Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is not the tallest waterfall but among the most powerful, as the whole flow of the Great Lakes plunges over a horseshoe-shaped crest on the border between the United States and Canada. The sheer volume, spray and thunder, ridden up to on the Maid of the Mist boats, make it one of the great natural spectacles of the continent.

What you actually see

• The Horseshoe Falls - the great curved main falls, most dramatic from the Canadian side.
• Maid of the Mist - the boat that rides into the spray at the foot of the falls.
• Cave of the Winds - the walkway right beneath the American Falls.
• Night illumination - the falls lit in colour after dark.

When to go

Summer for warm weather and full boat services; the falls run year-round and freeze spectacularly at the edges in a hard winter. The boats and Cave of the Winds are seasonal.

Honest expectations

The setting is intensely commercial and built-up on both sides, so it is a spectacle amid tourist sprawl rather than wilderness. The Canadian side has the better head-on view of the Horseshoe. It is busy, and the boats and attractions add up in cost.

Nearby

Buffalo is close on the American side; the Canadian town of Niagara Falls and its wine country lie across the border.