I’ve always heard that the Canadian side of Niagara Falls is better. That may well be the case, but please do not think that means that the New York Side is not worth a visit.
We visited Niagara Falls State Park in New York recently and it was an absolutely amazing. Experiencing the Falls in real life was awe inspiring. I could have stood there all day watching the water. A definite 5 star experience for me.
We flew into and stayed in Buffalo and it was an easy 35 minute drive to the park. Parking was $15 ($10 during the week). Entrance to the park is free.
We paid $5 for trolley access to get around the park. I highly recommend this. It’s walkable but long, especially if it’s a hot day.
We opted to ride the Maid of the Mist – the boat that goes up close to the Falls and allows you a view of both the US and Canadian sides. DO NOT SKIP THIS. This boat ride was the highlight of my entire trip and well worth the $30 ticket. Getting close to the Falls to experience their power was exhilarating. I wanted to turn right around and do it again.
Cave of the Winds is the other paid attraction. It is a walking tour behind the Falls. We opted not to do this but I definitely would if I returned.
If you wanted to, there is a pedestrian bridge to cross into Canada. There is a an aquarium that we did not visit.
Overall, the New York side is in a park setting. You get very close to the Falls even if you don’t have a full head-on view of Horseshoe Falls.
Outside of the park there are souvenir shops and places to eat. We had some delicious pizza at Mario’s Pizza. However, there is not a whole lot going on. There are hotels, but none with a direct view of the Falls.
In short, our visit to see Niagara Falls was amazing and I can’t wait to return to experience it from the Canada side. If Niagara Falls is on your bucket list I highly recommend a visit to Niagara Falls State Park in New York.
