A boat of tourists from the Canadian side getting as close as possible to the Falls*
Happen to visit Toronto, checked out all the most exciting places and wondering where else to go? My advice is to spend a day out visiting one of the most exciting places on our planet — The Niagara Falls, which are just approximately 130 km away from the capital of the North American Switzerland — The City of Toronto.
Why visit Niagara Falls when you are in Toronto is a pretty simple question to answer. The most spectacular views on this natural attraction open precisely from the Canadian side. Even though it is well marketed by the American marketing agencies, the best thing you can do to please yourself and aiming to enjoy it to the full is to visit it once in Toronto or Canada, in general. Later on, you will find out why.
Let’s begin with the main thing.
How to get there?
To get to the Falls is super simple. There are either bus trips you can order from such providers as Megabus or just get there by train from the Union Station in Toronto to the town called the Niagara Falls, by local buses or as merely renting a car. In general, to get there takes approximately 2–3 hours, depending on where in Toronto you reside. You might want to check out some main websites to help you plan your trip as well. Some of them are:
- https://www.rome2rio.com/ — one of the option to book the tour;
- https://www.enterprise.ca/ — one of the car rental places with good downtown Toronto locations, and;
- Many other options are googlable, of course.
Thinking of what to visit there and developing a must-see-places list, there are some spots and attractions you might want to check for sure:
A bird-eye view on the Horseshoe and American Falls at the back.
A helicopter tour, one of the greatest things to do. It is a 15 minutes flight-tour over the Falls. You can find out more here: https://www.niagarahelicopters.com/
Walking down the boardwalk from the American Falls through the Queen Victoria Park to the Niagara Falls;
Visiting the US for a second or two (if your visa allows you to do so, you can use the Rainbow Bridge to go and see the Falls from literally the middle of the river;
Visiting the amusement area on the Clifton Hill;
Getting to the Falls by boat! Check it out here: https://www.niagaracruises.com/boat-tours/
However, if you like it to be planned for you, you might want to check out some of the following websites as well. Here you can just book a tour and be guided throughout the entire trip:Or just… google it! :)
What is about the food?
There must be something special out there, right? You are absolutely and 100% correct. There are a few things you can try there, and those are Canadian icewine, Grilled Canadian Strip Loin Steak, Niagara Spy Apple Barge, etc. To try that, you can always choose a place to book using such services as TripAdvisor. When booking, make sure you are choosing a place not far from the Horseshoe Falls. Doing so, you will have a great chance to dine and enjoy watching Falls at the same time. No mist and cold, just pure joy.
One of the places you might want to check out is the Elements on the Falls restaurant. It is two in one option: they serve Canadian food and have a great view of the waterfall. Also, if you are a wine-lover, you might be interested in checking out ice-wine festivals like http://www.niagarawinefestival.com/icewine-festival.
You already know what to do and pretty ready for a trip, right? Let’s think of the last but not the least.
What to take with you?
Regarding expenses, the trip should cost you approximately 100 CAD. If you choose a helicopter tour, it will add up another 80–100 CAD. Thinking of the weather, do not be too optimistic about it. It’s like visiting Scotland traveling from London. Even if in cosy Toronto it is +20, please make sure you have enough warm clothes when going to the Falls. Enormous amounts of water and mist hanging in the air framed by regular “mist showers” whenever the wind blows in the direction where you stand are making its work. Pretty much regardless the time you are going there, it is freezing cold. However, it can be a most wanted refreshing moment during the killing summer time.
Some birds at the back trying their best to fly over the Horseshoe.
And, one more useful thing to consider is tissues for your camera lens. You do realize that it is not only you the mist is going to attack, right? :) Your helpless camera will also be facing a constant blast of it; and if you want to get some fantastic pictures for your Instagram channel, tissues or soft cloth is a must-have.
Enjoy and share your pictures and emotions in the comments below!