Niagara Falls
Recommended Tours

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Getting that closer look
If you think that standing on the edge of Goat Island and looking out at the mighty Falls is a thrill, wait until you literally step behind them during the Cave of the Winds tour. You descend by elevator onto a set of scaffolds to the base of the Bridal Veil Falls. It’s wet and wild.

Also wet and wild is the adventure that comes from hopping aboard the world-renowned Maid of the Mist boat. This is a tour that takes you so close to the thundering waters, you'll feel your heart beat just a little faster as the spray washes over your face. And the noise of the water makes it difficult to hear anything else. The boats leave from the base of the Niagara Reservation State Park Observation Tower at Prospect Point every 15 minutes.

Did you know that Niagara Falls was once a strategic military post? Two hundred years ago battles and sieges took place only minutes from the Falls as the young American Republic and the British Empire fought the War of 1812. Today, Old Fort Niagara, located in the village of Youngstown where the Niagara River flows out into Lake Ontario, is a registered National Historic Landmark. Guided tours of the fort include battle re-enactments, musket demonstrations and interesting exhibits and displays.

History of a different sort
For another history lesson stop by Murphy's Orchards, about 25 miles northeast of the Falls. It is more than just a great place to stock your shelves with homemade jam. The farm played a vital role in the Underground Railroad. A guided informative tour of the land includes a view of an actual barn where slaves hid in hopes of crossing into Canada and freedom.

Anyone looking for museums that offer more than the usual wall hangings and sculptures has come to the right place. Niagara Falls has a number of interesting museums to tour, starting with the Daredevil Museum of Niagara Falls, a look into the history of the brave fools who attempted to go over the falls in one contraption or another. Here, you'll find the barrel Steve Trotter and Lori Martin used to make Falls history.

The Aquarium of Niagara features a large tank of fish and other aquatic life from the Great Lakes and Coral Reef. Going up? The Niagara Aerospace Museum, just outside the Niagara Falls International Airport, features planes, engines and other such memorabilia.

For the student of architecture and building styles, the Cobblestone Museum Complex in Childs, a National Historic Landmark, is a collection of seven cobblestone structures constructed in the 1800s. It is an interesting tour with photographs, architectural plans and over 1000 land-claim and survey files.

Letting excitement swirl
If you're into a little more excitement, the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours will take you on the ride of your life. Speed down the Niagara River and through the whitewater rapids on their 40-passenger jet boat. The adventure begins at the Riverside Inn in the historic village of Lewiston.

For group tours that are a little more genteel, try one of the many bus tour companies plying their trade in the Niagara region. The Over The Falls Tours company provides guides who make the trip entertaining while making sure you don't miss a thing. In winter, you can journey through the colorful light display that is The Festival of Lights in a comfortable, heated van. Niagara Majestic Tours, starting out at the Comfort Inn The Pointe, takes passengers to both sides of the border on a three-four hour tour which can include dinner overlooking the Falls. A unique trip with Motherland Connextions Inc follows portions of the Underground Railroad to give people a feeling of what it must have been like.

Touring nature’s green spaces
After a day battling crowds and traffic, take delight in a tour of one of the many state parks in the area. Western New York is known for its natural beauty and the preservation of that beauty. Witness the Niagara Reservation State Park, on which the American Falls sit, and one of the first such parks in the country. This large, 400-acre recreational area includes Goat Island, Three Sisters Islands and the Cave of the Winds excursion.

Joseph Davis State Park, outside Lewiston, is perfect for picnicking, long walks on the nature trails, fishing and skiing. The Reservoir State Park, overlooking the Robert Moses Powerplant Reservoir, is the most popular park in Niagara County. One of the reasons is the reservoir where there are always plenty of fish biting.

Devil's Hole State Park overlooks the lower Whirlpool Rapids in all their glory. It is 42 acres of lush grass, trees and a pond for the avid angler. Plus, you can tour the nature trail and Gorge caves within the park. Whirlpool State Park offers a spectacular view of the Whirlpool itself across the border in Canadian waters. For a tour that combines nature and art, try the Earl W Brydges Artpark State Park on the southern edge of Lewiston. This Artpark becomes a hive of activity during the summer months with outdoor displays of art, art camps and workshops, theater and musical performances.