Helpful Niagara Falls Vacation Info

Journey Behind the Falls

Journey Behind The Falls

View the falls dropping over 13 stories while you're safely nestled on the observation platform.

Lying across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, NY, the Niagara Falls, Ontario area is located in the Golden Horseshoe Region of Canada.  With the romantic title of Honeymoon Capital of the World, Niagara Falls is a gorgeous and breathtaking sight.  There are several different ways to experience the falls, from the Maid of the Mist boat to viewing the area from a helicopter.  In addition, the City of Niagara Falls offers all types of entertainment.  It's no wonder 14 million people visit the area each year. 

Niagara Falls Info:

• Elevation: 571 feet
• Number of parks:  5
• Number of radio stations: 1 A.M.,   2 F.M.
• Number of television stations: 6
• Number of newspapers:  1 - Niagara Falls Review
• Transportation:  Buffalo International Airport in New York State is about 20 minutes away.

Niagara Falls Weather and Climate:

• Average daily temperature:  Low 34 degrees F/High 77 degrees F
• Average annual rainfall:  34 inches

Distances to other Metropolitan Areas from Niagara Falls (in miles):

• Atlanta, GA — 725
• Boston, MA — 412
• Chicago, IL — 481
• Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX — 1,210
• Houston, TX —1,280
• Las Vegas, NV —1,966
• Los Angeles, CA — 21,850
• Memphis, TN — 816
• Miami, FL — 1,195
• Nashville, TN — 640
• New Orleans, LA — 1,088
• New York, NY — 319
• Orlando, FL — 1,022
• Philadelphia, PA —297
• Phoenix, AZ —1,888
• Rapid City, SD — 1,210
• Salt Lake City, UT —1,693
• San Antonio, TX — 1,427
• San Diego, CA — 2,167
• San Jose, CA — 2,268
• Washington, DC — 436

Niagara Falls Safety Phone # and Major Hospitals:

• Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911
• Greater Niagara General Hospital (905-358-0171)
• Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (New York) (716-278-4418)

Niagara Falls Top Tourism Draws and Seasons:

• Seasons: All
• Horseshoe Falls
• American Falls
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Casino Niagara
• Fallsview Casino
• Clifton Hill
• Marineland
• Welland Canal
• The Wine Region
• Maid of the Mist Steamboat
• Journey Behind the Falls
• Whirlpool Aero Car
• Niagara New Vintage Festival
• Poultry Fest Niagara
• Wings and Wheels Niagara
• 27th Annual Catfish Derby for Kids
• Welland Rose Festival
• Strawberry Festival
• Friendship Festival
• Royal Canadian Tour
• Canadian Rainbow Tour
• Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum
• Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
• Movieland Museum of the Stars
• White Water Walk
• Niagara Parks Golf
• Guinness World Records Museum
• Niagara River International Gull Festival
• Niagara Ice Festival

Niagara Falls Major Shopping Areas:

• Canada One Factory Outlets
• The Shops at Table Rock
• Falls Family Flea Market
• Hershey's World of Chocolate Store
• Maid of the Mist Marketplace
• National Geographic Store
• Niagara Duty Free Shop
• Niagara Shoe Factory Outlet
• Skylon Gift Shops
• Saitosh Canada
• Queen Victoria Place Gift Shop
• The Perfume Factory

Niagara Falls Major Dining Areas:

• All of Niagara Falls offers great restaurants with an emphasis on fresh, regional produce and a fusion of International and Niagara Falls tastes. Some favorite restaurants include Skylon Tower Revolving Dining Room, Terrapin Grill, Whirlpool Restaurant, Wolfgang Puck Restaurant, After Hours Bistro, Table Rock Restaurant, Bombay Indian Restaurant, Mulberry's Dinning Room, The Pinnacle Restaurant, Casa D'Oro Dining Lounge and Mama Mia's Restaurant. 

Niagara Falls Famous Landmarks & Historic Places:

• Horseshoe Falls
• American Falls
• Bridal Veil Falls
• Brock's Monument
• Great George
• Butterfly Conservatory
• Niagara Heritage Trail
• McFarland House
• Konica Minolta Tower

Niagara Falls Famous Natives and Residents:

• Laura Secord - Canadian Hero of the War of 1812
• James Brown - Educator & historian

Notable Moments in Niagara Falls History:

• Early 17th Century- Europeans settled in the Niagara area, which was also inhabited by the Iroquois Indians.
• 1812- U.S. President declared war on Canada.
• 1829- Welland Canal was competed.
• 1855- John August Roebling built the Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge- the first of this type in the world.
• 1885- Niagara Falls Act was passed to preserve the natural beauty around the falls.
• 1890- Natural gas well drilled at Niagara Falls, and the city began exporting gas to New York.
• 1901- Mrs. Annie Taylor became the first person to make a trip over the falls strapped onto a barrel.
• 1920- The Niagara Reservation State Park opened.
• 1952- The movie "Niagara" starring Marilyn Monroe was released and helped to make Niagara Falls the Honeymoon Capital of the World.
• 1961- The Power Authority of the State of New York opened the Niagara Power Project, beginning the use of the falls for power.

Interesting Facts about Niagara Falls:

• Nearly 14 million visitors a year come to the Niagara area.
• Niagara Falls is known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World.
• 150,000 gallons of water per second goes over the falls.
• Niagara Falls is the second largest falls in the world.
• The water over the falls never stops flowing, though in winter the mist creates ice formations over the banks, which result in mounds up to fifty feet thick.
• The word "Niagara" is derived from the Iroquois Indian word meaning "The Strait."
• Twenty percent of the world's fresh water exists in the Great Lakes, and a good portion of that goes over the falls.

Niagara Falls Population and Demographics:

• Population — 78,815
• White — 76%
• Native American — 1.1%
• Black — 19%
• Asian — 1.0%
• Population 18 and under — 24.7%
• 65 and over — 18.6%
• Median age — 38 years
• Average household size — 2.27
• Median family income — $26,800

Niagara Falls Colleges and Universities:

• Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology
• Kingston College
• Niagara County Community College

Niagara Falls Economy & Business — Notable Employers and Industries:

• Niagara Parks Commission
• Revenue Canada
• District School Board of Niagara
• City of Niagara Falls
• Greater Niagara General Hospital
• Canada Postal Service
• Ontario Power Generation Niagara Plant Group
• Niagara Support Services
• Niagara Falls Bridge Commission
• Niagara Falls Public Library
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Hydro One Utilities