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.

While in Buffalo, I decided to visit Niagara Falls. After being issued a poncho, a boat takes you…read moreout allowing you to feel the powerful winds and water emitting from this magnificent feature of nature. It was an incredible experience to witness up close. Fun fact: Niagara Falls is actually three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. At peak flow, about 750,000 gallons of water per second can go over the falls.

Incredibly beautiful well maintained gardens within a short distance of Niagara Falls. There is…read morealso a gift shop and cafe. An added bonus is it is free to visitors! There is lots of parking but that you find a ticket machine and pay for by the hour.

What an amazing thing to stumble upon! We came here for the butterflies and, after a short jaunt,…read morefound some of the most beautiful gardens (and we've seen the ones in Ireland and in Italy, which were also world class)! There is a horticulture school here that maintains the grounds, so plenty of people to talk to about the plants if you feel up to it, but honestly it was just nice to take in the manicured lawns and gardens. The variety is breathtaking and almost everything has a label so if you are trying to figure out what it is, they got you. The roses may not be up year round but believe me, the rest of the garden does more than its fair share of heavy lifting! Simply amazing!!

Beautiful park and walking path with trees and shade and easy trails parallel to the main road…read moreleading towards niagara falls viewpoint from Clifton hill. Walk along this park for a quiet and scenic path with periodic benches to sit and rest in the shade if needed. The main road overlooking the American and Canadian sides of the falls was packed with tourists so it was nice to have a more quiet stroll through the park and associated Fallsview trail and other trails towards the falls. There are also plenty of foot crossing paths if you want to head back towards the main road and watch the falls.

One of my last stops in Niagara. Just off Clifton Hills, it takes you from Clifton Hills to the…read moreold Power Station/Tunnel, and if you take the stairs up, a shortcut to Skylon Tower. Quaint and quiet, although I didn't do it, plenty watch the nightly fireworks from here. A simple yet understated escape. Mostly open, so it's not exactly a secluded place; nonetheless, it still offers some solitude. Worth passing through on your way to and from Table Rock and/or the Tunnel, or even if you're just walking about in Niagara Falls.

A great place to go and rock climb while enjoying what nature has to offer. Over the years, there…read morehas been significantly more foot traffic, and as a result, more noise pollution and waste items have been popping up. I think that with more focus on an "all things in, all things out" approach, this area would be better for both bouldering enthusiast in addition nature fanatics alike!

Another vacation win- they have something here I have never seen- a nature trading post! You can…read moretrade rocks, crystals, fossils and such for their inventory or participate in a point based scavenger hunt, taking photos throughout the park, and redeem points for something in their inventory. I ma a huge rock hound, crystal nut- not just because my name is Crystal, I've loved picking up shiny rocks since I was a small child. Quartz and mica are two I remember finding often as a child. Here- they had a huge inventory of various raw and polished stones, fossils, animal bones and such. And that was just in the Nature Exchange! The park is wonderful too, plenty of trails to lead you down by the river, wonderful trees, great overlook viewpoints throughout. As part of the Niagra Parks system, they have bike trails too. We stopped here twice, once to explore and once for me to pop back in with my photos and pick out a raw piece of turquoise! A birthday win for me! Shout out to the young lady who talked to me in the morning, she wasn't there when I returned- and I am pretty sure the 2 young men thought I was crazy (I am), but they were all very helpful for this big kid out playing in nature!

I can't even begin to explain how gorgeous this park/trail is. Me and my friends were heading to…read moreNiagara for the weekend, and wanted to start off the day with a physical activity. I found this place after doing a little bit of research, and I was not disappointed. The trail is a bit bumpy, unpaved, and difficult to go through. I personally love good trails and hikes, so it doesn't bother me. But i'll recommend wearing good running shoes with strong grip. As you're going through the trail, take it slow and easy so you don't slip on any unstable wood or rocks. You first go down a large staircase from the area I went through, then a 15 minute path. Once we reached the water, I was in awe. The water is bright blue, clean, the trees are as green as they can get, and the breeze is beautiful. The wind was blowing, which was refreshing after a sweaty trail walk. The views were unbelievable, including falls further away. I couldn't even believe it was in the Niagara area. If you're looking for a short trail and stunning views that transport you out of the city, this is the place to visit!! I will definitely be back and try different pathways :)

This is a lovely hike early in the day. Tons of stairs, you have to go up them on the way back…read more The path is fairly well marked, but has plenty of areas with a drop off so pay attention. I'm pretty familiar with this hike and enjoy it. Easy parking nearby.

