Things to visit at Niagara in a Single Day

Things to Visit at Niagara in a Single Day:

This is a small guide to visit Niagara if you got only one day to visit it.

• Visiting Centre and Show (15-20 Min)
  
• American Falls (Prospect Point) (15 Min )
  
• Observation Tower (30 Min)
  
• Maid of the mist (45 Min - 1 Hr)
  
• Horse-shoe Falls (Terrapin Point) (20 Min)
  
• Cave of the wind (1 Hr)
  
• Luna Island & Bridal Veil Falls (30 Min)
  
• Top of fall restaurant
  
• Discovery Center (30 Min)
  
• Rainbow Bridge (30 Min - 1 Hr )
  
• River Rapids
  
• Three Sister Island

Start your journey from Visiting Center. This is absolute required even before visiting any of the falls! Ask them regarding all points need to be covered and get a map of the park. The map contains all the main points to see at Niagara.

There are several shows (worthy of seeing) get featured in visiting Center. Note down the show times. Plan your tour accordingly. If you can manage enjoy a show. But don’t go for the first show. You can visit the small photo museum at the visiting center. You can have an idea regarding the history of Niagara fall. There are few valuable old photographs of Niagara there.

But don’t spend too much time.

Then go straight to the Prospect Point. Enjoy the beauty of the American Falls. Then Buy ticket for the Observation Tower/Maid of the mist (~$13). Enjoy the view from observation tower. Shoot as many pictures as you want!!

Take the elevator and come down to the base of the observation tower (at the river level). Go for the Maid of the mist boat ride through the Niagara River.

Boat returns on the same place where it starts. Enjoy the beauty of the falls from a lower angle from the base of the observation tower.

Take the lift and come to the ground level. Take the trolley to the Horse-show Falls. Take the right one and to the right direction. Regarding purchasing of ticket I guess, buy one and ride unlimited.

Get down at top of the falls restaurant stop. Go straight to the Terrapin Point. Enjoy the beauty of the Horse-shoe falls.

Then buy the ticket for Cave of the Winds. Keep some time in hand to visit it (approx 1 hr) as there happens to be a long queue.

This is a life-time experience of being closest to the falls. Cover your camera fully as its going to get wet. Don’t think about your cloths. You can’t protect it from getting drenched!!

Now walk along the pedestrian road to the Luna Island and enjoy the beauty of the Bridal Veil Falls.

Now you are quite done with the must-see points of Niagara Falls. Now if you have some time try to cover as many things as you want or you can spent rest of the time just looking at the falls (its worthy too)

If you want other things to see too, take the trolley ride to go to the Discovery Centre and Niagara Aquarium (We didn’t visit this, so don’t know about it), Rainbow bridge (If you are not carrying your passport don’t cross the gate to the rainbow bridge, there will be problem during re-entering to US!!). And enjoy a show at visiting Center

If you get some time during sunset, come back to the observation tower (I guess you don’t have to buy ticket again) and enjoy the beauty of the American falls as light fall towards the falls during sunset.

Just before 9, book a nice place with clear view to the American falls near the Prospect Point as the night show is going to start just after 9 (or after dark, check the timings at visiting center).

Few Modification/Suggestions for your trip:

1. If you are reaching there late (say at 12:00 PM.) and its lunch time, I would suggest you to start your day with a delicious lunch at Top of the Falls Restaurant. Make sure to keep ‘Buffalo Wings’ in Menu.
   
2. Visit the South side (Top of the falls Restaurant /Horseshoe falls/Cave of the winds etc.) first then come to the Observation Tower and maid of the mist.
   
3. Keep some plastic bags (Wal-Mart carry bag will work fine) with you to save your camera from getting drenched.
   
4. Keep your documents wrapped in plastic bags even if they are inside your carry-on bag.
   
5. There are few Indian restaurants at Niagara just near the Visiting Center. You can have a buffet dinner there.

Enjoy and Have a great trip.