Niagara Falls is one of the top tourist attractions of Canada. If you want to experience the Falls in its magnificent glory then summer is the best time to visit. Recently, I took a short day trip to Niagara on the Canadian side, and had a wonderful time. There are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Niagara.
So, here is a list of the top five things I covered and would suggest to anyone for a short trip.
Bask in the Glory of the Falls
This is the first thing anyone does and one of the definite top reasons for visiting Niagara. This experience itself takes around two to three hours and every moment is worthwhile. The view of the Falls is magnificent and this is something which will stay forever etched in my memory.
There are three waterfalls that will keep your adventurous soul busy
- The Horseshoe Falls or Canadian Falls is on the Canadian side. The Fall is shaped like a giant “U” which gives the appearance of a horseshoe.
Photo taken by Chetana Roy
- The American Falls is on the US side of the river.
- Lastly, there is a narrow waterfall right situated right next to the American Falls. It is called the Bridal Veil Falls.
Photo taken by Chetana Roy
If you are on the Canadian side, then you are lucky because you get a picture perfect view of all three waterfalls. The best thing about the Canadian side is that it has a massive walkway along the Riverside. This gives an amazing vantage point for the view, and it also leads to the farthest point of the Horseshoe Falls.
Voyage to the Falls
The Hornblower cruise, which is also known as the “Voyage to the Falls” is one of the most popular and sought after attractions of the Canadian side. It is basically the Canadian version of the “Maid of the Mist” tour from the American side. Indulge on this cruise to get an upfront and closer look of the Falls.
You need to cut ticket on site to get on this cruise. There are online mediums, such as travel companies like Niagara Cruises, who can help you secure an early ticket and save you from the hassle of doing it on site.
To distinguish boats and passengers between the two sides, you’ll be given red waterproof ponchos while the tour from the American side comes with blue ponchos.
Journey Behind the Falls
In my opinion, this is one of the most adventurous tours of the Falls. If you are interested to get a closer look of the Horseshoe Falls, then you should definitely try the Journey Behind the Falls experience. Once again you have to head down towards the Horseshoe Falls where you can walk through the tunnel-like bridge behind the Falls. Getting an up front view of the glorious Falls and listening to the thunderous velocity of water rushing downwards makes this experience particularly exciting.
To begin this adventure, you need to go to the Table Rock Welcome Centre which is located right near the corner of the Horseshoe Falls
Clifton Hill
A trip to Niagara will remain incomplete without a visit to Clifton Hill, also known as, “The Street of Fun at the Falls.” It is a lively and touristy area packed with ice-cream shops, restaurants, museums and many more.
If you are traveling with kids then you should definitely check out Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium and many other fun museums and game centres.
If you are traveling with adults, then you should definitely check out Go Kart at the Niagara Speedway. To get a holistic bird’s eye view of the whole area, you can book a ride to the Niagara SkyWheel.
Niagara SkyWheel
Photo taken by Chetana Roy
Clifton Hill
Photo taken by Chetana Roy
Clifton Hill
Picture taken from www.pinterest.com
Niagara Speedway
Picture taken from www.tripadvisor.ca
If you have sweet tooth, then you can try different kinds of fudge from Fudge Factory . If you are more of an ice-cream and milkshake person like me, then you can just try Dairy Queen.
Different types of Fudge from Fudge Factory 
Dairy Queen’s rainbow ice-cream.
Photo taken by Chetana Roy
You can also check out the souvenir shops at Clifton Hill to buy gifts and souvenirs for family and friends.
The Illuminated Niagara Falls
The Falls light up with a different kind of mystical beauty at night. You should experience this final view before heading out of town.
To check the the nightly illumination schedule for 2020, visit https://www.niagarafallslive.com/niagara_falls_at_night.htm
So these are some of the things you can cover on a 12 hour trip to Niagara. If you are traveling from Toronto and don’t own a car then you can go via Go trains and buses, or you can just rent a car.
This is the last month of summer and if you are a newbie in Canada who hasn’t visited the Falls yet, then you still have time to plan a trip.
If you find this blog helpful, then you can check out my previous blog to know about some helpful travel tips for a Niagara trip.
The Bucket List 