A visit to Niagara Falls might be the best day excursion from New York City. These giant waterfalls are wonders of nature in the truest sense of the word. The view of the falls is magical, and it only gets better at night when everything becomes illuminated with colorful lights. A day trip to Niagara Falls thus is an absolute must-do when in New York! Show
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Our 1-day trip to Niagara FallsWe had to try this tour as seeing the iconic Niagara Falls had long been our dream. At 6:00 am, the luxurious minivan left the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan (Times Square) and headed toward Long Island. The hour-long drive passed quickly, there hardly is any traffic this early. Our luxurious mode of travel continued as the minivan took us directly onto the tarmac where a plane waited for us (yup!). Actually, Niagara Falls have their own airport: Niagara Falls International Airport. So this is where we were headed. The flight was super enjoyable, and we loved the included breakfast on board. Because, if you’re like me, touching any food really early in the morning (like I said, we got picked up by the limo at 6…) just isn’t going to happen. The flight to the Niagara Falls airport took roughly 1.5 hours. 10 am: Arrival at Niagara FallsOnce we got off the plane, a minibus took us to the Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest State Park in the US (opened in 1885!). During the booking process ahead of your trip, you are given a choice of either visiting the (US) American side or the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If you pick the Canada option, your trip across the border will roughly take about an additional 30 minutes. Upon leaving the bus we picked up our wristbands for the trolley (a small open-deck bus) that takes you from one attraction to the next within the park. Our friendly bus driver informed us that we would have until 4:00 p.m. to explore the expansive park. Niagara Falls State Park AttractionsWe had booked tickets for the US-side of the park, where we went to all the available attractions. All of them were included in the ticket price. We particularly liked the Maid of the Mist boat tour and the Cave of the Winds. You will have plenty of time to experience everything, so there is no need to rush things. You’ll have plenty of time for each attraction and to enjoy the views of the falls, the surrounding nature and the wild Niagara River. One thing which we were amazed by in particular was the sheer size of everything. I mean, we had an idea of how huge the waterfalls must be – but actually seeing them up close is a whole different story. It just needs to be experienced.
Highlights on the Canadian SideSeveral of the people in our group visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The only real difference to our experience was that they didn’t have as much time as we had. Because they arrived later and had to leave earlier, they had about 2 hours less time than us to visit everything. Though the Canadian side is somewhat more scenic than the US side, especially since the Horseshoe Falls are one of the most iconic images of the park. But you will get to see them during your boat tour nonetheless, even if you start the journey on the US-side. CHECK TOUR AVAILABILITY
Enjoy the expansiveness of nature and the magic of the waterfallsAfter we visited all the attractions (which didn’t take long at all as there were barely any lines), we took a walk in Niagara Falls State Park. The park offers several opportunities to relax on a bench or grassy spot, to soak in the nature, and to see the falls up close from different angles. What we didn’t know was that the falls are actually used for power generation locally. This means that the city of Niagara can regulate the falls with more or less the touch of a button to alter the amount of power produced. This was really impressive and a great new tidbit of information that blew our minds. A nice spot for a break was Luna Island. In proximity, you will also find the restaurant Top of the Falls where you can grab a bite to eat. Unless you have your heart set on hot dogs and fries, the restaurant offers healthier options than the snack booths in the park. 4 pm: Getting ready to leave Niagara FallsAt 4:00 pm we meet up with our bus driver who takes us back to Niagara Falls International Airport. After boarding the plane we immediately took off. There was no waiting involved like at a regular airport – in fact, they were waiting for us. I could get used to this… There was one more highlight in store for us: the pilot took a detour over Niagara Falls. The perfect ending to an exciting day. We arrived in Long Island around 6:30 p.m. We encountered a bit more traffic in the evening than we did early in the morning, Yet we made it to the Marriott at Times Square by 8:15 pm. Our Review: Efficient, but not exactly cheapOur thoughts: The day-trip to Niagara Falls is for travelers who want to use their time effectively and have a flexible travel budget. The relatively short travel time to get there – six hours to see the sights – and a short return trip, allow you to make the most of the day. Of course, that convenience has a price. If this trip is too expensive, another option is a 2-day bus tour, or driving there yourself in a rental car. Entry to the park is free and tickets to all attractions can be purchased individually. Personally, I would book the tour again. All travel arrangements were handled professionally and the trip went smoothly. Hence, we can definitely recommend this trip! Can you do a day trip to Niagara Falls from New York?If you're visiting New York for a few days, then you might want to add a day trip to the famous Niagara Falls to your travel itinerary. The Niagara Falls is situated 400 miles from New York City and the drive is 6-7 hours long, lending itself as a beautiful day trip destination from the Big Apple.
How much is a train ticket from New York to Niagara Falls?Overview: Train from New York City to Niagara Falls, NY
You can get the cheapest train tickets for this journey for as low as $70 (€67), but the average price of train tickets is $74 (€71).
How do I spend a day in Niagara Falls NY?15 Fun Things To Do In Niagara Falls:. Niagara Falls State Park.. Cave of the Winds & The World Changed Here Pavillion.. Maid of the Mist.. Niagara Adventure Theater/State Park Visitor Center.. Niagara George Discovery Center and Trailhead Building.. Observation Tower.. Aquarium of Niagara.. Crow's Nest.. How do I get to Niagara Falls from NYC?JetBlue, United, and Delta offer non-stop flights from NYC area airports that last less than an hour. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is a half-hour drive from the falls. Visitors may also fly directly to Toronto Pearson International (YYZ), and drive about 90 minutes to the Canadian side of the falls.
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