Introduction to Rochester, NY Trip & Day at Niagara Falls/Buffalo:…read more Now onto the 1st review of the scrapbook series since my girlfriend & I got in a relationship. Representing 1st of 2 from April 2024 is Maid of the Mist. In January 2024 before our relationship started, a friend called me invited me to their relationship love ceremony, not an actual marriage but exchanging vows when the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 was happening over western NY, more specifically in his birthplace, Rochester. On February 29, 2024, during my girlfriend & I's 6th date, we were talking about the logistics of the trip. It was very early on to be planning this trip, but we knew the relationship was going great. We stayed 3 nights at the AirBnB in Rochester, and we had a great time together on the trip. One of the days the group took a day trip to Niagara Falls. Thankfully, it was just the 2 of us in her car both ways, which in all honesty was a nice break from the group. Experience with Maid of the Mist: Besides simply going to Niagara Falls, admiring the great views of the falls, & taking photos, which is great to begin with, going on the Maid of the Mist is a must do for a Niagara Falls trip. Both the US & Canada sides have Maid of the Mist. You go down a ways to the water level, given a blue pancho which says Maid of the Mist, because you do get wet from the water spray, and you board the boat. The boat takes you to the various falls, and it's really cool getting the water sprayed on you, both metaphorically & literally cool. April 9th average high temperature is a bone chilling 52 F, and it really is bone chilling when water is spraying on you. But we really lucked out, it was an unseasonably warm 80 F in Niagara Falls, which was a record high for them. The timing of this total solar eclipse & their love ceremony was what was it was. In general, summer is the best time to do Maid of the Mist, when it's very likely to be warm out. In summary, if in Niagara Falls, try to go to Maid of the Mist unless it's extremely cold or bad weather. Even if it had been that 52 F high average temp, I'm sure we would've done, but would've been more bundled up for it.

Absolutely fabulous time riding Maid of the Mist into the heart of Niagara Falls…read more Check in was super easy and after a short elevator down to the water, we were given a poncho and thanks goodness for that. You will get wet. A small change of position from the boat seems to bring sheets of water onto the decks. Judging from everyone's faces, we were all enjoying ourselves. I highly recommend this.

A Niagara Falls boat ride is the must do and quintessential activity...its awesome! YOU WILL GET…read moreWET!!! Any grand illusions you had about maintaining a cute hairstyle or dry shoes will instantly evaporate into the blinding mist. The plastic protection only partially protects. The short and slowing moving boat slowly cruises past the American Falls, then onto the epic Horseshoe Falls and back in about 30 minutes...one of the best 30 minutes of my life. The America Falls is the foreplay, nice, gentler, and beautiful...but Horseshoe Falls is like a long lasting wet climax that shocks and electrifies your body soul. The sheer power of the water is undeniably humbling. By the time the boat turns around and brings you back to safety, you will emerge thoroughly soaked, wildly exhilarated, and oddly proud of surviving the world's wettest, slowest, and sexiest boat tour. $48 CAD / $35 USD isn't cheap, but worth every penny.

In the mist of the Falls, my brother turned to me and said "everyone's got to do this at least once…read morein their life" and I couldn't agree more! For CAD $48 (~$35 USD) you can sail to the heart of the Niagara Falls! Everyone is provided their signature red poncho to protect your belongings. You can enjoy the view from the indoor cabin or get the full watery experience outside by the side rails or top deck. I chose the bow rails and got absolutely soaked! The views of the falls from up close were truly stunning and unforgettable! This is a must do when visiting the Niagara Falls! Don't miss out!

Absolutely Fantastic Tour Guide!…read more Kevin with SeeSight Tours was phenomenal! He was incredibly knowledgeable about Niagara Falls and everything surrounding it. His enthusiasm, personality, and entertaining way of sharing information made the tour so much more enjoyable. You could tell he genuinely loves what he does and wanted everyone to have a great experience. We were so lucky to have Kevin as our guide. He truly made our Niagara Falls experience even more memorable. Highly recommend asking for Kevin!

