Why Niagara Is More Than Just Its Famous Falls
Niagara is famous across the world for its huge waterfalls. Yet the area has so much more to give travellers who want to rest and recuperate.
Most people don’t realise that Niagara Falls is actually three waterways, not one single cascade. Horseshoe Falls is the largest and is the one often seen in tourist marketing. American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie just over the border in the US. Once experienced, many travellers believe they have ticked off Niagara and move on. Yet there are so many things to see and do beyond this landmark.
The Unique Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill is a real anomaly. In many ways, it is the excess of tourism that counters the natural beauty of the falls. Yet with it comes a real charm, and anyone who likes funfairs and tacky amusements of yesteryear should make a pilgrimage here.
The first hotel arrived in 1833 and was built with the intention of creating a tourist mecca. This did not happen until the roaring twenties, when more hotels and amusements were erected. By the sixties, it had an array of museums and pretty soon was awash with neon lights, not unlike a Vegas for the weird. These attractions include a "Ripley's Believe it or Not", a Movieland Waxworks Museum, model railways and the chance to get antique photos taken.
For those who want to head back into the neon at night for some more grown-up fun, Niagara also has a thriving casino scene that many people do not know about. As Ontario is currently the only Canadian province with an open and regulated online casino market, there are many Canadians who choose this form of entertainment. Mobile casinos in Canada have offered a great way for new players to get started, and as a result, it won't just be tourists you meet here. Locals will be plentiful, playing table games and slots into the early hours.
Niagara Parks Power Station
Even at the falls themselves, there are a few quaint attractions to get your teeth into. For history buffs, the tunnel at Niagara Parks Power Station is a must. This 2,200-foot tunnel runs beneath the station itself and leads you out onto a viewing platform over the gorge. This will give you an amazing vista of both Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls.
What makes the tunnel so spectacular is that it was built by hand. With just explosives and tools, workers began construction in 1901 and finished in 1905. It was used as an exit point for water essential in the generation of hydropower in the plant sitting above. Water would run into the tunnel through vents and shafts, then exit back into the river.
Niagara on the Lake
A quiet town that mainly caters to those coming to visit the falls, Niagara on the Lake is also a great base to explore other local outdoor areas. If you want to take part in fishing or watersports, then this is the place to find the equipment and help you need.
A few very quaint items of interest can be found here, too. The first is the Niagara Falls Botanical Gardens. Central to this is the clock display, which uses 16,000 flowers which rotate twice a year. This means you can visit in different seasons for a whole different experience. The clock even works, and at certain times of year, they do open it up so people can view the huge internal mechanism.
The Living Water Wayside Chapel is also an anomaly worth visiting. It is a church that can only fit 6 people inside, containing a mere four pews and a guestbook. Locals say it is the world record holder for the smallest church, though Guinness does not actually have a category for that. Luckily, you don’t just have to travel for the small chapel, which is lovely, but should only take a few minutes of your time. Next door is Walker's Country Market. This is a great place to grab some homemade pies and picnic lunches to take on your next adventure.
Getting There and Away
Niagara can be accessed from both the Canadian and US sides as easily as the other. For international visitors, Toronto Pearson International Airport is the most frequented. Closer, though with fewer flights, is Buffalo Niagara International Airport. This is situated around 40 minutes away from the falls. There is also a smaller airport used by budget airlines that is located in New York State.
Buses also travel equally from both sides of the border. Flixbus operate regular services, and there is a popular GO train from Union Station which can get you there cheaply.
Thus, Niagara has more than just the falls themselves. It is an area rich in history, and this should be explored alongside its natural wonders. From tiny chapels to amusements, you can find something for everyone here.
