The Best Niagara Falls Attractions – Discover Canada serie
Welcome to the captivating world of Niagara Falls, where the beauty of nature converges with the excitement of adventure. In this travel documentary, we will lead you through an extraordinary journey showcasing the premiere attractions that establish Niagara Falls as a must visit destination. Niagara Falls, a testament to the unbridled force of nature.
Comprises three distinct falls: the American Falls, the bridal veil falls and the iconic Horseshoe Falls. Boasting a flow rate of 2407 cubic meters per second, Niagara Falls holds the distinction of having the highest water flow rate in North America and ranks seventh globally. In this symphony of nature,
The falls share the stage with manmade attractions. One of the oldest and most exciting of these attractions is the Maid of the Mist Boat ride. This is the only way that tourists can satisfy their curiosity and thirst for adventure by navigating as close
As possible to the giant water curtain of Horseshoe Falls. We take a 20 minute trip from US Falls to the Canadian Falls. Basically what we’re doing now is you’re going by the US falls right now at the base. We’re probably 300 feet of the base of the Falls,
And within a few minutes we’ll be going up into the Horseshoe Falls at the base. We spent approximately 4 to 5 minutes inside the Horseshoe Falls. This is unique because the current is so fast, things happen a lot faster down here
Because you have both speed, and of course the current is going bye, you see right now, we’re just sort of slowly going up here. We have a maximum speed, probably 8 to 9 knots. And once you reach that speed, we maintain the position.
We don’t go up any further because once you get up so far, it’s hard to see and the currents, they get very difficult to handle. Everybody had let everybody have fun, enjoy it, but also returning back safe. Yes. And it varies from day to day.
Some days we won’t go up as far because we can’t see. And if we can’t see, the tourist can’t see. We carry 582 people. That’s our maximum capacity. But there are two levels. And the observation, it can be crowded.
But other than that, no matter where you’re at, it’s not a bad spot. And over the years, we have several movie stars come on board here. Most have it like to blend in and be not recognized, but sometimes they like the attention. They come down in their limousine.
So you kind of know who’s somebody special, right? In early ’90 we had Lady Di come on for a ride, I was the very captain on board that day, She’s probably the one most memorable person I’ve seen over the years.
The Maid of the Mist gained fame for its involvement in rescuing Roger Woodward, a seven year old boy who accidentally fell over Horseshoe Falls in 1960. Equipped only with a life jacket, Roger became the first person ever to survive, plunging over the falls.
Over the years, we had a few stunts; the barrels going over. In the early 90’, we had somebody going over with a kayak, which they did not survive, and in the mid 90’ a Jet Ski. Out of that, a few barrels have gone over since,
They just don’t realize the danger when they do it they figure all this is just a waterfall so there’s a lot of dangers there And we had a few people attempting to suicide, they survived, which is lucky. They do have second chances to change their minds. That’s probably
One of the only negative things about this job is when you see the end result. Sometimes it’s not very nice. The weather does change here, especially in the spring and in the fall. You can go up the horseshoe, you’ll see everything very nice,
And the wind direction would change and you’ll be sort of misted in, but the experience is very nice you’re part of the Falls in, and we get extremely wet.
In other days, with the wind of the north, it blows all the mist further up and it’s great for pitchers. You don’t get very wet, but the scenery is very nice. The powerful current of the Niagara River relentlessly carved its course for over 10,000 years, leading to erosion that caused
The falls to retreat to the south by about 11 kilometers. A few hundred years ago, the water eroded the crest line by an average of one and a half meters each year. The fault hasn’t changed very much over the years. A hundred years ago, it was further back.
So as the years have gone by with the water erosion, it’s receding back towards Lake Erie. So eventually within a couple of thousand years, it will be the falls will be gone. It will be one large river instead of rapids, ya… In the heart of Niagara Falls,
Where the mighty Niagara River descends into a tumultuous dance, there exists an extraordinary adventure: journeying through the whirlpool rapids aboard the Whirlpool boat. Our story begins where the Niagara River narrows, channeling its raw power into a frenetic display known as the Whirlpool Rapids.