The Mr. and I only had one full day in Niagara Falls so this comprehensive tour worked well for us…read more On the tour we were able to see the falls every which way possible. Above (Skylon Tower), behind (Journey of the Falls), and in it (Niagara City Cruises). Yes, we could have done each of these activities on our own but we enjoyed the commentary and insight Huzaifa was able to provide along the way.

With a grandiose and exciting name like "Journey Behind the Falls", you would think this would be a…read morethrilling adventure! It's not... Its still interesting overall... Take an elevator down to the shafts...walk through some narrow claustrophobic tunnels, wait in line to see Niagara Falls from behind through some small portals, which is interesting but disappointing at the same time. Finally walk out to the main balcony that is the very closest to the falls for some incredible and sensational views of the falls. Fortunately we were on a quiet weekday late afternoon, otherwise I think this would've been a disaster on a crowded weekend. $33CAD still seems steep for this experience, but it was included in my Niagara Falls Pass which makes it close to $20CAD, or $14USD, which I would say worth it.

Great view of horseshoe falls. The observation deck was a cool experience…read more They sell way too many tickets for each time frame and it was very crowded, which made the "behind the falls" experience a drag. Long lines everywhere, even before you get down there. Crowded elevators. Staff doesn't care if you're packed in like sardines. Also minus one star for forcing everyone to take a picture, printing them out, and just throwing them away unless you pay them money. At that point at least give out the examples. Ultimately, I think if you do one of the boat tours, you get a closer view of the falls, and this attraction isn't really needed.

POWERFUL! 4.8…read more We travel internationally far more often than we travel within the States, but a visit to Niagara Falls should undoubtedly be on everyone's U.S. bucket list. So, of course, while vacationing in Syracuse, we had to make the drive west to experience this spectacular wonder, one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of North America." Many years ago, I had seen the falls from the Canadian side, but this trip offered an entirely different perspective from the New York vantage point. There are three waterfalls in total, separated by landmasses: Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the three; American Falls, the second largest; and Bridal Veil Falls, the smallest. While Niagara Falls doesn't rank among the world's tallest waterfalls, in fact, it doesn't make the top 500. It is the sheer width, immense volume, and astonishing flow rate that make it so impressive. The seemingly endless torrent of water comes from the Great Lakes, with four of the five, Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie, ultimately feeding the Niagara River. There is a large visitor parking lot where you pay a fee, but once inside Niagara Falls State Park, you're free to explore on foot. There are several paid tours and attractions, but we opted to simply follow the "Attractions & Trails" map and make our way through the park at our own pace. We started at Stop #2, Terrapin Point, for an up-close view of the massive Horseshoe Falls. Standing there, surrounded by the thunderous roar and tremendous force of the rushing water, was awe-inspiring. Following the map, we continued along the paved walkway all the way to the end, where we discovered a quieter trail with noticeably fewer crowds. It was wonderfully peaceful, watching and listening to the gentle stream of water which was a striking contrast to the thunderous falls just moments before. The trail eventually looped us back around to the main pathway. For lunch, we stopped at The Top of the Falls Restaurant. I ordered the Blue Niagara Splash cocktail, and we shared a chicken wrap and salad. The food was basic diner fare, but it did the job and satisfied our need for a quick bite before heading out. If you're up for witnessing something truly spectacular, put Niagara Falls on your list. At our leisurely pace, we spent a little over two hours exploring the park. Since we needed to be back in Syracuse by late afternoon, we left before seeing the falls illuminated at night. For that, it gives us one more reason to return.

