The main attraction, Niagara Falls State Park, is the perfect spot for experiencing the mighty cascades. There are a number of viewing platforms here, as well as some unusual opportunities to get even closer. For those who don’t mind becoming one with the water, the Park’s Cave of the Winds is a thrilling guided walking tour along wooden platforms at the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Another wet adventure is the world-famous Maid of the Mist, a boat cruise which takes guests right to the base of the Horseshoe and American Falls (don’t forget to don your free plastic poncho!)
Nearby is the Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride. Blasted out of solid rock, the cave system initially served as a tunnel to provide river water for mills and electrical power. Today visitors can walk through the mysterious tunnels as guides talk about the history of the area and point out fossils and other geologic formations in the rock walls. The tour finishes with an eerie half-mile underground boat ride.
Families with older kids who want a little more adventure have a couple of options. A helicopter tour over the Falls with Rainbow Air provides a unique perspective for viewing the natural wonder of Niagara. Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours takes guests on a thrilling ride upriver into the whitewater rapids in the magnificent stonewalled Niagara Gorge canyon.
For those seeking a slower-paced journey, a two-hour trip on the historic Erie Canal and its dual locking system is available at Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises. The nearby Erie Canal Discovery Center transports visitors back to the 1820’s and the early days of the Erie Canal.
History-themed attractions will educate younger minds and capture the attention of their mature companions. Old Fort Niagara is a wonderful chance for families to travel back in time together. Preserved as they stood in the 1700’s, the Fort's structures, the oldest buildings on the Great Lakes, include several a “French Castle,” barracks, powder rooms and more. Visitors enjoy touring this large fortress and chatting with historical re-enactors who, dressed in period costume and character, explain the various aspects of 18th century life at the Fort.
The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is the only museum in the world housed in an authentic, original carousel factory building. Located in North Tonawanda, the building is listed on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Sites and features a series of seven interconnected structures.
Perched high above the Niagara River, the Niagara Power Project exhibits the history of energy, electricity and local history through fun, kid-friendly exhibits. The Daredevil Museum is noted for holding the barrel used by Steve Trotter and Lori Martins, who went over the Horseshoe Falls in 1985 amongst many other artifacts from death-defying feats. The Aquarium of Niagara has more than forty exhibits showcasing 1,500 aquatic animals from around the globe, including a colony of the rare and endangered Peruvian Penguin.
Niagara USA’s great outdoors, with its diverse seasonal changes, is also host to its share of family-friendly attractions. Becker Farms in Royalton features a petting zoo, hay and pony rides and live entertainment, along with many summer and fall weekend festivals.
Clearly, whatever age or interest, there’s something waiting for everyone (and their families) in Niagara USA.
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