Here, the river’s fury is unleashed, creating a natural spectacle that challenges those daring enough to venture through its turbulence. We’re on the Niagara River. The Niagara River connects to Great Lakes, Lake Erie, to Lake Ontario. Now there is a 330 foot drop, about 100 meters in between Lake Erie, in Lake Ontario.
Now, everybody knows that falls drops about 170 feet, but that still leads to about another 160 feet of drop still to be made up somewhere. And that other 160 feet is because of the rapids. So what we do at Whirlpool jet boats is our boats jump that 160 feet.
That’s why we use these very powerful triple turbo diesel jet boats, because we have to be able to push up Class five whitewater rapids enroute to the Niagara Whirlpool. Rapids are rated on a class system. Class one being little riffles, to, Class six, meaning threatening to life. The Devil’s Hole rapids
That we encounter are Class five rapids. And we do take you up to the Niagara Whirlpool, which is considered Class six. The Niagara River has cut out the gorge in 12,000 short years. Now 12,000 years sounds like a long time to you and me,
But Niagara Falls themselves stood just about a half mile away from where we are right now, and the falls have eroded their way back seven and a half miles in those short 12,000 years. But in addition to all the geographical phenomenon, and the geography and geology of the gorge, clearly
The whitewater spectacular that we have here are the rapids themselves. Most people, when thinking of big whitewater rapids around the world, they think about the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon in the western U.S.. Well, the Niagara River has ten times the amount of water that goes through the Grand Canyon, through Arizona.
The rapids here are not created by water flowing over rocks, which happens on most whitewater river. Here are rapids are 50 -75 feet deep. That’s why we’re able to use these hard haul boats. And when all that water is squeezed
Down to 125 meters, there’s only one way for that water to go, and that’s up, That’s what creates a monster rapids here. What we do here is we take a very high end outdoor adventure experience that normally you might have to be a expert kayaker or a experienced whitewater rafter to do.
But what these boats do is enable six year old kids and senior citizens into their seventies, eighties and even nineties experienced the Niagara River Gorge. When people first come and take the trip, oftentimes they say, Well, John, this is an amazing experience.
It’s the first time I was ever on a boat trip where they tried to sink the boat. Now, obviously our boats are designed to take on a lot of water. But the funny stories we’ve had, we’ve had men lose their toupees. We’ve had the old ladies lose their false teeth.
You name it, We’ve lost it on this trip. We remind everybody to leave all their valuables here on shore where they’re nice and safe. Every day here is a different day. This is nothing like a roller coaster ride where everything is programed. This is Mother Nature. You know, most natural elements.
We are very, very fortunate in that regard. I grew up on whitewater rivers throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, in the eastern U.S., where I’m originally from, where rivers always had high water in the spring and low water at the end of the summer
Because of the international control dams and the hydro electric generation here. We have guaranteed water every single day of the year. So it doesn’t matter whether you come early in May or September, October, we have guaranteed high water each and every day. I started in whitewater
When I was 14 years old, so I’ve been doing this for 35 years. Whirlpool Jet Boats has been in business for 20 years. And what we’ve done is we’ve taken 1.5 million people on our jet boat tour here. We are fully certified by the United States Coast Guard and Transport Canada.
And not only do we maintain safety for our guests, we’ve actually been involved in many, many river rescues here on the Niagara River where lives have been saved because these boats were able to quickly get to some of the treacherous areas of the Niagara Gorge.
An elegant ride in the sky aboard a powerful chopper certainly provides one of the most breathtaking experiences. The helicopter becomes our vessel, lifting us into the skies to witness the raw power and beauty of Niagara from an unparalleled perspective. We are offering Niagara Falls rides with our beautiful helicopters in the background here.
We offer that service since 1961. We are about flying about 100,000 people per year over the falls. Most of the people that’s first arrived in their lifetime. And as soon as the helicopter leaves the ground, their eyes and ears are numerous and screams and laughs are coming from the back.
