Niagara Falls Vacation
From LoveToKnow Travel
Understanding the Falls
Around 12,000 years ago, the earth shifted and created the two spectacular waterfalls that form Niagara Falls. "American Falls," the narrowest of the two, stands at 180 feet high and 1075 feet wide. The wider "Horseshoe Falls" is located on the Canadian side and is an impressive 2200 feet wide. Though the Canadian "Horseshoe Falls" is slightly shorter at 170 feet high, it is just as dramatic as the American Falls. Bordered by the United States and Canada, visitors can stay in the United States or head over the border for a taste of all that Ontario has to offer when visiting Niagara Falls.
Getting to Niagara Falls
Located within half an hour of Buffalo, New York, Niagara Falls is easy to reach by train, airplane, or car. Buffalo Niagara International Airport is easily accessible with flights arriving and departing regularly. Visitors arriving by plane will find the multitude of on-site car rental agencies to be extremely handy. Those uninterested in driving will find a number of available van and bus transportation services at a reasonable cost. Honeymooners, on the other hand, may want to splurge on one of the dozens of limousine companies providing transportation for a fair price. Those afraid of flying also need not worry. Amtrak provides regular train service in and out of Buffalo. You may be able to find better pricing if you purchase an entire Niagara Falls vacation package.
Crossing the Border
Tourists wanting to cross the border to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls should be aware of a few things. Currently, proof of citizenship is required for entry into Canada. That can be a passport (the best documentation) or an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, accompanied by a photo ID, such as a driver's license. A driver's license alone is not sufficient documentation. Depending on the time of day, the crossing can take between ten and twenty minutes.
Visitors must also be prepared to answer a few questions regarding their travel plans and length of stay in Canada. There is talk that passports will be required to cross the Canadian border in 2007. Therefore, investing in a passport will eventually be a necessity.
When traveling to Canada, remember that visitors have to pay duty on the return trip if they exceed the posted limit on personal purchases in Canada. Currently, visitors staying twenty-four hours or less may bring back purchases totaling $50 Canadian. Visitors staying forty-eight hours or more find that limit increased to $200 Canadian.
Places To Stay on Your Niagara Falls Vacation
With a wide array of bed & breakfast establishments, hotels, motels, and inns, visitors will find suitable accommodations at a price they can afford. Keep in mind the exchange rate between Canadian and American currency. Currently, eight-seven American cents is equal to one Canadian dollar. This means a hotel in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side that charges $75 per night will equal about $65 American dollars. This simple fact can save a bundle of money in the long run. It certainly pays off to compare hotel rates on both sides of the border.
Things To Do in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is comprised of 200 acres of protected land. There are ample activities to please visitors of all ages. Taking a hike and then enjoying a quiet picnic is one possibility. Photographers will be delighted by the variety of sites throughout the area. Those tourists needing more hands-on activities will be thrilled with the wide variety of attractions.
The Aquarium of Niagara offers a wide array of marine life for viewing and examining. The popular Maid Of The Mist tour takes tourists on a close-up ride of Niagara Falls. For those more adventurous souls, take a tethered helium balloon ride over Niagara and experience the area from a wildly different viewpoint. Niagara Falls offers far more than a tourist could ever imagine. Shopping, attractions, and fine dining are only a start.
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