Published on September 14th, 2018 | by Darren Paltrowitz
05 Things That Impressed Me About My Visit To Niagara Falls USA
Visited by an estimated 30 million people each year, Niagara Falls is a major international destination. Comprised of 3 giant waterfalls, Niagara Falls is split between United States and Canadian territories. Both beautiful and an eye-grabbing wonder of the world, Niagara Falls is simply one of those must-visit destinations for people of all ages and backgrounds, like the Eiffel Tower or Empire State Building.
While the primary draw of the area — which is about a 35-minute drive from Buffalo Niagara International Airport — is of course the waterfalls themselves, I found there to be plenty of other things notable about the overall area. Below are 5 of the impressive things about the United States side of Niagara Falls, per my recent visit to the area, courtesy of Destination Niagara USA.
1) There is more to the water of Niagara Falls than just looking at it.
Odds are that you know about Maid Of The Mist and other opportunities to ride among the area’s waterfalls. But did you know that you could go fishing nearby? Fishing activities below Niagara Falls exist 365 days a year. Furthermore, you can go hiking, birding, and boating nearby.
2) There are plenty of great food options beyond the chain restaurants and in-hotel spots by the waterfalls.
If you have access to a car — the Niagara Falls area does have Uber and Lyft if not — one spot worth checking out is Becker Farms. Not just a provider of organic produce or a popular venue for weddings and other party functions, Becker Farms also makes beer (Becker Brewing) and wine (Vizcarra Vineyards) on-site. The Becker Farm House is available for lodging on the 340-acre area, which also plays host to the Labor Day Harvest Fest, an Oktoberfest and plenty of other recurring events.
3) If you like to gamble, you have a great option within walking distance of the waterfalls.
The Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, a full-amenity resort with 604 rooms and suites, as carrying a AAA Four-Diamond rating. It features 10 restaurants, 7 shops, a high-end spa, an indoor pool, live entertainment, and — within its casino — over 3,000 slots and over 80 table games. Nightly rates for most nights in October 2018 are well below $150.
4) Niagara Falls also has plenty to offer fans of live music.
The aforementioned Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino has played host to many major artists including KISS, John Mellencamp, Rob Thomas, Aretha Franklin, and Tony Bennett. The nearby area regularly hosts outdoor concerts at Queen Victoria Place, in addition to indoor events at The Rapids Theatre. The Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls has a special back room dedicated to inductees of the Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame.
5) The Niagara Falls area has been home to plenty of interesting companies.
Local to the Niagara Falls area for over 80 years has been Rock Steady Sodas, a subsidiary of Johnnie Ryan Bottling Co. Rock Steady is collaborating with rock legend Gene Simmons of KISS for a line of soft drinks known as Moneybag Sodas. Regal Tip, as founded by Joe Calato, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of drum sticks and other percussion mallets. Niagara Brewing Company is a notable local maker of craft beers, as is Brickyard Brewing and Woodcock Brothers Brewing.
As I only spent 2 nights in Niagara Falls, there is still plenty of uncharted territory for me. In turn, I hope to return to the area in 2019.