It’s always fun to listen to. The kids are always much fun. It’s innocent as it can be, right? And to see their eyes light up. Just even standing down up front to watch two helicopters taking off and landing. Myself, my name is Rene. I’m the operations manager here.
I look after the whole facilities, make sure that everything runs in and safely manner. And I wish to welcome you to step into the helicopter and come for a ride yourself. As we gain altitude, the landscape unfolds before us. The panoramic views showcase the detailed features of the falls, the meandering Niagara River,
And the dense greenery surrounding this natural wonder. It’s a remarkable sight that goes beyond what one might imagine. The three Sisters, Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls stand before us in their full grandeur. From this elevated perspective, each waterfalls unique characteristics become evident,
Forming a visually compelling scene that is both captivating and humbling. The professionalism of Niagara pilots is easily noticed. Always friendly guides, these navigators ensure an unforgettable experience governed by safety and comfort on board. One of the best known attractions at Niagara Falls has twice been declared as attraction of the year
And is thought to be the most thrilling experience of its kind. The Nightmare Fear Factory dares courageous tourists through a haunted house that is a challenging maze of emotions and the unexpected. Once a challenger calls the safe word nightmares, everything stops. Though they join the over 180,000 others on the chicken list.
It’s quite a scary place. So if you’re thinking of visiting Niagara Falls, this is definitely a place you need to check out. If you’re into blood and gore and that type of horror. We don’t offer something like that. As I mentioned, it’s a very mental and emotional experience.
We prey on your own fears, your own phobias, the maze that you go in, it’s pitch black. You get led by a trail of red lights. It’s a 10 to 15 minute walk through, so it could take you 10 to 15 minutes to experience the whole haunted factory.
Some people don’t make it to full 10 to 15 minutes and many people check it out. I been pretty excited coming to the scare yard. Some people are really brave. There’s a lot of bravado. I’m not scared. I think I can make it through. No problem.
Some people get so scared, get quite emotional standing in line. And I’ve seen people go up to the front door and haven’t even been able to walk in. Who’s chicken there? Mama is the big chicken. She is already horrified. I’m hold his pants and I won’t let’s go.
The actual site of the Nightmare Fear Factory is an old coffin factory. The story goes that on one fateful night, the owner was crushed to death by a stack of coffins during a struggle with a group of thrill seeking hooligans. Soon after the funeral, his coffin was found unearthed an empty.
To this day, it is said he walks the halls for revenge on those who dare to trespass on his beloved and now abandoned factory. So they go inside and it’s a wide range of emotions. When they come out, they’re really jazzed and really, really a lot of adrenaline.
Some are crying, some have peed their pants, we’ve actually had people pee their pants inside here. Some people are just laughing. Some people are laughing. We didn’t get to scare them at all. We actually made them laugh and they had a really good time.
It’s it’s an experience that’s a lot of fun. I mean, you’re going to definitely be scared and there’s going to be a lot of emotion that side. But at the end of the day, it’s going to be fun. And you’ll see, boy, I have to say goodbye, which is like…
Wow, that’s like some pretty scary… People come in that were very, very brave. Groups of men hiding behind their girlfriends. You can see in the pictures that you’ll see here, you know, there’s there’s grown men hiding behind their girlfriends, three or four or five big guys coming in look like big athletic guys.
Nothing’s going to scare them. They’re hugging each other inside the maze, you know, screaming. So it’s kind of funny to see men like that. “We’ve made it, we’ve made it.” “We’ve made it, we’ve made it.” “You’re going to need some sound bites (beeps) from now on. There are some cursing involved.
You may have swear to God that was what takes a group that’s aggressive. Great time, but a great time to be a part of that. From Canada, Europe, we hope you guys come over here, Niagara Falls rules, you need to take that […] off me now.” Jesus! I need a break.” Yeah…
You know, hanging on. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Yeah… A very scary game. It was scary…you sweat For society. Yeah, well, I think this one, You got to try it! Because there were a lot of great moments, and then some very scary ones to actually, even for someone like me
The Greg Frewin Illusion Spectacle is an integral element of a Niagara Falls vacation, providing a stunning show with a Vegas style format. The illusions showcased are not only distinctive, but also enjoy international acclaim being performed by the renowned international grand champion of Magic, Greg Frewin.
