Sunday, January 20, 2008

Your Almost Complete Fun Guide to Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, sometimes referred to as the Canadian Falls, draw tourists by the thousands each year to catch a glimpse of the stunning view of the falls, making it one of the most well-known and famous waterfalls in the world. The falls are situated right on the border of Canada and the United States. Further, the name Niagara Falls may at first be deceiving to people who have never visited the falls as it sounds as if it only refers to one waterfall. In essence, Niagara Falls is actually a total of three falls: the American Falls, the Bridal Falls and the Veil falls. This immense water feature allows the passage of well over 160,000 cubic meters of water to topple over its immense crest line every sixty seconds! Best Time to Visit Niagara Falls Niagara Falls and the surrounding area is an area that is exposed to a variety of weather. All four seasons occur in Niagara Falls because the area is roughly equal distance from the equator as is the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Thus, Niagara Falls experiences cold winters, and balmy springs and equally warm summers. Finally, autumn is a fantastic time to tour the Niagara Falls regionâ€"the landscape and changing leaves make for a truly memorable experience. The coldest temperatures in Niagara Falls occur during the months of early November to late March: in November the temperature ranges from 22 degrees Fahrenheit to 47 degrees Fahrenheit, while the month of March displays similar temperatures anywhere from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to nearly 43 degrees Fahrenheit. January is typically the coldest of all months, with low temperatures averaging around 15 degrees Fahrenheit and highs peaking right around 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is typical and abundant during the winter months in Niagara Falls. Spring, especially in the time period between late March and mid-May, offers a mixture of mild to brisk temperature changes, as does the months of September through October. In striking contrast, the summers are comfortable enough in Niagara Falls that tourists can feel comfortable in casual shorts and short-sleeved shirts. In late May temperatures begin to warm considerably, averaging just about 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the months of June through August offer temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. No matter what the weather in Niagara Falls, no matter what the season, it is imperative that you are prepared for the weather. If you plan on visiting the falls, they should also make sure they have a change of clothing or they may even want to bring some rain gear along. Windy days can move the splashing water about and tourists often get wet while viewing the falls. Traveling Around the Niagara Falls Area Taxi services are available while staying in Niagara Falls. The taxi service is available 24 hours a day and tourists can be picked up when they arrive at the airport. Further, handicapped accessible vehicles are available upon request. Taxi rates vary depending upon destination, but taxis will transport you to all of the main attractions in the region. Shuttle buses are another transportation choice for tourists, and there is an equal diversity in the various routes offered by shuttle bus companies. Places that can be visited via shuttle bus transportation include the American Falls, Casino Niagara, the Clifton Hill Amusement Area, Garner Road, Great Gorge, the Horseshoe Falls, the IMAX Theatre, Lundy’s Lane, Lundy s Lane Historical Museum, the Niagara Whirlpool, The Skylon Tower, and the Spanish Aero Car just to name a few fantastic destinations. Tours Available at Niagara Falls If you are visiting Niagara Falls for the first time you might want to take advantage of the numerous tours available. From guided to self-guided tours, you are bound to find a tour offered with a variety of services which include bus tours, limo tours, boat tours, and walking tours all available while visiting the Niagara Falls region. Limo Tours Tourists can explore the Niagara Falls region in style when they book one of several limo tours available. View the city’s sites while riding in a climate controlled limo. Some touring packages even offer picnic options to tourists. Further, tourists viewing the sites in Niagara Falls can choose their destination: check out great places like Buffalo, Lewiston, the Lower Niagara River, and Niagara on the Lake, Old Fort Niagara and Toronto during a stay in Niagara Falls. Bus Tours Bus tours offer site seeing opportunities equal to those of limo tours. Depending on the package you select, you can take a ride on the world famous Maid in the Mist, and see fantastic sites like the Dufferin Islands, the International Control Dams, the Marineland in Niagara, the Niagara Parks Greenhouses, the Old Marooned Scow, the Sir Harry Oakes Estate and the Toronto Power Plant. Some bus touring packages even have sight-seeing opportunities that include the Angel Inn, the Apothecary Museum, Fort George, Fort Niagara, the Shaw Theatre and the Old Town Clock. Walking Tour Walking, self-guided tours can be taken any time at the Whirlpool Park. A walking tour along the hiking trails in Whirlpool Park takes roughly three hours to complete. One final note: some tours are only offered on a seasonal basis. Night Life You will certainly want to take advantage of the nightly entertainment available at Niagara Falls area. Music, dancing, exhibits, shows, and plenty of cultural activities are in abundance in this region. Clifton Hills, Ontario From night time miniature golf games at the Dinosaur Park to unbelievable sites at the Ripley’s Believe or Not Museum, Clifton Hill is the place to visit when looking for diversity in terms of entertainment. You can catch a movie, play video games in a fantastic arcade; bowl a game or two; or watch your favorite television show on one of several big screen televisions. Other attractions offered at Clifton Hill include an all star wax museum and a number of thrill rides! Meanwhile, for those looking for a little music, the Café Etc…located at 462 Third Street in Niagara Falls, New York offers live jazz entertainment every weekend. The hours of operation for Café Etc… are from 3 pm to 3 am every day and the menu the eatery offers is diverse. From Italian cuisine to seafood, the Café Etc…has something to please every palate. Other Nearby Tourist Attractions From gorgeous gardens and lakes, to fun recreational activities for the entire family, the Niagara Falls region offers something for everyone’s enjoyment. Aquarium Tourists and their families are sure to love the Aquarium of Niagara Falls, located at 701 Whirlpool Street. The aquarium’s operating hours are from 9 am to 4 pm each day and the aquarium is the home to penguins, seals, sharks, sea lions, and more. The cost of admission into the aquarium is reasonable: adults pay $8.00, children from 4 to 12 pay $5.50, and children under 4 are free. Group rates are also available at the aquarium. Whirlpool Park Whirlpool Park is also a fantastic family attraction in the Niagara Falls region. Whirlpool Park is easily accessed from the Ross State Parkway; it’s a natural park with hiking trails, and a view of incredible rapids and whirlpools. What’s best about Whirlpool Park is that it is open all year long and there is absolutely no cost for admission. Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens Again, there is an abundance of fantastic sites in the Niagara region and tourist might enjoy visiting the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, located at 2565 Niagara Parkway. With more than 100 acres of land consisting of herbal, rock, vegetable, and floral gardens, in conjunction with the fantastic exhibits available, the entire family will have a memorable experience at this popular tourist destination. Copyright Statement This article was written by Jonathan Tan and may be reproduced on any travel-related website provided this copyright statement is displayed unedited in its entirety at the foot of the article and you use the exact same HTML code to ensure a clickable link back to the author s site. Further articles are also available. Contact the author for more information. Copyright © last-minute-vacation-guide.com The most affordable way to make a weekend trip to and within Canada is via last minute getaway deals! Check out last minute getaways before the weekend is up!

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