Going Global: Canada. Passport to Best Niagra Falls Views

By Sarah Miller Freelance Travel Writer

Ontario, Canada, wins the bet for best falls views. On the Canadian side, onlookers can gawk at both massive falls, the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls). Together, they are a symphony of rushing waters–a natural wonder to rival the Grand Canyon. The award for most impressive falls, however, goes to Horseshoe Falls–an aquamarine, horse-shoe shaped spectacle whose beauty feels surreal.

Best Views

It’s all about perspective–will you be over, under, around, or through? We’ve already established that the Canadian side has the best view (the American view is of the fall’s backside). After you’ve stepped out on the viewing platform with all the other tourists, it’s time to break from the pack. Here’s how to do it:

Dine Over the Falls.

Best Splurge: Niagara Parks Table Rock House Restaurant is as close as it gets. Hover over the Canadian Falls with fine dining. Rotating seasonal menus with locally-sourced ingredients dazzle with tender braised beef short rib or roasted salmon in chardonnay horseradish cream. Niagara honey, pickled veggies, and fresh-fruit sorbets offer a taste of Canada.

Best Save: Grab a sprinkle donut or breakfast wrap at Tim Hortons, a Canadian staple in the quick-service industry. Or, try one of the other quick service counters at the Fallsview Casino Resort’s food court. Get it to go, and find a park bench with a view.

Stay Over the Falls:

Many hotels boast a fall’s view, but the Marriott Fallsview Hotel and Spa is among the best. Even the lobby appears suspended over the aqua tidal swirls before plummeting.

Splash Into the Falls:

Nothing compares to a voyage on the Niagara City Cruises. Board the Niagara HornBlower, the Canadian version of the Maid of the Mist. Sport red ponchos and feel the cool, refreshing mist on your face.

Go Under the Falls:

One of the newest attractions is Niagara Parks Power Station + The Tunnel. Gain an appreciation for the science and history behind the falls. Self-guided audio tours take visitors inside the power station built in 1905. Try your hand at the Tesla charging station, and trek through the tunnel that leads you straight to the falls.

Away WEGO— Getting Around

Getting around Niagara is fun, but can feel a bit like navigating Disney World. Come equipped with good walking shoes, a bottle of water, and a backpack. The area around the falls is highly walkable. That doesn’t mean you won’t want to take advantage of the WEGO bus system. You’ll avoid paying for parking, give yourself a break from walking, and cover more ground.

Best Hidden Gems, WEGO Stops

Most attractions are grouped together near the hotels, but explore beyond the bustle.

Niagara Glen is a natural treasure with a majestic nature center, hiking paths, and stellar whirlpool views. For a moderate challenge, hike deep in the Niagara Gorge through a Carolinian Forest with the Niagara River Whirlpool below.

Take an elevator and descend to the White Water Walk, a boardwalk that journeys past Class 6 whitewater rapids. After all that exercise, pop into Maple Leaf Place for a free maple syrup tasting.

The Niagara Parks’ Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory are another way to appreciate the beauty of Niagara outside the falls.

Lay of the Land

If you stand and look directly at the falls, to the left are the American Falls and Clifton Hills. Known as Niagara’s Little Vegas, it’s a popular tourist spot with kitschy attractions like a wax museum, dino mini golf, themed restaurants, and haunted houses. Kids will find some gems here like the giant ferris wheel and Hershey’s Chocolate World.

Looking directly at the falls and heading right, lies the Horseshoe Falls. This area is filled with a myriad of fine dining choices, hotels, and Table Rock Center.

Tempted to just walk around aimlessly? Don’t, instead stop at one of the Niagara Parks Welcome Centres (center in French). Here, you can get maps for the WEGO bus lines, purchase an Adventure Pass–a bundle of savings for multiple attractions. Include the Niagara Falls Incline Railway to your pass. The railway provides an effortless link between Niagara Parks attractions and the upper hotels, restaurants, etc.

Final Takeaways

Niagara Falls in Ontario is a world-class destination. You’ll meet people from every continent converging to witness the falls’ power and beauty. For best results, plan ahead. Make reservations for fallsview dining, buy your activity passes online, and search for hotels.

Spend a little extra money to watch the fireworks from your hotel window. Take the time to book an evening dinner with the illuminated falls in the background. Our neighbors to the North host something for everyone–a theme-park wrapped in the grandeur of a national park–a lively celebration of fireworks and the quiet beauty of Niagara Parks.