You know, magic’s a funny thing. People think they know how Magic’s done, but when they come to the show, it’s great for me to watch their faces because I know if I can fool the people and I can see that in their face, that’s genuine. So it is interesting. People come expecting
They’re going to figure everything out, know how the tricks are done. After both the first 15, 20 minutes, you see them go from one of these positions to kind of one of these positions. So it’s a really interesting thing for me to see it from my perspective. This show
Really is all about the magic, the production of the magic. But we use a lot of exotic animals in the show, and it’s probably one of my favorite parts when some of the animals are incorporated into the show. The animals in Greg Frewin Show are not just actors.
They are a part of his family. It’s very natural for me. I’ve always had animals around the house and to incorporate them in the show has been great. So you’ll see in the show different exotic parrots. We have some tigers in the show. I have one of my little dogs, Holly.
She’s in the show. And we even have Chuck the Duck. It’s not scary right there. Yeah. He’s not a scary camera. Magic’s been something that I’ve wanted to do since I was quite young when I was eight years old. I remember
Getting a magic kit for Christmas and thinking: wow, this is pretty cool. But at the age of 12, I got to see Doug Jennings, who was a magician, perform live. And it was the most unbelievable feeling that I ever felt. At that time, that point
Is exactly when I thought: this is what I want to do for a living. I want to be a professional magician, professional entertainer. But it’s easy to say, Yeah, I want to be a magician. Now you have to learn.
The problem is, back in those days, there was no Internet, there was no DVD. We didn’t have things like that to teach us. So it was really sort of practicing a lot, getting books out of the library and really trying to get some of that knowledge and really spend that time.
So I follow my dreams and this is where brought me here to the lovely Niagara Falls. For a day of family friendly excitement, Marineland invites visitors to experience a place where humans and marine life connect in profound ways. Initially conceived as a destination for wonder and education,
Marineland has transformed into an iconic marine park offering a unique opportunity for exploration of the aquatic realm. Among the notable inhabitants are the orcas, also known as killer whales. These apex predators exhibit sophisticated ad hunting techniques, with some even known to deliberately beached themselves to catch seals.
On the other end of the spectrum: Beluga whales. Another member of the Dolphin family offer a contrast in demeanor. They are known for their sociable nature and remarkable ability to produce a wide range of sounds. So you’re going to meet O’Ryan today. Okay?
So what’s going to happen is he can come up nice and high up here and you’re going to touch him right on the top of his head. Would you like to try? It’s kind of like a ball of fat and lipids on the top of his head.
He uses it to make different noises and to break the ice for breathing holes. Can you throw it right in? Ossom! So belugas are known for making a lot of noises. Do you want to see if we can make him sing? Yeah. OK.
So you’re going to go like this with your hands? We’re going to together. Are you ready? Yeah, Just like that. Do you hear him? Ohhh, he’s a funny guy! Do you like to sing, O’Ryan? Yeah. Do you give him a big round? Perfect.
A beluga is actually really special cause they don’t have a fin on their backs. It’s a little hard to see from here, but he doesn’t have a dorsal fin. And that’s so he doesn’t hit in the ice in the Arctic. That’s why they’re all nice and smooth, too.
So, they don’t hurt themselves When they have lots of fat so they don’t get hurt themselves on the ice. Isn’t that kind of cool? Yeah. Now do you see how that one is grey and O’Ryan is white? Do you know why that is? That’s because O’Ryan is older.
When belugas are born, they’re born a gray color. And then they get older, they turn white like O’Ryan. And you see how special his teeth are? They’re pretty neat. Belugas have 34 teeth, and they’re used to grab onto food but not to chew it. That’s why they’re flat on the top.
