Top Rated Attractions in Niagara Falls

Casting conductors in period clothing, this tour takes you back to the days of the Underground Railroad through passageways, tunnels and cellars. You get a feel for what runaway slaves went through to escape into Canada. The journey begins at the Michigan Street Baptist Church, home to parishioner William Wells Brown, the first African-American to publish a novel. It then moves Broderick Park, where Web DuBois crossed into Canada. The tour ends at Murphy's Orchards where you will be part of a live Underground Railroad re-enactment.

What do Teddy Roosevelt, Marilyn Monroe and Diana, Princess of Wales, have in common? You guessed it. They've all taken rides on the Maid of the Mist—or rather one of seven Maids, which first launched its boats in 1846. This world-famous boat takes its passengers right into the heart of the Falls. You can catch the boat on either the American or Canadian side, with boardings every 15 minutes between April and the end of October.

Located on Goat Island, this attraction was once a cave but water erosion has made it difficult to explore. An elevator takes visitors to the base of the American Falls where wooden stairs and pathways bring them within 25 feet of the falls. You're advised to wear the raincoat and foot coverings as splashes from the falls are frequent. There is also a walk called the Gorge Trip with an incredible view.

Nourished by the mystical Niagara River, this quaint little island is burrowed in the midst of the gushing Niagara Falls. Although this little island is predominantly inhabited, it is very popular due to the incredible views of the falls it offers. The island credits its name to a local settler in the 18th Century, who used to keep goats on the island. Throughout its history, the island has remained fairly undeveloped, and it is this desolateness which makes the island all the more charming. An integral part of the Niagara Falls State Park, the island today contains a monument to the legendary inventor Nikola Tesla gifted to the United States by Yugoslavia in the 1960s. Its fringes adorned with scenic escarpments and rocky outcrops, the island is pleasantly swathed in dense, lush woodlands and crisscrossing trails that evince wild, magical silhouettes of nature.

Holding the distinction of being the oldest state park in the nation, this 221-acre preserve (89.4 hectares) as its name suggests also contains what has been called one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World: Niagara Falls, its undoubted centerpiece. Also home to the Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls, the state park is a land of cascading natural wonders. Studded with a complex set of trails that lead to the spectacular beauty of the Three Sisters Islands, followed by Goat Island, which is the park's most highly-regarded picnic spot. The Cave of the Winds excursion is the nature reserve's most frequented expedition tour. The site's visitor's center features interactive displays, a movie theater for the Niagara Wonders big screen film and a virtual reality helicopter ride above the Falls.

Overlooking the lower whirlpool rapids, this 42-acre park features a nature trail; gorge caves; picnic area; winter snowshoeing and cross-country skiing; and a spectacular 300-foot walkway that winds its way along the Niagara River. At the end of it, you're treated to a stunning view of the rapids in all their majestic splendor. The park is popular with hikers, camera buffs and bird watchers, as well as fishermen on the lookout for trout and salmon.