The Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory

One cannot fully appreciate Niagara Falls until they can see it from both sides – both the United States and Canada sides. However, many people feel that they must choose a location to view it from, for many reasons.

These days, crossing a border, no matter what your intentions are, isn’t as easy as it once was. If you want to see Niagara Falls completely, however, crossing borders is required.

Luckily, if you are either American or Canadian, the two countries are on good terms with each other, and as long as there are no legal reasons as to why you cannot cross a border (such as a felony or a drug related misdemeanor), you shouldn’t have a problem getting to one side from the other.

If you are not from the United States or Canada, getting across the borders is only slightly more difficult. In either case, you will need a passport. In the United States, obtaining a passport can take up to six weeks, so make sure that you plan for this when planning your vacation. Typically, if you have a passport, you won’t have a problem crossing the border.

However, because of increased security and the constant threat of terrorist attacks, you should expect to be delayed somewhat at the borders. Again, you should plan for this event. It is a good idea to visit all of the places in Niagara Falls that you want to visit at one time, on each side.

For example, if you are an American, you may want to see all that there is to see on the American side of Niagara Falls before crossing over into Canada. Once you’ve finished visiting the American side, cross over to the Canadian side and do and see all that there is to do there. Typically, you may find that there is more to do and see on the Canadian side than the American side of the falls.

You might also consider one of the International tours, which operate depart from both the Canadian side and the American side, but include sights on both sides in one tour. Some tours last eight to ten hours, such as the Presidential Tour, while others last for two to four days. Some last for as little as four hours or so. Again, tours are available from both sides of the border.

You can enjoy more and do more if you know what is there before you arrive. For example, the Maid of the Mist boat tours, which is the oldest attraction in the Niagara Falls area, operates from both sides of the border.

Many of the attractions on the American side are within or near the Niagara Falls State Park. These include Prospect Point Park and the Prospect Point Observation Tower, Goat Island, Cave of the Winds, Bridal Veil Falls, The American Falls (seen at Prospect Point Park), The Niagara Scenic Trolley, Flight of the Angels (helium balloon ride), helicopter tours, and the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center.

On the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, you should check out Queen Victoria Park, Skylon Tower, The Horseshoe Falls, Minolta Tower, the Niagara River Recreational Trail, the Whirlpool Aero Car, the Journey Behind the Falls tour, the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, the Casino Niagara, the Fallsview Tourist Area, and Clifton Hill.

As you can see, as long as you can legally cross the border and you have a passport, there is no reason why you shouldn’t visit both sides. Again, good planning will allow you to see and do everything!