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A short weekend spent visiting Niagara Falls.
Things to do and places to visit.
Start at 7:00 AM. Grab some breakfast and take a morning stroll along one of the many trails on Goat Island, part of the Niagara Falls State Park which is on the American side of the falls. Bike rentals and trolley rides are just a few options to enjoy the crisp morning air. There are lots of trails with plenty of different vantages points for the perfect photo opportunity and early risers are sure to get an amazing view.
10:00 AM. Purchase your tickets for the famous Maid of the Mist boat tour that takes you straight into the falls for an exciting experience. An elevator ride will take you down to the landing where you will receive a Maid of the Mist poncho (included in the ticket price) and wait for your boat to arrive. The trip is short and know that you most likely will get wet from the mist. The front of the boat is probably the best place to stand, but honestly, you will get an amazing view no matter your location. Keep your poncho and take a short hike up the stairs towards the falls as you exit the boat for another great view.
12:00 PM. Time for some lunch. Knowing that our dinner reservations were bound to be expensive, we opted for something easy and cheap. Mr. Ventry’s Pizza had decent pizza for a fair price, but definitely browse for what you might be hungry for. There are plenty of restaurants in the area, pizza just happened to be our choice that day!
2:00 PM. Make your way to Canada. Since we stayed on the American side of the falls, we called an uber for a ride. You can also skip the traffic and take a leisurely walk across the bridge. You’ll need your passport to cross into Canada and once you’re there you can explore all the shops and restaurants that line the streets near the falls. Also, take a walk along the gorge for even more beautiful views, including the best view of Horseshoe Falls (the largest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls).
5:00 PM. Another meal, this time a bit more classy. Definitely grab a drink at Myst Lounge before dinner. It’s located in the south tower of the Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls Fallsview. Once you’ve enjoyed a few drinks and the view, head over to The Watermark Restaurant for a three-course meal that will literally have you full for days. I highly recommend the donuts for dessert!
7:00 PM. If you’re feeling lucky, have a go at the Fallsview Casino which is directly connected to the Hilton Hotel by a tunnel. With slots, tables and live entertainment, you could spend hours in this exciting venue. Personally, I don’t gamble, but it is always exciting to see someone hit the jackpot!
10:00 PM. At this point of the night, it’s either time to head home or get ready to dance! Dragonfly Nightclub is in the same vicinity as the Hilton Hotel and has a $20 cover charge. The music was the perfect mix of today’s hits with a splash of the classics. Grabbing a cab just outside the club was fairly easy, but make sure you catch one more glimpse of the falls since they are lit up beautifully at night.