Do you tap him there? So, O’Ryan is a big boy-whale, He’s one of the biggest whales that we have. And did you know that he doesn’t chew his food? Did you see that? He’ll throw it in and he’s going to open again. Open up! And it’s gone!
He swallows it whole, he doesn’t chew his food. They swallow it down their throat. They don’t feel like we do. Isn’t that cool? Be careful up there. Okay? And this is a herring. They also eat herring. Can you try and throw that in his mouth? That’s his favorite.
It’s not your favorite type of fish. see, he loves those ones. And can you guys give me a big. Can we give him a big wave and see if he’ll say goodbye? All right O’Ryan, Can you give me a big wave? Perfect. Thank you guys so much for your help.
Did you have fun? Yeah! A highlight of Marineland is the dolphin splash show where dolphins take center stage. The Dolphins intelligence is famous in the animal kingdom. They can easily learn and comprehend complicated tricks and perfectly mimic action seen from first sight. Dolphins emit a variety of sounds to communicate
And use echolocation to hunt and navigate. It is believed that they even have a signature whistle, the equivalent of a name. The sea lions of Marineland are no less delightful. Like dolphins. These oceanic performers exhibit intelligence and train ability that make them a common presence in zoos, marine parks, or circuses.
Towering above all Niagara is attractions, just near the waterfall, is the area’s most famous landmark: Skyline. The tower offers visitors a spectacular view at an impressive height of 160 meters, overlooking the cascade and surrounding beauty. The distinctive “Yellow Bug” elevators have a glass enclosing
That allows passengers a view during the 52-second ascent. Additional to Skylon’s two observation decks, the tower houses the largest indoor entertainment center in Niagara Falls, with a 3D/4D movie theatre and the famous Skylon Revolving Restaurant. I’m Rod.
I’m the manager and the revolving dining room in the Skyline Tower. As you can see, we revolve. We go around once per hour. We were the first revolving tower in Canada. We’re situated 500 feet or 150 meters above the ground, and we’re about 800 feet above the falls itself.
And the tower has three levels in the top. This is the lower level, the revolving dining room. One floor up is the buffet. And then above that we have an observation deck. I’ve been working here most of 25 years, so… yeah, it’s a good place to work.
Everybody that works here still seems to stay for quite a while. The food here is very good. The rack of lamb is one of the best things. We also have fresh Canadian salmon, which a lot of people seem to enjoy.
Quite a few celebrities over the year, I mean, from where you are. Gordie Howe one time. He probably doesn’t It probably doesn’t mean anything in Europe, but he’s a very famous hockey player here Katy Perry was here just a few months ago. She had dinner here.
Back in the day, we had a lot of the famous actors and actresses. Right. When most people come, they it’s fun to have dinner while you’re traveling around in a circle. They love the falls. They come for the lights. Currently, we have the tightrope walker names, Jay Cochrane.
He walks from here to the Hilton Hotel, which is 1200 feet, is 400m, anyway which is quite a thing. He does that daily at 7:00 o’clock. Niagara also holds a place for towering personalities like, the sky walker – Jay Cochrane, known as the Prince of the Air.
In September 2012, the 68-year-old wire walker established his last world record. This time for the longest cumulative distance on a high wire. During 80 days, he walked a total distance of over 19 kilometers between the two tallest buildings in Niagara Falls. The Fallsview Hilton Hotel and the Skyline Tower.
Nestled within the Niagara Peninsula, the vineyards of Inniskillin stretch across prolific fields. The unique terroir, influenced by the nearby Niagara River, imparts distinctive flavors to the grapes, creating the foundation for the winery’s signature wines: Inniskillin. A miraculous phenomenon occurs on the grapevines
When the temperature drops to minus eight degrees Celsius. The grapes that have been left on the vines for a late harvest start to freeze. The water inside the fruit turns to ice, while the natural sugars and flavor concentrate. After the optimum temperature is reached, usually during the night, harvesting begins,
And so too does the story of a luscious liquor: the Icewine. Welcome to Inniskilin wines in Niagara on the Lake, Canada, just about 20 minutes from Niagara Falls. Where we are at the moment is in our wonderful underground cellar and, as you can see about the wines around me,
this is where we age our icewine and our table wines, and it’s the place everyone likes to come and visit. And actually they want to get locked in down here. So what we have found with visitors who come to Canada and Niagara
In particular, is that they’re surprised to hear that there’s a wine industry here. And what we love to share with people is that very clearly we do make premium wines here in Canada. We are able to grow premium grapes here, and that’s probably the thing that people don’t realize.