Considered to be the first state park in the United States and one of the biggest. It actually…read morecovers more territory according to whatever one considers part of the actual park. Niagara Falls State Park is of course known for the massive waterfalls. A ton of history about it. The best thing is the free admission but the extra attractions will often require tickets. Basically it's the parkland along the falls and gorge. It's really about the American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls and everything else revolves around these. The offerings around the park get you closer to the falls and the money farther from your wallet. Avoid parking fees by using the pedestrian bridges. Know where to go first. Basically start on Goat Island where there's a lot of activities. Three Sisters Islands are a quieter area surrounded by increasingly rapid water. A sad thing is there's lots of suicide prevention advertisements. Terrapin Point is the most popular viewing point. Cave Of The Winds is a popular tour to the foot of the falls. Luna Island is where to get closest to the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls and see some great views. Go back to the mainland to see the rest of it. The Horseshoe Falls is right there. Maid Of The Mist is the most important ticketed feature. The classic boat ride into the foot of the falls and you will get wet. It also gives access to the Prospect Point Observation Tower, which has a great view of all three falls. The newest attractions include the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Welcome Center, a state of the art facility that includes virtual reality tours. Explore beyond this immediate area as there's a lot more park than just around here. The Niagara Gorge is located north of the Rainbow Bridge and extends up to Devil's Hole State Park and Whirlpool State Park. A shuttle is an option. The summers are the busiest especially on the weekends. At night the falls are still worth seeing. These are illuminated by bright lights and there's fireworks through most of the year. Food options are pretty bad. The Top Of The World Restaurant is basic and overpriced along with the many food stands throughout. Old Falls Street is known for overpriced fast food and souvenir stores. There's better options further into town. It's actually not that far to walk over to be honest. The rest of the town can be crappy looking. Great place to look at some incredible falls. It's still a popular option for banquets and weddings just not as much as it was of the past. The park is free for the ticketed attractions and of course the overpriced food and stores.

July 2026. We're back again!!!…read more7 rides this year. The whole staff is great! Friendliest people ever!

What a thrilling and fun adventure! I have taken a ride on these boats twice and both times were a…read morefantastic adventure. I have only done the open air boat, so this review pertains to that experience. It was like a natural thrill ride/roller coaster. ( Fast speeds and spins, but also some amazing views. One thing to note is make sure you keep your group close together so you can actually be seated together. If you live local, check for discounts online. At one point it was almost a $20 savings for having a local address! If you are looking for a unique, fun adventure, definitely check this out!

We were lured in by the free factory tour and samples, and they did not disappoint! We enjoyed…read morelearning how chocolate is made (what a process!) and tasting the many chocolate samples. There are a few samples during the tour, and a LOT of samples after the tour in the gift shop. I felt like the chocolate was high quality, and enjoyed all of them (even the off-beat flavors like chocolate covered ginger). I would definitely recommend for anyone traveling with kids (and even adults who love chocolate). :)

There really isn't a tour to be honest. The staff are wonderful, the place is clean. It's a…read morechocolate store, they offer samples much smaller than Costco does. I bought some dark chocolate, they taste good for sure.the chocolates cost $17.99, but there is HST, and a destination marketing fee that you will be paying when you buy anything, basically a tourist tax to shop here. Total for 150g of chocolate was $22.95. Worth it? Not really sure I would want to step back into a tourist trap...

Jessica was an absolute A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Tour guide. She was knowledgeable and gave us a lot of tips…read moreand tricks about each site we visited (where to stand in the boat and when to wear and the quality of the ponchos). She was kind and patient with everybody in the group. Now for the attractions...the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds were definitely an AMAZING experience. On the Maid of the Mist, you get close to Horshoe Falls and just feel the loud roar and energy of the falls. Absolutely stunning! Went on the hurricane deck at Cave of the Winds and got a hydrotherapy massage underneath Bridal Veil Falls. The water was intense and so powerful. A magnificent experience. We had lunch at Maple Leaf Place. Food was ok. Couldn't really eat from the food court since I have IBS so I don't have much to say about the food. The steak poutine was recommended and I was told that it was good. ‍ I didn't skip out on the maple syrup and fudge tasting though. Yum! Delicious. Had no clue there were 3 different types of maple syrup and I found that I like the dark amber syrup the best. Bought some chocolate covered blueberries and jujubes. My husband loved them...me not so much. I prefer my chocolate with no fruit, but I did enjoy their tasty orange dreamsicle fudge. Because there was a big tour bus that arrived at Maple Leaf Place just a few minutes we got there, our time at the food court took too long since the lines were long and everybody in my family were hungry. This meant that it cut our time for souvenir shopping. I'm sure my hubby was happy about that. After lunch, we went to Skylon Tower and went to the observation deck. We got a bird's eye view of not just the Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil Falls but all of the town of Niagara Falls. Beautiful! Thank you Over The Falls Tour and Jessica! My family and I had a blast!

