For some people, seeing the falls from a distance isn't good enough. If you are left wanting more, pay to stand on a covered platform that provides a closer view than the walkway. If you are adventurous (and don't mind getting wet), choose from a variety of boat rides that take you through parts of the falls. The Maid of the Mist tours take passengers under the falls in restored steamboats. They leave from docks at Clifton Hill daily between 9:45 a.m. and 4 p.m., starting in April. During the summer, the boat trip daily schedule is extended until as late as 7:45 p.m. However, by the end of October, the tours shut down because of the weather.
Don't miss the free fireworks display over the falls on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays around 10 p.m. in July and August. If you can't get a good vantage point on the walkway because of the crowds, take in the view from one of the many restaurants that line the falls. Any location with a clear view of the falls will provide you with a memorable experience that makes your trip outstanding. This year's calendar also includes a free outdoor concert series every Friday and some holidays. The band shell is conveniently located below the Illumination Tower in a park directly across from Horseshoe Falls.
Niagara Falls has souvenir shops for every taste. For serious shoppers, there is the Canada One Outlet Center, less than a mile from the falls. Save some time and money to find a bargain with your name written on it. The stores offer discounts of 50 percent or more on name brands like Nike, Nine West, Escada, OshKosh and Coach, among others. Parking is free. Christmas is the only day that the outlet closes. Most of the stores are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except Sundays. On Sunday and holidays, the closing time is 6 p.m.
The Niagara Falls Bird Kingdom is open year round. It is home to more than 400 birds from 80 different species. The kids are sure to enjoy the opportunity to feed the birds by hand as they stroll through the themed sections of the sanctuary. Nearby, on the Niagara Parkway, the Butterfly Conservatory is home to more than 2,000 butterflies of various species. The conservatory's indoor rain forest of nectar- producing plants that houses its butterflies makes this attraction extremely popular with adults and children.
