When people think of Niagara Falls they rarely think of it as an adventure destination, but if you spend a bit of time doing some research you actually can enjoy a very active holiday.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Adventurous ways to experience the falls
From any angle, the falls are spectacular, quite literally breathtaking, but there are some exhilarating ways to experience the falls, which I highly recommend for those with an adventurous spirit.
A trip on a Hornblower Tours of Niagara boat takes you so close that the spray hits the boat. For this trip, waterproofs are the order of the day. A trip behind the falls also takes you right up to the base of the falls and seeing the tunnels and caves behind the waterfalls is unforgettable.
Hiking
There are over 15kms of hiking paths through the Niagara Parks. The walks are quite tame, but if you hire a mountain bike and use that, the experience is quite exhilarating.
Geocaching
Geocaching is extremely popular in this area. The earth cache route is a good way to explore the area and get an education in the area’s unique geology.
Cycling
The whole of the Niagara Falls area is cycle friendly
. At most of the restaurants and attractions there are places set aside to allow cyclists to lock up their bikes. There is no need to take your own bike because there are literally dozens of firms offering bike hire and it is easy to get your hands on everything from a mountain bike to a road bike.
Bouldering
There are no large mountains, that you can climb, in the area, but you can still climb here. Bouldering is a popular pastime and there are some quite long climbing routes available. These are great for someone like me to keep their skill honed and perfect for those who are new to the climbing sport. There is also a huge 32ft rock wall at the Niagara Freefall and Interactive Centre.
Interestingly the falls themselves have been climbed. In 2015, the edge of the Horseshoe Falls froze and that was it for the Canadian adventurer Will Gadd he grabbed the opportunity and climbed the frozen falls along with his climbing partner Sarah Hueniken. They were the first people to make the climb. Their legendary climb is right up there with the crazy adventurers who have done the journey the opposite way going over the falls in a barrel or diving in from the edge.
Treat yourself to a nice hotel
After all of that activity a good bed and a bit of pampering are essential and there are some fantastic luxury hotels on both the US and Canadian sides. Booking a Fallsview hotel with www.niagarafallsmarriott.com
gets you the chance to select a room with a view of the falls. At night, the falls are illuminated. They look amazing when you look down at them from your room.
You get access to an indoor pool and can use the spa at the chain’s sister hotel that is located just across the road. This hotel offers the perfect way to unwind after a long and exciting day.