When we think of bucket list places, more often than not Niagara Falls is featured on it.
Whether seen from the American side or the Canadian(agreed to be better by all!) its power and might are incomparable. It is truly one of nature's greatest marvels and a must visit at least once in your lifetime.
There is much to see in the area apart from the falls themselves and 1 nights 2 days is the best option to get a well rounded experience. Niagara parks has done a great job of providing detailed information about the sights as well as easy online ticket bookings.
There are many options of getting to the Niagara area from Toronto: train, uber, taxi, self drive and the humble bus. All come at different price points and, depending on how far ahead you book, there are great deals to be found. If you do choose to travel by bus or train please book ahead as the Falls are a popular location and tickets tend to sell out.
Day 1
We had an early start so as to make the most of the day exploring in Niagara. The bus station was centrally located, the bus comfortable enough and the journey about 1.5 hrs long. We used Megabus and were happy with the service. Per person, inclusive of service fee and taxes, it worked out to CAD.42 per person return which was great!
We reached Niagara at 1030am and took a taxi to our very central hotel, Sheraton-on-the-Falls, instead of waiting for the local bus as we didn't want to waste time!
Hotel was great and walking distance to the main falls entrance and ticketing booths as well as right next to the strip which is perfect for the evenings! It also had stunning views of the falls!
From our Balcony From the Breakfast Room
(not a selfie but a reflection photo!)
After dropping off our bags we headed straight to the ticket booth to redeem our online tickets for lanyards and to plan the order of our visits (some locations need times to be reserved in advance). The agent was super helpful and suggested the best way to make the most of our visit keeping in mind closing times and travel times.
We had bought the Adventure Pass which allowed us to visit pretty much everything we wanted to as well as giving us unlimited WEGO Bus access which turned out to be a great addition. The pass cost us around CAD. 101 per person, including tax, and I highly recommend it.
It also has coupons for discounts at various places which we didn't use but are available.
As per our bookings it was the Hornblower cruise first (1230pm)- the main attraction! Make sure you get there on time as they are usually packed to capacity and will leave without you!! (If you do miss it just go and request for the next available slot and hope its sometime soon!)
After donning the parkas provided we got onto the boat and set off.
What an experience! The thundering waterfall, the intense spray and the sheer size was simply breathtaking! Wow! The parkas seemed mostly decorative as they flew about in the wind and we were soaked to the skin but everyone was beaming with joy. I tried to take photos but couldn't see my screen it was so wet -what pictures I have are sheer luck!!
Degrees of Drench!
Luckily it was a sunny day, and, once off the boat we grabbed a table in the sun to stay warm and try to dry off before our next location- the wine was a bonus!
Our next 2 experiences were located in the same area, The Table Rock Centre, and it was an easy walk there along the falls- you can take the WEGO too but depending on wait time the walk may be faster and is definitely prettier!
Niagara's Fury was at 2pm. This is the ancient story of Niagara Falls in 4D in a 360 degree multi-sensory theatre. Ponchos are provided but the spray is very mild- nothing like the Hornblower!
A good introduction to the Niagara Falls adventure.
3pm and it was the Journey Behind the Falls- I had high hopes for this one and was definitely not disappointed!
Descending in an elevator you can sense the anticipation everyone is feeling and once you exit into the tunnels leading you to the base of the falls, the anticipation turns to excitement as you feel the thundering vibrations of the mighty falls way before you see a drop of water.
There are viewing portals cut straight through the rock as you walk along and seeing one-fifth of the world’s fresh water crashing down in front of you is a seriously humbling experience!
The observation deck is the highlight of the journey as this is probably the closest you can get to the falls - very wet but amazing to experience!
Back up to ground level and starving, we stopped at the restaurant for a very late lunch.
Amazing View
Post lunch we rushed to catch the WEGO to get to the Whirlpool Aerocar and just made it in time for the last crossing! Not for you if you suffer from Vertigo or are afraid of heights but a pleasant crossing and back with lovely views- as the aerocar doesn't turn, you swap sides halfway to see in both directions!
Done with the Aerocar, we had wanted to do the butterfly conservatory as it was close by but as it closed at 5pm we were too late and decided to head back to the hotel. As the attractions this side were now closed the WEGO frequency had reduced and we had a long wait. A little gift shop nearby, however, kept us warm.
The evening was spent exploring the strip just outside our hotel which was abuzz with activity.
Had some great beers and food, wandered about and took a walk along the falls to experience the lights- to be honest the bright colors did not appeal to me and I much preferred the plain white light illumination!
In search of a hot drink we reached the Table Rock Centre but the restaurant was closed and the area deserted- tired by now we thought to take a WEGO back but after waiting over 40 minutes we decided to just walk ....beware before you wander!!
Day 2
Headed out after breakfast via WEGO to the White Water Walk . This is a lovely self guided scenic walk along the Niagara river with its deceptive class 6 rapids. Various viewpoints have been put in place and provide lovely photo opportunities. After descending to the water level via elevator, it's easy walking and a nice way to spend a leisurely hour or so.
Off to the Butterfly Conservatory next....
The conservatory is located within the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens which is a vast area and for those interested in exploring there are horse carriage rides available at an additional cost.
The conservatory's self guided tour starts with a short informative video after which you enter a space full of lush vegetation and trickling water bodies which is home to many varieties of butterflies which are everywhere you look. I desperately wanted one to land on me but no such luck- my daughter, however, was a butterfly magnet and had numerous butterflies on her at all times( I must admit extreme jealousy!)!
After a quick lunch we WEGO'd all the way back to the Table Rock Centre and walked to the Floral Showhouse which was a lovely scenic walk on a warm sunny day!
The Floral Showhouse is just that. Collections of orchids, succulents, and other tropical plant species are on display throughout the year, along with floral shows that reflect the changing seasons. The outside areas are pretty and are great backdrops for photos. Not a must see but surely worth a visit if you have the time.
It was then off to the hotel to collect our luggage and head for the bus station for our return to Toronto!
A totally packed trip but we managed to visit most of what we wanted to. Niagara had totally lived up to, and exceeded, its reputation . I would like to return during winter someday as, I believe, the falls actually freeze and that would be a sight to see!
Time also did not permit a visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake with its famed vineyards and wines- a weekend stay there would be perfect too and remains on the bucket list!
For now it was goodbye Niagara, till we meet again!