In this photo, you can see the American Falls, the observation tower and deck and Rainbow Bridge.
The photo on the right shows Luna Island from where the above photo was taken.
The U.S. side of the falls is reached through Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the country. It's made up of several islands, including Goat, Luna and Prospect Point. You can stroll for miles through the park, and each mile brings to view a different staggering scene of not only the falls themselves, but also of the river from where the falls originate as it rushes in from Lake Erie.
In direct contrast to the American's soft and easy state park access to the falls is the Canadian's glitz and glamour side with its Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest and such yesteryear attractions as Ripley's Believe It or Not!, House of Mirrors, a wax museum and a ferris wheel that can be seen from both sides of the falls. The kids love this side.
It's all in Clifton Hills, the amusement area just across the street from the falls, separated by the nicely laid-out boulevard (Falls Avenue) from which you get the best views of all the falls.
After rushing over the falls, the water quickly makes it way downstream to the Niagara River, yet another testimony to the power and fury of the water.
The White Water Walk, an adventure tour that's on the Canadian side of the falls, is a 300-foot boardwalk paralleling the river.
After lives had been lost by darers who were determined to ride the waves, white-water rafting was prohibited here.
Please visit some of my other travel locations. Feel free to email me if you have questions or comments.
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I didn't realize until after this trip to Niagara Falls that our Canadian friends appear to be cairn enthusiasts. These cairns were built along the path of the White Water Walk on the Canadian side of the falls.
Returning to Michigan from the falls via Ontario, where it borders the Georgian Bay, I saw on every cliff along this rocky highway, a fondly-made cairn. They stretched for miles. If you're interested, take a peek at that Ontario trip.
And if you are interested in cairns and want to see a page dedicated to them, visit my Neist Point, Scotland page.