Seeing Niagara Falls has always been on my bucket list, so I was really excited to be invited to join 3 other Macaroni Kid publishers from around the country as guests of Niagara Falls USA at the end of our trip to Rochester, NY. Niagara Falls is just a little over a one hour drive from Rochester and I learned so much from visiting this area. Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in America, having been established as a state park in 1885.
I knew the Falls would be beautiful, of course, but I didn't realize how much fascinating history this area has to offer and how much there is to do there for families who visit. You may be wondering what else there is to do besides visiting the incredible Falls. I am listing here several of my favorite places we visited that I think are "must-see" places for families visiting this part of New York, and with the area's free seasonal shuttle stopping at 12 different locations, running from the “Falls to the Fort” and a Niagara Falls Discovery Pass with discounted rates to six different activities, it's very affordable and convenient for families to visit.
Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride- Lockport is a town that was founded during the years when thousands of men dug the Erie Canal by hand. Today, you can visit Lockport and take a 70 minute guided tour to learn about the history of this canal that has been so important in American development & transportation. After a brief outdoor tour to see the Locks, we entered a 1600 foot underground water tunnel blasted out of rock during the building of the canal. It is amazing to see artifacts left years ago by the men who built the canal. I thought it was very interesting to learn that during the construction of this tunnel, many of the workers' young sons joined them in the tunnel. The men would spend hours hammering a small hole into the solid rock and then the little boys stuffed black powder into the holes, lit it, and ran. They were small enough and fast enough for the job and I'm sure felt like "big guys" for being entrusted with this daunting task. The last part of our tour was a short boat ride through the water tunnel along the Erie Canal. Later this year, a zipline over the Erie Canal will be added to this attraction.
I recommend concluding your visit to Lockport with a stop at the yummy Lake Effect Artisan Ice Cream. They make ice cream flavors so unique you won't find them anywhere else, like "Paula's Glazed Donut", "Frozen Hot Chocolate" (the one I tried) and "Couch Potato" (contains chocolate-covered potato chips).
Old Fort Niagara- If you enjoy history, you will absolutely love this ancient fort and castle. Set among the beauty of Lake Ontario, this landmark is so well preserved you can almost envision yourself living during the 1700's when it was used as a French fort. Amazingly, the "castle" of Fort Niagara that was built in 1726 is not only still standing, but you can take a tour through it and even go upstairs to see the soldiers' and officers' barracks. The French soldiers were very young (starting at about age 13) and served 21 years at this fort. You can take a tour of the kitchen where it was explained to us that the men were served only one meal- a soup made with peas and sometimes a little meat- and bread, twice a day. Day in and day out, this was the only meal served. The nursery rhyme "peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot 9 days old" has it's origins here. Men could enter a lottery for their wives to join them at the fort. The wives worked extremely hard taking care of all of the laundry in very difficult conditions, and they were fed even less than the men, but the job was still considered an honor to be chosen for since women had very few opportunities at that time in history.
The fort fell to the British in 1759 and later was ceded to the United States. Old Fort Niagara's largest event of the year recreates the historic siege of 1759 when British forces and their Native allies attacked on Fort Niagara's French garrison. A few years ago, the fort gained possession of the American flag of the War of 1812 and it is on display here. At Old Fort Niagara, military forces have continued to occupy the fort, from the French in 1726 to the U.S. Coast Guard today. This has made it one of the longest active military sites in the United States.
Cave of the Winds is an incredible natural wonder created by hundreds of years of thousands of tons of water from the Falls cascading down the 165' tall cliff, the back splash creating a cavern. In 1829, enclosed stairs were built on the side of the cliff, but today the stairs are in a platform that is built every year. It is taken down & rebuilt every year because, while the Niagara Falls never freeze, the mist from the Falls does, and causes damage to the stairs and platform. Visiting the Cave of the Winds allows you to get closer to Niagara Falls then you ever imagined was possible. We rode an elevator 175 feet deep into the Niagara Gorge. At the bottom, we received a special pair of sandals and a bright yellow poncho to wear for our walk over to the "Hurricane Deck". How wet you get depends on how close you walk to the Falls, but of course, we wanted to experience it all! We paired up and stepped up to the railing, where you are just 20 feet from the base of Bridal Veil Falls, one of the three Falls that make up Niagara Falls. (Before this trip, I didn't realize Niagara Falls is made up of 3 separate falls!) For those who are physically unable to climb the stairs, or adults carrying small children, a platform has been built 150 feet from the base of the Falls.