They think it’s a little too cold in Niagara, in Canada. We have the moderating effect of Lake Ontario and we’re actually located on the 43rd latitude, same positioning as Northern California and a little more southerly than the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux.
This region makes some of the best Riesling wines because of our cool climate. The acidity in this line is very racing’s is very crisp and very clean. Rieslings are some of the best food friendly wines, so I’m going to pour myself a glass as well.
So you take your glass and you look at the color. You can see it’s a very, very pale yellow. And just telling you that it’s a very light wine on the palate and on the nose you can smell minerality. There’s also some peaches. But if you swirl your wine,
This is going to really open up the wine and release all the nice aromas. So now put your nose and see how much more it opens up. And when you’re going to taste the wine, you always want to take two sips. The first one, you want to cleanse the palate,
And then the second step is swallow, and you’re tasting the wine. So cheers. Most of the experiences we love to do is to, to connect our visitor with the actual vineyard. So the grapes are growing right now. These are Icewine grapes, and they’ll stay on until winter.
But our Pinot Noir is about ready to be picked very soon, and we like people to come out and be able to taste the grapes in the vineyard and compare those grapes with the actual wine as well. This just happens to be my favorite icewine, which is the Riesling.
The glass is different because this glass is an icewine glass. Icewine being so sweet, the way you want to put a drink is by directing the ice side all the way to the back of your palate and it’s where all your sour and your bitter taste receptors are.
You have acidity on the side and the sweetness on the tip. Icewine of ours if it’s stored properly, well aged for up to 20 years. So, you can drink your icewine when it is nice and young or you can drink it when it is older.
Personally, I like my iceland, about ten years old. In Niagara peninsula we are in the middle of such an abound full area. You’ll see orchards as well as vineyards. And so we’re very proud of our local fruit, our local produce. When anybody visits another country, they want to experience
Not only local wines but local foods. We have a cultural component too: at our sister property Jackson’s Trigs there’s an amphitheatre where we love to feature Canadian music artists, and there are jazz festivals at Hillenbrand.
So again, lots of cultural components to build in where you can sip your wine, listen to music and have some wonderful local food.
“The Best Niagara Falls Attractions” takes you on an exhilarating journey, showcasing the iconic and thrilling experiences this natural wonderland has to offer.
Experience the mist on your face and the roar in your ears with the legendary Maid of the Mist boat tour, bringing you as close as possible to the thunderous falls. Feel the adrenaline rush with the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour, navigating the rapids with heart-pounding speed. Soar above the majestic waters with an awe-inspiring Helicopter Tour, offering unparalleled views of the falls and surrounding landscapes.
Dare to step into the NightMare Fear Factory, where your fears are brought to life in the most chilling ways. Discover aquatic wonders and thrilling rides at Marineland, a perfect blend of entertainment and education for all ages. Be mesmerized by the magic of Magic Greg, Niagara’s own master of illusion, promising an unforgettable show that defies belief.
Gaze upon the falls from the Skylon Tower, offering breathtaking panoramic views that stretch to the horizon. And for a taste of local luxury, visit the Inniskillin Winery, where you can indulge in world-renowned ice wines and exquisite vineyard tours.
Join us on this captivating journey in “The Best Niagara Falls Attractions – Discover Canada Series,” where adventure, beauty, and mystery await at every turn. This film is your ultimate guide to exploring the best that Niagara Falls has to offer, from its most thrilling attractions to its hidden gems.