Having the Whirpool Aero Car part of the premium package at Niagara Parks made getting here worth…read morethe trip. A bit north of all the falls attractions, plan an extra 20th minutes to take the Wego up to the stop. Suspended high above the Niagara River while criss-crossing international borders all while getting unobstructed views of the river below makes the Aero Cart a must see attraction if you're jn the area. Even if you have a fear of heights, the ride was smooth and the operator did an excellent job of highlighting facts to keep your mind occupied.

On the Aero Car, the scenery of the Niagara River was very beautiful. The tree in rock formations…read moremade it extremely peaceful and nice. Nevertheless, we probably saw one chip of back state New York and it was a really big adventure. Despite the car with no other side of the cross, it was a great experience. Plus, I finally got my chance to try my first batch of Canada's most iconic dish: Poutine.

When it's good it's good and when it's not it's not. So check it before you wreck it. Sometimes…read moremy fish was cooked great and 2 times it was fried too long. So there it is.

Get some park security. Half of the people on the playground aren't kids, they're adults having a…read morecook out. It's a good place to go when your board, but not a good place to get out and do something.

A small little garden in front of the Sherton. Plenty of flowers and bushes, as well as a…read morefountain. Nice little way to cross my one section of the street to another while enjoying a little scenery. A popular spot, I could see people walking in all day and night from my hotel room.

A beautiful park along the walkway facing Niagara Falls. The park dates back to 1937. Lovely…read moreornamental iron gates, a beautiful stone walkway through perfectly landscaped gardens and next to lily ponds before the amphitheater and then... the view over Niagara Falls. The fountain at the center of the park is the entranceway to Queen Victoria Park at the foot of Clifton Hills. A fabulous pergola for some shade (it was HOT this morning!). The park is perfect for your photo ops and is available for event rental overlooking American Falls near the Rainbow Bridge. [Review 1498 of 2024 - 174 in Ontario - 22521 overall]

This might have been the most mosquito infested park I've ever went to. Sadly , I would have…read moreenjoyed exploring the grounds and wildlife more , if it wasn't for the damn bugs ! Boards across the trails prevent muddy shoes, which is nice . Signs of potential wildlife are found throughout . But did I mention the mosquitos ?!?!

The Margery Gallogly Nature Sanctuary is 145 acres of private forest that, instead of being…read moredeveloped, has been acquired by the Western New York Land Conservancy and is now open to the public. There is a loop trail and a spur, which together added to a little more than 1.5 miles long. Some of the trail is on a raised boardwalk because the area can be wet and the trail is not open to dogs. Signage does say that snowshoes and cross-country skiing are permitted. The forest is lovely, especially now with the autumn colors taking over. Although it was dry when I visited, a nice big frog greeted me along the path and reminded me that the area is a wetland area. There were a few families with young children visiting. Other than negotiating the boardwalk, it is an nice easy hike for kids. The nature sanctuary is easy to reach. The trailhead is in the back corner of Assumption Cemetery and there is a small parking lot for visitors.

I was amazed at how modern and cool this playground is. A…read moreten minute drive from the falls. Without a doubt the best "outdoor" bathrooms in the world. And this must not be a secret because I saw two delivery drivers stop in. My boys had a ball here. There's something for kids of virtually ages to do here. If you're in the area with your kids, this is a must stop.

Okay this park has a COOL playground! I was even playing on it as an adult. There are lots of areas…read moreto climb, smaller areas for kids, swings, and a musical portion. Definitely something for all kids to enjoy. This park has lots of well-maintained grassy areas, good climbing trees, and a path to see the Falls, making it a great park to check out, especially considering that it's free! There's also a dog park located here, bathrooms, picnic tables in a covered pavilion, and charcoal grills.