The Silo- Hungry from your adventure? The Silo in nearby Lewiston, NY is the perfect place to stop. The Silo, featured on the TV show "Man vs Food", is a local and tourist favorite. The Lewiston Silo was built in the 1930's and was a home to the coal that fueled the steam trains that once powered through that area. In 1997, The Silo restaurant opened in this beautiful waterfront location. From our seats in the restaurant, we could see Ontario, Canada across the Niagara River. The casual, open-air atmosphere is great for families. They have a great variety of American classics, from burgers to salads, but their signature dish is the one shown below- The Haystack. I wasn't sure what to think about this sandwich when our hosts described it, but it was absolutely one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. We all tried it and not one of us had any leftovers. It's seasoned rib-eye steak covered with layers of melted mozzarella cheese and topped with toasted hashbrowns. Trust me, you'll love it! The Silo is open seasonally- 7 days a week from May through September. The kids meals are just $6.99 and come with a kids ice cream cone. Have food allergies or gluten-free? The Silo has menu options for everyone, so you can dine with your friends and family members regardless of allergies or dietary restrictions. The Silo is wheelchair-accessible, stroller friendly and even has a pet-friendly picnic area.
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The majestic Niagara Falls USA and Maid of the Mist- I've always heard the stories of the daredevils who have gone over Niagara Falls in barrels. The Maid of the Mist boat ride is a fun and affordable way to take a boat ride along the base of the Horseshoe Falls. This is the 132nd consecutive season of Maid of the Mist taking travelers to the base of the Falls, making it one of the oldest tourist attractions in North America. Today, Maid of the Mist passengers can wear their complimentary poncho and soak up historical and natural amazement on the ride. This 30-minute boat ride creates long-lasting memories as you experience the roar of Niagara Falls, up close and powerful. We passed the place where in 1901 Annie Edson Taylor, at age 63, became the first person to survive going over the Falls in a barrel. She was a widowed schoolteacher and wished to find her fortune so she could live out the rest of her lie comfortably. Unfortunately, her manager stole her barrel and toured with a younger woman, so she saw very little of the money after her incredible feat.
Maid of the Mist offers an unforgettable experience at a very reasonable price. Tickets are just $18.25 for adults, $10.65 for kids 6-12 years old and 5 and under free. Enjoy this video I took from Maid of the Mist.
Niagara Falls Illumination and Fireworks- My first glimpse of the Falls was at night, and I was just in awe of their force and beauty. Our host hotel was Sheraton at the Falls. Besides being a clean, comfortable and welcoming hotel, the Sheraton is literally just three blocks from the Falls. It is an easy walk and makes this place perfect for your stay. We walked over to the Falls at night for the nightly 9 PM illumination of the Falls. Since 1925, the Falls have been lit up in the evenings and many different colors are used, making the effect stunning. Seasonally, at 10 PM nightly, you can also watch fireworks over the falls, which we really enjoyed. There is no cost to see Niagara Falls! While at the Falls, you can look straight across to Canada. The Sheraton at the Falls has a Rainforest Cafe, where we enjoyed a wonderful and fun dinner, and a T.G.I. Friday's that serves a breakfast buffet. The hotel also has a Starbucks, a wonderful kid-friendly pool area and free wi-fi for guests. This picture is one I took from just around the corner from the hotel:
Incredibly, the American Rapids, the rapids above the falls, reach a maximum speed of 25 mph before making an over 176 ft. drop over the Niagara Falls into the Lower Niagara River. 3,160 tons of water flows over Niagara Falls every second. This accounts for 75,750 gallons of water per second over the American and Bridal Veil Falls and 681,750 gallons per second over the Horseshoe Falls
NYPA- New York Power Authority Niagara Power Vista- Another great completely free Niagara attraction, the New York Power Authority Niagara Power Vista is designed with tons of hands-on activities teaching you all about hydroelectricity and STEM. NYPA generates nearly 25% of the power of the state of New York (imagine how many lights New York City alone has!) and it is the largest state public power utility in the country. Visitors receive a free power play card to play the different educational, yet fun games. The card will adapt the game toward the player's age level, making it great for kids & adults of all ages. There is a Tesla vs Edison exhibit, a static electricity experiment where my hair stood on end, and a 4D simulator ride. Everyone in your family will enjoy this stop.
Our last stop was Niagara Jet Adventures. This speedboat takes you on a wild adventure through Class 5 rapids near the Falls. What fun! After a brief safety presentation and donning a life jacket, hop in and hold on as their skilled drivers navigate the rapids while playing upbeat, fun pop music. You can choose to sit inside the boat and stay dry, which we did since we were headed to the airport next, or you can sit on the "wet deck", where you will get soaked! Niagara Jet Adventures takes pride in their 100% safety record and they did such a great job in giving us an experience we'll never forget. This experience is for children around age 4 & up (min 40" tall).
As you can see, the Niagara Falls area is full of beauty, adventure, affordable family fun and fascinating history. I can't wait to take my family back there. The Niagara Falls area should be on your bucket list!
I was a guest of Niagara Falls USA on this trip. My lodging, some meals and all attractions were complimentary for purposes of my review, but all opinions and statements are my own.
