# Have you ever been to Niagara Falls? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689 "2016-08-22T23:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/21 "2016-08-23T03:48:01Z")
I was on [both](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=772467) sides last fall. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I only live about an hour away so it’s not a big deal for me. I’ve driven there a few times just to go shopping. How far from Letchworth are you? How often do you go there? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/22 "2016-08-23T03:56:20Z")
No…and I’d like to…but I will almost certainly never do any travelling. I’m a stay-at-home bloke, and that’s way outside of my functional travel radius. Ah, well… There are nifty photographs! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/23 "2016-08-23T04:00:12Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > How far from Letchworth are you? How often do you go there? I used to literally live next door to Letchworth Park. But I’ve only been through the park once. Where I live now, I’m about an hour away. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/24 "2016-08-23T04:10:52Z")
Several times, not many times. A few times in the winter, and that is a great time to go. No crowds. ETA: all the smart people are home, or in Hawaii or Florida or Arizona, while you’re there keeping the frozen rime from blowing into and lacerating your eyeballs. Still, I recommend it. Just be sure to bundle up. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/25 "2016-08-23T04:35:50Z")
I’ve been to Niagara Falls, ON roughly a 1/2 dozen times. One time was in the winter and it was well below freezing; the spray from the falls turned my winter jacket into a suit of (ice) armor almost instantly! I’ve been to the outlet mall in Niagara Falls, NY twice but I’ve never seen the falls from the U.S. side so I voted “Canada only”. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/26 "2016-08-23T05:09:40Z")
Once (answered ‘few’ by accident) on the Canadian side, but the hotel I was in could see both sides. However, it should be mentioned that I was there in the middle of winter so the falls were, well, falling at something like 50%. I don’t know how much of that is due to freezing (there was quite a bit of ice on the falls and in the water below) and how much is due to hydro turning down the flow to preserve the falls as much as possible since there’s less tourists in winter. I should mentioned, though, it’s still pretty impressive and going in winter has it’s perks since getting a hotel was easy and cheaper and it didn’t feel like a tourist trap. No traffic, no people trying to get my attention everywhere I went etc. I have to assume if you go in the middle of summer it feels more like Vegas than some some random city in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/27 "2016-08-23T06:38:34Z")
I’ve been to both sides four times, from age 11 to 58. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/28 "2016-08-23T07:09:20Z")
[NIAGARA FALLS!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYP1OBZfFK0) Sorry, couldn’t resist. 😃 we were there once (both sides) in late summer of 1981 on a belated honeymoon. Wife and I were actually going to spend a week there. After 2 days we were like “Meh, been here, done that” and spent the rest of the week exploring New York State and Pennsylvania, and each other. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/29 "2016-08-23T08:27:20Z")
My sister lives near there, so when I visit her it’s easy to hop over for a look at the falls as we’ve done that. I think the best time to visit is in winter, you get some lovely ice formations, but watch your step and dress warm. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/30 "2016-08-23T08:55:45Z")
Many times, both US and Canadian sides. It used to be so easy, walking over the Rainbow Bridge: US official: Citizenship? Me: Canadian. US Official: Purpose of your visit? Me: To see the Falls from the American side. US official: Thanks, have a nice day. No documents, no papers; it was just that easy. I wish it still was. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/31 "2016-08-23T12:23:51Z")
Local checking in! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/32 "2016-08-23T12:31:46Z")
Grew up about 25 min from Niagara Falls, NY (the city) and about 45 min to Canadian side falls. We used to pop over all the time as a whim or at least go to Goat Island or Grand Island if we didn’t want to cross the border. It was so easy then. Last time I was there was in early 2000s when my parents moved away. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/33 "2016-08-23T12:56:50Z")
Nice timing, I was just thinking of driving up there today (about a three hour drive from here). I haven’t been since I was a small child. Both sides, and disappointed that my mother wouldn’t let me go on the helicopter tour with my Dad. Even then, I thought the people who went over in a barrel were flat out crazy. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/34 "2016-08-23T13:03:02Z")
I’ve actually been to see the falls more often than most people, but I’m not sure I’d call it _many_ considering that I live less than an hour’s drive away. 😉 In fact, since I’ve become a driver, I’ve probably more often driven through the borders of Niagara Falls, ON without stopping to do the tourist things–it’s on the way to the Buffalo airport and also on my drive to New Hampshire. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/35 "2016-08-23T13:18:28Z")
I was born there. We did, however, move away when I was seven. Still, visited family who still live there many, many times. Whenever I’m there I have drag relatives to the actual falls. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/36 "2016-08-23T13:23:22Z")
Once, on the Canadian side in August 1989 while I was an exchange student in Ontario. Since I didn’t have visa, I couldn’t go the US side but I did take a look across the border, and probably a photo or two. In other words, I’ve never set foot in the US, but I have seen (a tiny bit) of it. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/37 "2016-08-23T14:04:59Z")
It helps that I’m only 2-3 hours away, but a few years ago we discovered an amazing restaurant on the Canadian side with a great offer that we’ve used the heck out of. [AG, Explore the Seasons](http://www.agcuisine.com/news/explore-the-seasons/). It forces us to take a weekend away 4 times a year (the package includes a 25% discount on rooms at the Sterling Inn), the food is amazing and the service exceptional. The added benefit of getting around Niagara and seeing more of the festivals and sights has been great. It’s entirely possible that we also regularly visit a vineyard or two. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/38 "2016-08-23T14:23:00Z")
I haven’t been and would love to go. I’ve seen many documentaries and travel shows about it and every time I’m just awe struck. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/39 "2016-08-23T14:26:33Z")
Once sort of in passing as part of an amusement park convention/vacation. We stayed on the Canadian side on the way back and since we had stopped earlier in the day and it was right there it looked like a fun idea. We did the tour “under” the falls but we didn’t do the boat ride. It was fun and I am glad we did it but I don’t know that I would make the trip just for that; make that our primary destination. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689/40 "2016-08-23T14:40:12Z")
Just once on the Canadian side in 1999. To be honest, I don’t remember too much about it. Iron-like fencing covered in ice. I wasn’t all that impressed. It wasn’t our destination – we stopped to say we had done it. The weather was cold and blustery, and we didn’t stay long at all, so that probably played into my reaction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-niagara-falls/763689.md?page=3)