This is a classic case of mileage may vary, depending on the person. Here's my take on Over the…read moreFalls Tours: Good: -Picks you up and drops you off at your hotel, so that's a lot more convenient than having to get to a meeting point. -I wanted to do Cave of the Winds and Skylon Tower, and they were on the list of spots they do, so it was convenient, especially with having to cross the border for Cave the Winds. -David, our guide, was personable and pleasant Bad: -The 20% tip sign. Not so much so for the sign itself, but for the fact that, as a tourist, I didn't have any cash on me. They give you a card at the end to give the guide/company feedback; they could at least give you the option to send the guide payment through electronic means as well. -The hour-long lunch stop. I could do without the lunch stop. Again, some people probably really wanted it, but for me, I would've rather hit more up. -The guide basically just took us to the stops and said meet me back here at X. They say on the site that guides love taking pictures for you, well that's kind of hard to do, if you're way back up at the van. Not that I wanted my picture taken at any time, and if I did I could've asked someone in the group to, but it just seemed odd for him to stay back. Especially if somebody in the group got injured or something. -We didn't seem to do much. Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, lunch, the actual power station, whirlpool, floral clock, Table Rock, and Skylon Tower. I had done pretty much everything else, so I don't know what more they could've done. But maybe they could've done 1-2 more things if they shortened the lunch break. I got a couple of discounts when I signed up, but ultimately, I don't think it was worth it. I don't regret it, but if I could do it over, I would've just crossed the border myself to do Cave of the Winds and Maid of the Mist, and done Skylon Tower on my own.

Initially the thought of visiting a Power Plant is probably the last thing on most vacationers'…read moremind...but this was awesome! Be sure to go late for night visit where you get to see a colorful, artistic, steamy, and musical visual art show take place inside the entire power plant. Somehow, by some miracle, and done by some geniuses whom somehow made show about history and a power plant very interesting and even enchanting. Somehow, learning about engineering and science was fascinating! The long tunnel walk sounds like chore, but its actually quite revitalizing and thrilling strolling through the vibrant colorful lights, and finally to the outside deck that is so crazy close Niagara Falls for some breathtaking beautiful views of waters. Again, go at night so you can see the waterfalls lit up by colorful lights. So magical! DO NOT DRIVE HERE! PARKING LOT IS $40!!!!! Take a uber/lyft or the bus.

What an incredible experience! We went at night, and parked in the adjacent parking lot. Sarah…read morehelped us buy the best ticket combination for parking and seeing the night show as well as tunnel. The night show inside the station was magical. It had moving pictures and music. We watched for awhile and then made our way to the elevator for the tunnel and viewing station. We went 180 feet down & it felt like 60° inside the tunnel, which is 1/2 mile long. It was freezing!! Upstairs it was in the high 80s. We took photos of the tunnel going in because it was so different. We loved looking at the multi colored lights on the falls which looked like the aurora borealis. On our walk through the tunnel going out I enjoyed the lights again. More photos! We did not take ponchos off. It was cold! They kept us warm. I took photo of rainbow in the tunnel. Got in the elevator to go up, and when we arrived upstairs it was warm!!! Ponchos off! Before leaving we went to the gift shop to purchase souvenirs. Best purchase? Tee shirt with BEST. DAY. EVER. on it. Because it was!

If you've got 4-5 hours in Niagara Falls, this tour is your best way to hit all of the hot spots…read more They show you exactly where to go for great photo ops, plus fast track admissions to Maid of the Mist and trolley.

We loved the walking tour! Our guide Diane shared so much history and information about the falls…read moreand area. Met at Murray Street welcome center and tour included the power station, journey behind the falls and the voyage of the falls boat ride. Tour was about 2.5 hours. Meeting place close to most hotels. Loved no lines as guide got your tickets and you could get in without a wait.