Niagara Falls - The Once in a Lifetime Experience

The little something left behind by the Ice Age, Niagara Falls is more than meets the eye. There are in fact three towering waterfalls - American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Horseshoe Falls taking the fallout from the four Upper Great Lakes - Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie which between them hold a fifth of the world's fresh water. Straddling the American-Canadian border, the falls are each as spectacular as the last but with their own unique personalities. Escorted tours by boat, balloon, helicopter, and trolley ensure you don't miss a thing as you soak up the stunning scenery of the Falls.
From the US side, there are walkways and an observation tower at Prospect Point Park, as well as a bridge across to Goat Island, one of the islands carved out by the Falls. Bridal Veil Falls is viewable from underneath by virtue of a handy elevator installed in caves behind the Falls. Not to be outdone, the Canadian side of the Falls steps up with the elegant Queen Victoria Park, where travellers can admire the Horseshoe and American Falls from the Skylon Tower and restaurant, platforms, and underground walkways which boast their own observation rooms. At night the water is illuminated in multicolour, which makes for spectacular viewing.
With so much to take in, there are four not-to-be-missed escorted tours, including getting out on the water itself. The first recorded person to go over the Falls and survive was a 63 year old schoolteacher. She did it in a barrel. Most everyone else opts for a more comfortable but nonetheless thrilling experience; taking the Maid of the Mist ferry below; out to view (and hear) the crashing Falls up close. The Maid of the Mist started life as a steampowered paddlewheeler ferry in 1846, and travellers with an eye for exceptional nature have been venturing out to feel the spray of the Falls on their faces ever since.
The Niagara scenic trolley is number two on the not-to-miss list, offering the chance for a more intensive view of the beautiful nature which is backdrop to the waterfalls themselves, with its route along the American Falls and Goat Island. Friendly guides can fill you in on local knowledge and stories, making the Falls come alive.
With up-close and personal impressions covered by boat and trolley, to get a true sense of the awe-inspiring majesty of Niagara, an aerial view completes the once in a lifetime experience of visiting the Falls. In the 1850s Jean Francois Blondin Gravelet was doing it by tightrope but today a helicopter or Flight of Angels balloon ride will just as easily give you the big picture.
There is a comprehensive range of helicopter tours on offer, including private rides for romantic couples or honeymooners. The option of a balloon ride makes for a yet more unusual and special take on the panoramic views. Whichever experience opted for, an eagle eye perspective is a must. These are photo opportunities too exciting to resist. Memories of the once in a lifetime experience that is Niagara Falls are, however, guaranteed to last even longer.