It’s estimated that 30 million people visit Niagara Falls every year. In addition to the breath-taking falls themselves, you may be surprised to learn that there are numerous other fantastic attractions in the area. Here are five of the very best.
Horseshoe Falls
Even if you’ve visited Niagara Falls before, the first thing you will want to do when visiting the area is to see the falls again. At 188-feet-high and 2,600-feet-wide, Horseshoe Falls is the centrepiece of Niagara Falls and the most powerful waterfall in North America. There are so many different ways to see the falls. Standing metres away from the edge is one option you won’t want to miss, but other ways of viewing the mighty falls include a journey behind the falls, a helicopter ride, and a Maid of the Mist boat tour. You can also get a superb view of the falls from the Skylon Tower, and a fabulous vista of the American Falls from Queen Victoria Park.
The Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
Another way of gaining an amazing view of Niagara Falls is to visit the Fallsview Casino Resort, which sits at the foot of Horseshoe Falls. From inside the casino resort, you will also see an incredible view of the Niagara skyline. If you’re a fan of online casino games, you will love having the opportunity to play your favourite games in the flesh. The 200,000-square-foot casino floor area contains more than 100 gaming tables and over 3,000 slot machines. However, even if you are not a fan of playing casino games, the resort has plenty of other attractions to keep you entertained. There are 18 restaurants, a concert showroom, a shopping centre with more than 30 shops, and even a nightclub with an LED-video ceiling! The Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort is also currently constructing a 5,000-seat entertainment centre.
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Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Conservatory
If you want to get away from the crowds of tourists for a while and lose yourself in nature, take a trip to the wonderful Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Conservatory. You will love strolling around the 100 acres of meticulously-maintained gardens that feature thousands of species of plants. If you visit in the summer, you can take a horse and carriage tour to explore the botanical gardens in style. Then visit the site’s Butterfly Conservatory to see thousands of beautiful butterflies fluttering among colourful flowers.
Fort Niagara
You will need to have your passport ready if you want to visit Fort Niagara, as it is located on the American side of the falls, but it is more than worth a visit. The 17th-century fort was originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. Over the years, it changed hands between French, American, and British troops. The site has seen action during several wars, including the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Inside the fort, you can explore old army barracks, ancient canons, and underground gunpowder rooms. There’s also a fantastic visitor centre where you can find out more details about the fort’s history.
Nightmares Fear Factory
If you hear screams coming from a house at the top of Clifton Hill, there is no cause for alarm… until you enter the house yourself, that is. At first, the idea of visiting a haunted house attraction may sound a little cheesy, especially when you hear the so-called legend that the site was once a coffin factory that is now haunted by the ghost of an eccentric former proprietor. The dark, maze-format interior of the Nightmares Fear Factory is only for the truly brave. It claims to be the scariest attraction in the Niagara Falls area, and it lives up to that claim. Over the years, the attraction has become famous for visitors chickening out once they go inside. If you love things that go bump in the night and you want to test your bravery, there’s no better place to visit than the Nightmares Fear Factory.
