The majesty and grandeur of Niagara Falls can never truly be conveyed with photography. The Niagara experience is more than just the stunning visual feast of parks and water. It’s found in the mist brushing past your cheek. It’s found in the low and ever present rumble from gallons upon gallons of water tumbling down the falls and reverberating across the Niagara River bed.
The Niagara River acts as the barrier between Canada and the United States, which share ownership of the region. Niagara Falls, NY is to the west. Niagara Falls, ON is to the east. Goat Island sits in the Niagara River and divides the Falls into two sections: The American Falls and the more iconic Canadian Horseshoe. The universal consensus is that Canada owns the best part of the falls. Having spent time on both the US and Canadian side of the falls I am of the opinion that New York has created a more elegant state part that captures a more natural feel, but Ontario has the better views of the waterfall. Getting in to the region by air is relatively easy, though it most likely involves a rental car. Buffalo airport is the closest major airport, though various shuttle services run from Toronto to Niagara, making a Toronto connection very do-able.
The Niagara region is a long time honeymoon capitol, with the cities abutting the falls setting up tourist spots to appeal to couples and families. The area was, until recently, very bed and breakfast centered. The Canadian side started building chain hotels up and down the Niagara river in the early 2000s, creating a very commercialized feel on the Canadian side of the falls. My one criticism of the area was that the Canadian side was, if any thing, overly commercialized. There was literally an IHOP restaurant on every block of the Ontario hotel district. Almost all of the walking friendly dining options were chain restaurants, which may be a turn off for foodies looking for their next culinary experience. The New York side of the falls does not lack for tourist trappings, although it is still dotted with independent and non-chain businesses near the riverfront. For first time visitors coming for the falls, I would recommend dealing with the added commercialism and staying on the Canadian side to take advantage of the views.
For first time visitors, I would recommend taking a tour that includes all of the Canadian falls major attractions (and some of the best photo-ops): Journey Behind The Falls, Skylon Tower, and the Canadian Hornblower. I used viator.com to book this best of Ontario tour that included a hotel pickup and shuttle to each attraction.
The Journey Behind The Falls starts with an elevator ride down from the Table Rock Welcome Centre into a series of tunnels dug behind the falls. The tunnels lead to a few portholes that open right behind the rushing water of the Horseshoe Falls. These portholes are cute for family photos; however, my favorite part of the experience lies with a tunnel branch that leads to an exterior platform right next to the base of the horseshoe falls. Without being in a boat on the water, the platform is the closest one can get to the base of the falls. Prepare to get splashed when visiting this platform, as the mist from the falls will blow and rain down. A water sealed camera is recommended for these tunnels.
Skylon tower is a radio tower with a rotating restaurant and a sky deck open to the public for a small fee. Skylon tower produces some of the best and most unique views in the Niagara Falls region. Aside from looking down directly into the Canadian Horseshoe, American Falls, and Wedding Falls – on a clear day, viewers can see both the Buffalo, NY and Toronto, ON skylines from the tower. Definitely an amazing destination for photography.
Finally, the Hornblower is the Canadian version of the US’s Maid Of the Mists. It’s the ferry that carts people right into the Canadian Horseshoes Falls. The Hornblower was my favorite part of the trip. My advice, dress to get wet and wear quick drying fabrics on this boat ride. There’s no protection against the water when you are inside the roiling falls kicking up gallons of mist on all sides.
Perhaps the best part of the journey to this North American natural wonder – all of the mist kicked up by the falls generated rainbows in one direction or the other continuously through out the trip. Niagara Falls is definitely an at least once in a lifetime must see.