Touring the iconic waterfalls of North America

Niagara Falls is a major destination that is known for its famous group of three scenic waterfalls with the same name.

A lot of people merely associate Niagara Falls with its three waterfalls, which of course are amazing and are the main attraction of the area. However, Niagara Falls is also a whole city! More specifically, there is Niagara Falls, New York, USA, as well as Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, as the waterfalls are situated on the border of USA and Canada.

To be able to spend days here is peaceful. There are plenty of hotels within walking distance of the falls too. Pictured above is the skyline as seen from the falls.

Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three waterfalls. Due to the high volume of water that rushes down the waterfalls, mist lingers around in the air. As the sunlight shines through the mist, rainbows form, making for even more of a picturesque view. So, if you’re fortunate to go on a sunny day, it’s likely you will see a rainbow (or multiple!) along the Niagara River.

In fact, the mist that emits from the waterfalls is so abundant that you can see it permeate the surrounding area, even when you’re not near the falls. It makes for a pretty cool atmosphere, and when you’re walking alongside Horseshoe Falls, you definitely feel it; it feels like it’s raining!

Roughly 700,000 gallons of water travel down Niagara Falls every second. For that reason, it is thought to be the world’s fastest moving collection of waterfalls with the highest flow rate. Between the volume of water flow and the height at which it downpours, these are standout characteristics that make this landmark such an impressive sight.

In 1901, a school teacher named Annie Edison Taylor went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She even took her cat with her for the ride and they both miraculously survived the publicity stunt, but Taylor’s relevance did not last long as she hoped; even though the stunt is remembered, cheating death resulted in no fame nor fortune for her.

This is a photo I got of the water from Horseshoe Falls up close. It’s one of my favorite pictures I have gotten from Niagara Falls, so it felt right to include it in this write up. Seeing the rapid downpour of water up close feels surreal and intimidating; it gives you a genuine perspective of how fast the water flows off these waterfalls.

American Falls is the second largest waterfall at Niagara Falls and it is entirely located on the USA side. As you can see from the picture, this waterfall emits a lot of mist too. In New York, there is a state park called Niagara Falls State Park that you can visit and get an up close view looking down at it. Also, this is the oldest state park in the USA. If you look closely, you can see the spectators high up at the grounds of the park.

Lastly, Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest waterfall and is right next to the American Falls; the two are only separated by a small gap, which can partially be seen on the top left of the photograph above. This waterfall got its name because it resembles a wedding bride’s veil.

If you look close enough, you can see people right under the waterfall and walking along the red walkway that extends through the trees. Those people are standing there because you can go down to the base of this waterfall and take it in up close! This is one of the interesting ways you can experience Niagara Falls up close. You can also experience Horseshoe Falls up close on a boat ride, which I discuss in this post too.

In the distance, you can see Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge, which is one of the bridges that connects the USA and Canada. It is commonly called Rainbow Bridge, and in addition to driving across it, you can walk across it!

On both the New York side and Canada side of Niagara Falls, you’re able to go on a thrilling boat ride that takes you close to Horseshoe Falls and then turns around. On the American side of the Falls, there is Maid of The Mist, and on the Canadian side, there is Hornblower Niagara City Cruises. This white boat is from Niagara City Cruises, as it is sporting a Canada flag.

Here is Maid of The Mist, sporting the American flag on the back of the boat. While I did not take a boat ride myself, they were entertaining to watch, especially because I love boats and water (I guess that is just the native Floridian in me). These boats definitely get crowded, and everyone gets a poncho because you definitely get soaked down there. Seemingly, it’s a fun, unique experience.

Furthermore, one thing I was really impressed by in the area is the nice nature they have. There are many beautiful flowers and green spaces, so this is a place for nature lovers. Across the street from the falls, there are a lot of nature areas and walkways where you can enjoy the atmosphere.

As you walk on the nature trails near the falls, you can see the Skylon Tower in the distance standing tall over the trees.

Skylon Tower is an observation deck that also has a revolving restaurant and an arcade. It is 520 feet (160m) tall, and is 775 feet (236m) above the base of Niagara Falls. I did not go to the top of the tower, but from what I have seen, it looks like the observation deck offers a great view of the falls!

After visiting Niagara Falls a couple times, I see that this city makes for a great destination to enjoy the outdoors and see nature presented in a grand way.