We were amazed at how much there is to see and do at Niagara Falls from the world-famous Niagara Falls boat trips to gardens, haunted house and so much more! Here is what you need to know about Niagara Falls before you visit.
What You Need To Know About Niagara Falls Before You Visit
Getting To Niagara Falls
We travelled from downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls by taxi taking 1 1/2 hours ($275 CAD £165 GBP). We would have taken the train or bus from Union Station, but both had departed before we arrived in downtown Toronto from Algonquin National Park.
We did discover it was a blessing, as the rail and bus stations are situated together at the far side of Niagara Falls. We would have arrived late and had to negotiate how to get to our hotel (depending on when you arrive you can catch the WeGo Bus).
Instead, we arrived in style, a luxury black shiny Mercedes, with a soft cream leather interior. Dropping us right outside the hotel at 1.30am.
Accommodation
I am a huge fan of Booking.com, with accommodations to suit all needs and budgets around the world it was easy to select accommodation in Toronto and in Niagara, and easy access to all accommodation bookings via the app too.
We opted for the Radisson Hotel & Suites Fallsview. It has a great location, with rooms overlooking the falls, and many nearby restaurants to choose from. The room was very comfortable, clean, and staff friendly.
Getting Around Niagara
Most of Niagara Falls is within easy walking distance though for some attractions you might like to take the WeGo Bus. There are two different coloured routes (green & red) going via the Botanical Gardens, Floral Clock, Butterfly Conservatory, and much more.
You can purchase the WeGo Bus card alongside the Niagara Falls Pass and the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass (these also give you access to some of the popular attractions, a return ticket on the shuttle to Niagara-On-The-Lake, as well as the Falls Incline Railway or you, can purchase the WeGo Bus card separately for 24 hours ($12 adult/$8 child) or 48 hours ($16 adult/$12 child) at various outlets before boarding the bus.
We opted to purchase the WeGo Bus card for 24 hours to visit the Botanical Gardens, Butterfly Conservatory, and Floral Clock (though the bus wasn't running the additional 2km to the floral clock due to staffing shortages).
Visiting Niagara Falls Botanical Garden
We jumped on board the green northbound WeGo Bus to visit Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, which opened in 1936. It is said to be one of North America’s largest and most distinguished Victorian rose gardens.
The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens are free and open daily from dawn to dusk. Inside the 40 hectares, there are lush seasonal floral displays, take a walk through the arboretum to see some of Canada's tree collections, indulge your senses in the herb garden, or wander in the blooming beautiful rose garden filled with over 2, 400 roses.
There is a cafe and restrooms by the entrance. I can highly recommend the ice cream.
Visiting Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory
You don't have to walk far, the Butterfly Conservatory is located on the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens site.
The tropical paradise is filled with waterfalls and over 2,000 butterflies. Stand still and maybe a butterfly will land on you.
Niagara Falls Day Tour
On the second day, we opted to take a day tour of Niagara Falls: Skylon, Journey Behind the Falls, and Cruise with Get Your Guide. It was brilliant! Our guide James told us some local stories while walking between the attractions. We could have bought each attraction ticket separately but it was nice to chat with a local and find out more about the area. Highly recommend!
Top Tips
If like us, you are only visiting Niagara Falls for a few days, you might like to book day tours including boat trips, etc in advance. This frees up time to enjoy more of the sights without stressing how, where, and when to book. We also discovered you can purchase the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass including attractions and access on the different WeGo buses around the area. The buses are a great way of getting around.
I hope you enjoyed reading and feel inspired to visit Niagara Falls, Canada. As always, I would love to answer any questions you may have. You can reach me via email at enquiries@MDHardingTravelPhotography.com or Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Until next time...
Happy travels,
Michelle:)
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