Top 10 Places to See While in Niagara Falls (ON)

          This week we’ll be taking a look at the city of Niagara Falls. Since there are two different cities situated side by side with the exact same name, one on the Canadian side of the border and another on the American side of the border I’m going to make this a two-part top ten list. This week’s ten will all consist of places to see and things to do while in the Canadian side of Niagara Fall within the province of Ontario. Next week we will be looking at the American side of Niagara Falls in the state of New York. This wasn’t such an easy list to make as some in the past but it’s now complete. If you don’t agree with this list please leave me a comment explaining why and what you would have changed. Thank you for reading!

- Salbro

Top 10 Places to See While in Niagara Falls, Ontario

10. DUFFERIN ISLANDS

          Dufferin Islands are a group of scenic man-made islands located in Niagara Falls, ON, approximately a half mile south of the Horseshoe Falls. The islands are known for their quiet seclusion and nature trails.


09. NIAGARA GLEN NATURE RESERVE

          Niagara Glen Nature Reserve is a nature reserve located near the Niagara Whirlpool along the Canadian side of the Niagara Gorge. It is one of the best preserved remaining examples of Southern Ontario’s original Carolinian forest. The park is operated by the Niagara Park Commission, an agency of the Ontario government. The park features overlooks of the whirlpool and gorge as well as several hiking trails through the Carolinian forest. The nature reserve protects a pristine area of the Niagara Escarpment. The nature reserve is open to the public daily, as long as weather permits.

08. BIRD KINGDOM

          Bird Kingdom, also known as Niagara Falls Aviary: Birds of the Lost Kingdom, is an aviary (or bird zoo) located in the tourist district of Niagara Fall, ON. The building previously housed the Niagara Falls museum. Re-opened as a free flying aviary in May 2003, it is now one of the largest indoor aviaries in the world, encompassing approximately 45,000 square feet (4,200 metres squared), and it houses over 300 individual birds, a majority of which come from Australia, South America and Africa. In addition to birds, it also houses mammals, insects and reptiles and even an amphibian — the dyeing poison frog. Bird Kingdom was voted Niagara Falls’ Attraction of the Year four times.

07. MARINELAND

          Marineland, officially named Marineland of Canada Inc., is a recreational park situated in Niagara Falls, ON. The location, known for its proximity to the Niagara Falls and other natural parks, is composed of an amusement park, a zoo and an oceanarium.

06. THE SKYLON TOWER

          The Skylon Tower is an observation tower that overlooks both the American Falls, NY, and the larger Horseshoe Falls, ON, from the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

05. NIAGARA FALLSVIEW CASINO RESORT

          The Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls opened publicly on June 10, 2004. This $1 billion complex with a belle époque theme overlooks the Horseshoe Falls and is one of the most prominent features of the Niagara skyline.

04. NIGHTMARES FEAR FACTORY

          The Nightmares Fear Factory is a haunted house attraction in Niagara Falls. It is the oldest haunted house in North America in continuous operation. The attraction is allegedly built in an old coffin factory. The owner of the factory before it was turned into a haunted house, Abraham Mortimer, was killed when a stack of coffins collapsed upon him. Patrons are told that if they get too scared they can say the safety-word “nightmares” and they will escort you out. In the last thirty years, about a half-million people have gone through and many have opted out part-way and had their names added to a public “chicken list”. Over 79,000 people have had to leave through the chicken line. The tour takes from ten to fifteen minutes and it’s in total darkness, except for small red lights on the floors, walls and ceiling that patrons must follow in order to get through the haunted house. Patrons’ frightened reactions are recorded and broadcast in the lobby for all to see. The Nightmare Fear Factory has live actors in scary costumes that come out at patrons out of the darkness and taunt them, scream at them and have been known to grab, push and pull patrons in order to get a reaction. Highlights of the tour include a shaky drawbridge, a claustrophobic tunnel that visitors must crawl through, and a place where it appears that the walls are closing in on the visitors. The most notable part of the tour is when the visitors, walking in complete darkness, suddenly see a car coming at them with dead people in it.

03. MAID OF THE MIST

          The Maid of the Mist is a boat tour of Niagara Falls. The boats, each named Maid of the Mist with a Roman numeral, start off at a calm part of the Niagara River, near the Rainbow Bridge, and take its passengers past the American and Bridal Veil Falls, then into the dense mist of spray inside the curve of the Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls. The tour is available starting from either the Canadian or American side of the river, returning to the starting point in each case.

02. WHIRLPOOL AERO CAR

          The Whirlpool Aero Car, or Spanish Aero Car, is a cable car located in Niagara Falls, ON, that transports passengers over a section of the Niagara River referred to as the Niagara Whirlpool.

01. JOURNEY BEHIND THE FALLS

          Journey Behind the Falls, previously known as the Scenic Tunnels, is an attraction in Niagara Falls, ON, in the Table Rock Centre beside the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. It is open year round and run by the Niagara Parks Commission. It consists of an observation platform and series of tunnels near the bottom of the falls. The tunnels and platform can be reached by elevators from the street level entrance. The tour is unguided and visitors have the option of using radios to receive facts and information broadcast into the tunnels. The two tunnels extend approximately 46 metres (151 feet) behind the waterfall and allow visitors to view water cascading in front of the open cave entrances. The observation deck provides a vantage point looking up with the falls to the right, allowing photographers a full view of the famous landmark.