falls.
Beyond looking at the Falls, there are a couple of great interactive Falls experiences. “Journey Behind the Falls” takes you down a 150 ft. elevator into a tunnel to 2 observation decks and portal behind the falls. The rushing water and roar of the falls is something else. The other more well known option is the “Maid of the Mist” boat tour. The boat takes you passed the base of the American Falls and into the basin of the Horseshoe Falls. A short walk from the Falls, Clifton Hill and area gives you amusement rides, takeout food and a lot of neon. The glory days of “the honeymoon capital of the world” are long gone but you can still find a motel with a heart shaped Jacuzzi tub.
Summary – Niagara Falls
At the end of the day, it all comes back to the wonder of the Falls. I never get tired of tried and true Niagara Falls. It’s the unofficial 8th wonder of the world. It’s well worth the visit any time of year. It’s easy to get to Niagara Falls. And it’s almost in my backyard.
Mark's Travel Journal 
It’s so beautiful! I’d love to go here some day. x
It is really is beautiful. Hopefully you get there one day!
I surely do hope that. Haha Thanks! 🙂 x
Like you, I live within easy driving distance of Niagara Falls. I never get tired of it. It is breathtaking.
I would love to visit Niagra Falls one day! It looks utterly beautiful!
It is amazing, thanks for the comments
I’ve never been but it’s on my list of places to go! Thanks for the travel inspiration!
It’s really awe inspiring. Here’s to travel in 2021!
This looks absolutely beautiful and I definitely need to make a visit whilst I am in Toronto. I had plans to go back to the States and see Canada this year but that didn’t go to plan haha
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Come on over, there will be a lot of travel in 2021. Thanks for the comments.
The Niagra Falls in my mind is one of the most beautiful places in the world, I would love to go and visit, it just looks spectacular. The world certainly does have some amazing sites. 😁
It’s gorgeous for sure and well worth the visit. Thanks for the comments.
Hi Mark. Great write-up and beautiful photos. What’s odd, and something I didn’t realise until seeing your photos, is just how close the falls are to urban areas – I’d always imagined that they were out in the middle of nowhere!
Thanks very much. Yes, Niagara Falls U.S.A. and Niagara Falls Canada are on opposite sides of Niagara River and the Falls. Both towns revolve around the falls.
I have never been to niagara falls but my grandfather had visited, and as always the falls look so bewitching in pictures, which makes me wonder how captivating they will be when I go there in real life!
Awe inspiring, hope you get there in the future. Thanks for the comments.
How beautiful is this earth? There are so many places I want to see and go to and breathe in. That failing, I love the opportunity to travel through photographs and writing.
Thank you for sharing this!
It is such a beautiful location any time of the year. We started attending the Ice Wine Festival in January and the falls are stunning in the middle of winter, surrounded by ice and snow. It’s the time of year that most people wouldn’t consider it as a go-to location, but I highly recommend doing a winter trip at least once!
You are right, it’s great in winter too. Thanks for the comments.
It looks so beautiful and what a beautiful part of the world. Nature and the world is full of amazing features. Thank you for sharing this. I would like to be able to see this in person one day.
Thanks for sharing other attractions and what to do at Niagara falls. Even unofficial, definitely a wonder in this world. I’ve never been this part of the world.
You should plan a trip there in the future. Amazing to visit in person!
I would love to be able to visit Niagara Falls one day! It looks so beautiful!
It’s very nice. I’m partial to the Canadian side…thanks for the comments.
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Amazing! I have yet to travel east coast but I definitely hope to do so soon. Niagara Falls both sides would be on my list! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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