It's not really easy to say what the best of Niagara Falls is because it is a place that has something for everyone. As well, Niagara Falls itself IS the best of Niagara Falls.

The three portals behind Niagara Falls and one at the base (on the Canadian side) offer amazing amazing ways to experience the Falls and should not be missed. The one at the bottom offers an incredible view looking upward. The sound is amazing beneath the tunnels and outside next to the Falls.

Here is a breakdown of some of the other things you shouldn't miss.

Niagara Parks Commission offers the Discovery Pass for $26.50 (Canadian) (about $18.20 US) for adults and $13.50 (Canadian) (about $9.25 US) for children 6-12. Children under 5 are free. This pass allows admission to: Journey Behind the Falls; The Butterfly Conservatory; Niagara Spanish Aero Car; Great Gorge Adventure; Mackenzie heritage Printery; Fort Erie; Laura Secord House; McFarland House and all day transportation on the People Mover Bus system. Available at park information booth and at all of the above attractions.

Maid of the Mist
What could be more exciting than sailing toward Horseshoe Falls, with billions of liters of water crashing down all around you? Well, ok, maybe going over the Falls in a barrel, but the Maid of the Mist is a safer bet for sure.

Clifton Hill
The lights, the food, the tacky tourist shops, the energy, the sounds, and a near endless array of museums and stuff to see. At night Clifton Hill becomes Clifton traffic jam, so park far away and get out and walk. It's just a short walk to the falls, and if you stay in the area you can also walk to the Casino, the best restaurants, the gift shops, the wax museums, and all the other fun attractions.

Niagara Parkway
The 35-km drive from Niagara Falls to Lake Erie along the Niagara River is really sweet. There are places to stop and picnic all along the way. Lots of trees, huge old houses, and a breathtaking view of the river all make this a trip worth taking, especailly with the family or your significant other. There's also Queen Victoria Park, which is illuminated at night and boasts seasonal flower arrangements.

MarineLand
Niagara Falls, the city, is also home to Marineland, which includes an aquatic theater, a game farm, and Friendship Cove, a place where visitors can view killer and beluga whales.

Skylon Tower
The Skylon Tower offers an amazing view of Niagara Falls, the river, and the surrounding area, which is flat and mostly rural. It isn't too high but it has a revolving restaurant at the top so you can take it all in while dining.

Casino Niagara
The newest addition to Niagara Falls's tourist armour is a seemingly neevrending expansion of Casino Niagara, which began around 10 years ago and shows no signs of slowing. Four levels (level 2 is non-smoking) house a host of bars and restaurants (including the Hard Rock Cafe), wheelchair accessible elevators and gaming tables, not to mention complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

Casino Niagara offers numerous table games including: Blackjack, Poker, Caribbean Stud, Let it Ride, Pai Gow, Baccarat, Roulette, Craps, Spanish 21, Casino War, Three Card Poker, and 2700 Slot/Video Poker machines.

The Players Advantage Club includes VIP hotline service, priority line passes, complimentary privileges and invitations to tournaments and private parties. High limit players can join the Billionaires Club and enjoy all the benefits of the Players Advantage Club, plus extra attention, premium consideration, private lounge and gaming area.

Niagara Parks
7400 Portage Road
People Mover Stop 11, 14
(905)356-2241
Visitors may also book a guided half hour tour with a Nature Interpreter for a fee of $3.00 per person. For Booking Call 1-877-NIA-Park or locally 371-0254. Daily dawn - dusk year round. Parking and admittance to the grounds are free.

Botanical Gardens
The gardens are located 9 kilometers (6 miles) north of the Niagara Parkway from the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Established in 1936, it is the only residential school for training horticultural students in Canada. One hundred acres of immaculately maintained gardens provide a visual feast for over 1 million visitors annually. Several hundred students have created, over a 60 year period, one of North America's most outstanding landscapes and botanical collections. The Gardens are open to visitors for a self guided tour of the Plant World which includes an herb garden, a vegetable garden, a rock garden and arboretum, containing one of Canada's finest collections of ornamental trees and shrubs.

Butterfly Conservatory
5 miles north of the Horseshoe falls in Botanical Gardens. A popular attraction opened at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. 2,000 free-flying butterflies in a rainforest setting can be seen at various points along the network of paths that include exotic greenery, plants and a 20-foot waterfall. The Conservatory is open daily from 9:00 am to dusk (Except Christmas Day). Admission Free.

Niagara Parks Commission Greenhouses
905-356-7944
Daily 9am - 10pm may 3-Labor Day. 9-6 until mid October and then 9-5 rest of the year.
Admission Free.

Greenhouse
Located just above the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, this attraction was constructed by the Niagara Parks Commission in 1945. The addition of a reception centre/display house in 1980, complete with a retail store and improved washrooms, was added to the original 11,000 sq. ft. conservatory. All the spring and summer outdoor bedding plants for the parks system are produced at this facility. A circular design with a stunning statue/fountain in the hub features twenty varieties of floribunda roses in ring shaped beds. A garden for the visually impaired was constructed in 1985 in co-operation with the Canadian National Institute for The Blind. Several of the plants are labeled in braille.

Great Gorge Adventure
4330 River Road, 3 km from Horseshoe Falls
People Mover Stop 7,17
(905)374-1221
Seasonal - Approximately late April to Late October from 9am
Adults $5.25 Children $2.65 5 Years and Under Free
Visitors descend by elevator and follow a tunnel to the very edge of the Niagara River rapids and view the strata that formed in the gorge created by the awesome power of the falls over 12,000 years ago. For thousands of years the waters of Niagara have cut and deepened this narrow gorge. Observation decks and walkways offer opportunities to view the falls at the narrowest part of the Niagara River.

Niagara Spanish Aero Car at the Whirlpool
Location: Located 4.5 km.(3 miles)down-river from the Falls
at People Mover stops #8 & #16.
(905)354-5711
Please Call For Hours of Operation
Admission charged
One of the best ways to see Niagara's fascinating Whirlpool is from high overhead - aboard the world famous Niagara Spanish Aero Car. Located 4.5 kilometers (3 miles) North of the Falls, suspended from sturdy cables, the Niagara Spanish Aero Car offers a wonderful view. Have your camera ready to capture some unique photos both upstream and downstream. Named after the Spanish engineer who designed and built it, Leonardo Torres Quevedo, the Aero Car has been operating since 1916. Riders can see the rapids, the Whirlpool, the Gorge, the hydroelectric plants down the river, as the aerial car travels safely between two different points on the Canadian shore of the Niagara River over the spectacular whirlpool. This round trip is slightly more than 1 kilometer (3,600 feet) and takes about 10 minutes. All times subject to weather conditions.

Niagara Glen Nature Areas
(1-877-642-7275)
People Mover Stop 10
1 kilometer (1/2 mile) north from the Whirlpool Golf Course on the Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, Canada.
>From late April to November, a Park Naturalist conducts guided nature walks through the Glen. Meet at Feather in the Glen for your guided tour. This peaceful retreat boasts nature trails, a specialty nature boutique, and a picnic area. Those who stop here and are prepared to do some hiking down the Gorge to the shore of the River will be well rewarded. The 4 kilometers (2 1/2 miles) of trails are well laid out and easily negotiated - if you take your time! There's lots of interesting geology and biology to explore. The Glen is a unique spot of beauty to the visitor.