When I reminisce about my boat tour of Niagara Falls, I think of the hot-pink ponchos.
I spotted a rainbow from behind a sea of heads in these disposable, mist-shielding cloaks, stretching their arms in an attempt to get an unobstructed shot of the natural wonder. The picture or video may not capture their honest view of the roaring white water, but those who see it on Instagram will never know.
This was in August 2022, when I took my first trip to Niagara Falls, the iconic landmark of massive waterfalls on the border of the US and Canada.
I expected to take epic hikes and savor breathtaking views and peaceful moments in nature, but that’s not quite what happened. While I was in awe of the gigantic and dramatic falls, I thought the environment felt more like an attraction than a nature getaway.
I trudged through a crowded boardwalk on the Canadian side and saw the falls from viewpoints blocked by glass and other barriers. I spent more time than I anticipated waiting in lines and looking at the backs of people’s heads.
“Niagara Falls draws people because it’s different every time you visit, not despite the crowds, but because of the energy that comes with sharing something this powerful with people from all over the world,” Adam Stiles, interim President and CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism, told Business Insider. “Summer brings that energy at its peak, and yes, that means lines. But the Falls are just as extraordinary in October.”
I visited Niagara Falls on a Monday and Tuesday in August.
According to The Points Guy, this is one of the busiest months to visit. The town was full of families with kids on summer break.
“For anyone visiting during peak summer hours, we always recommend early mornings, evenings, and some of the timed entry where available to reduce the wait times during the peak times of the day and peak times of the year,” Stiles said.
I thought the area would be full of hiking trails, but there was a lengthy boardwalk instead.
When I arrived, I expected to view the falls from hiking trails since that’s how I’ve seen other nature destinations. However, I could only view Niagara Falls from a long boardwalk lining the Canadian side or from an attraction.
During the day, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., I went back and forth between the boardwalk, my nearby hotel, the Sheraton Fallsview, and the attractions surrounding the falls.
On the boardwalk, squeezing into a spot along the perimeter facing the falls took patience.
I could only get a spot on the edge by waiting directly behind other viewers, like an informal line.
When I got a spot along the edge, zipliners obscured my view.
People on a zipline, one of the local area attractions to see the falls, dropped into view every 15 minutes or so. It was cool the first time, but having my views constantly obstructed by wires and humans got a bit annoying.
By noon, I found the boardwalk too crowded to enjoy, so I decided to try some of the attractions.
In the early afternoon, the boardwalk was as packed as an amusement park on a weekend.
The first attraction I pursued had a line so long that I decided to skip it.
First, I tried the Journey Behind the Falls, an official Niagara Falls tour that takes visitors in an elevator down to a closer vantage point than the boardwalk. But the line to enter stretched through the entire center where it was located.
I was worried I wouldn’t have time for more activities if I waited, so I skipped it.
I had better luck at the next attraction — a 360-degree observation deck towering over the city.
Next, I went to Skylon Tower, an observation tower in Niagara Falls offering 360-degree views of the falls and the city.
It was about a 10-minute walk from the boardwalk, and I didn’t have to wait too long to get to the top — only about 30 minutes.
While slipping my camera through the fence got me a nice picture, the actual view from the observation deck looks more like this.
Most of the Skylon Tower deck was filled with people, so I had to wait for others to leave to get a front-row spot.
Back down below, I thought the town of Niagara Falls felt more like a carnival than a typical city. There was even a Ferris wheel, which I paid $15 for and waited an hour to ride.
The city was full of arcades, funnel cake stands, and crowds of people.
I thought the Ferris wheel would offer a grand view of the falls. But when I got to the front of the line, I realized the carts were completely enclosed.
Although the view was cool, I ultimately didn’t think it was worth the price and hourlong wait to see the falls through a window.
For a bit more of a thrill, I paid $30 for a boat tour with Niagara City Cruises.
This attraction gets people the closest to the falls, and it’s so popular that it was featured on “The Bachelor” in 2022.
I booked a 6 p.m. time slot, but I still had to wait in line for almost an hour, while the boat ride was only 20 minutes.
“We’re always working to improve the Niagara Falls experience,” a representative of Niagara Falls Cruises said in a statement to Business Insider.
When everyone piled on the boat, it was so crowded that it felt like no one else could fit.
On board the boat, I had access to two decks. I went to the top deck for a higher vantage point.
Being within feet of the falls and feeling the mist on my face was epic, but it was tough to fully enjoy it with so many other people on board.
At the same time, I thought the boat had a great vibe because everyone was so excited to be there. It felt like a big party and was worth the price.
When the ride was over, I waited in another long line for my turn in the elevator.
While I used a simple ramp to board the boat, passengers had to take an elevator to return to the boardwalk after the ride.
Regardless of the crowds and long lines, I thought seeing Niagara Falls up close was amazing and entrancing.
I think everyone should see them at least once.
It felt like I was witnessing a powerful force of nature commanding people’s attention.
According to The Points Guy, Niagara Falls tends to be less busy in early spring and late fall. I would love to go back to Niagara Falls when it’s less crowded and have a more peaceful experience.
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