I’m going to the Falls w/my daughter in a couple of weeks. We will be there only for a day or two so I need to know about any must or must not things to do/see.
Slowly I turn . . .
In any case, spend most of the time on the Canadian side. Much more impressive.
Most of the tourist traps are on a street called Clifton Hill.
Parking gets more expensive the closer you get to the Falls. If you don’t mind walking uphill back to your car after seeing the Falls, there are some private lots where you can park all day for $5-$10. The biggest parking lot close to the falls is $18 (or at least it was when I was there in June.)
If you’re already staying in Toronto, you can take the train to the city of Niagara Falls on the weekend as a day trip, then a taxi, shuttle or bus to the Falls area.
I went with my 4 year old in April and she liked it. The Clifton hill was ok, we did some of the kid things, she liked the maze they have.
The one thing I will tell you is to not eat anywhere near the falls, and I mean even 3-4 blocks away. We got there about 10 am and wanted something to eat. We ate on top of the hill where you couldn’t even see the falls and it cost almost $40 for two waffles and milk. I have never spent so much for food anywhere in the world. So stay away from the restaurants or pay the price.
You should do the Cave of the Winds if your daughter is old enough that she won’t be scared of it. It really makes you appreciate the power of the falls.
The IMAX film is totally lame. It’s not IMAX. They’re just displaying a 30-year old low-budget documentary on the movie backdrop. Totally misrepresented.
The museum of actual barrels is awesome.
Definitely skip the American side. The Canadian side is awesome, especially the Skylon Tower, where you can get a bird’s-eye-view of both falls. And don’t forget to watch the falls at night, when they’re all lit up with colored lights. When I was there they had fireworks too, but I don’t know whether they have them every night.
I recommend wearing a poncho.
You can buy a pass that’ll get you all four of the major attractions, as well as a day pass for the shuttle that runs the length of the river. My advice is to do these attractions in reverse order. Start with the one farthest from town (Conservatory?) and then make your way into town. Most people do the opposite and it ends up being a bottleneck in places.
If you’re able, pack a lunch, and then do the WhiteWater Walk at lunchtime (It’s the place where you take an elevator down to river level and then take a short trail to see the rapids.) This was my favorite attraction! It was so hot in Niagara, but by the river it was very cool. I could have sat there all day. The whitewater was mesmorizing!
Cave of the Wind was my second favorite. Then the Maid of the Mist. Conservatory was last but that could be because I was wiped out by then.
stop, look at the falls, ride the Maid of the Mist, then leave town immediately without spending another cent… take a short ride to Niagara on the Lake…
You’re taking a honeymoon with your daughter?
NIAGRA FALLS! Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch…
OK, what to see in Da Falls. Well, for starters, you can check out what happens to a city when politicians decide to tear down several city blocks right next to the tourist area in hope that hotels appear. Ha! It was the 70’s! They must have taken the brown acid…
Hmmm, what else. How about Da Falls’ latest financial boondoggle, the giant artificial ski hill. WTF IT SNOWS HERE 10 MONTHS A YEAR WHY THE HELL DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BIG REMINDER OF THAT er sorry, that just slipped out. Anyway, it’s completely deserted, so come enjoy our tax dollars before the latest attempt to lure tourists starts growing weeds.
There’s the casino. That’s a great thing. Now, everywhere in New York State bans you from smoking in restaurants or bars. But the casino is on lands the Seneca Nation bought from us! Smoke all you want! Or come back smelling like an ashtray, the choice is yours. Also, come back broke, because the slots payout is pretty low. It’s not like the casino has any competitors…other than the two on the other side of the border, the one in Buffalo, the Fairgrounds Slots in Hamburg, Fort Erie Slots across from Buffalo, the Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, the Seneca Gaming Casino in Salamanca…but, really, the Niagara Falls Casino is the only casino in town. If that town is Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls, NY.
We have a lot of cool buildings in the downtown area. There’s the round one, and the tall one, and the one that’s all glass walls. I can’t tell you what any of them are called, because they’ve all been closed down for decades.
We have about ten million restaurants in the tourist area. You’ll know what they serve because they are all called things like “INDIAN RESTAURANT” and “CHINESE RESTAURANT”, judging from the signs.
So, uh, anyway, good things. There’s Goat Island, Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, you know all that. Maid of the Mist you can reach from either side, but the other two you have to go to from the US side. Really, they can’t be beat. They’re so awesome, how could a tourist authority mess those up? (Long pause.) The Lewiston Jet Boat is incredible too. It requires a short drive north to, yes, Lewiston, but it’s worth the trip. The Jet Boat takes you along the rapids right up past the cliff walls. You can choose an open-top boat or a closed boat. One of these two will get you so soaked you’ll probably still be drying out a month later. You can get to the Jet Boat right off of Water Street Landing, which also happens to be a very fine restaurant.
Yes, we all love and hate Da Falls here. And, yes, we know you’re going to be spending dollars in Canada, but as I say, there are a few attractions on this side worth looking at. Plus, you’ll get a whole new appreciation for Canada, which can’t be all bad.
This was the most fun I’ve ever had at Niagara Falls. Outside of a hotel room, anyway. 
1500 horsepower of wave pounding, smile inducing fun. It’s not cheap, but man is it fun! Did I mention it’s fun?
If you decide to do it, board as if you are about to jump in a pool. You’re likely to get just about as wet. You board in order of where you are in line, but if you can jockey for the front row or three, it’s even more awesome.
Thanks for the replies. They confirmed most of what I’ve heard. No, I’m not taking my daughter on a honeymoon! Who the hell would want to honeymoon in Niagra Falls when the POCONOS (complete with champagne glass shaped bath tub!) are are mere two hours away? Anyone do the hydro-electric tour? I went through Hoover Dam and that was pretty cool. And, for my north-of-the-border friends - what ever happen to Molson Golden Ale? There is a Golden Lager that we can buy down here but I swear there used to be a much better Golden Ale back in the day.
Is the clock made out of flowers in the parking lot/rest area still there? I saw it as a child (1950s) and, of course, didn’t remember it afterward (I was 5). Then years later (1980s) I was passing through on a trip back from Toronto and my friend and I stopped there. I remembered that clock! LOL! For some reason it brought me such joy! Sooooooo… is it still there? 
If you have a private plane, maybe. If you’re stuck with an ordinary car, it’s more like 6 hours. The Poconos are in the far eastern part of Pennsylvania, not the west. Heck, even Pittsburgh is four hours by car.
Hoover Dam is great. I’ve never heard of a hydro tour at Niagara Falls. If anybody knows of one I’d like to hear about it.
The only possible thing I’d recommend on the American side is actually in the Seneca Casino. When I was there a few years ago they had a restaurant that served variations on Seneca Indian traditional foods. I don’t see it now at their website, though. If I’m missing it and someone can point it out, it may be worth visiting.
Otherwise, take the Maid o’ the Mist or go to Toronto. That’s only a little over an hour away and well worth it. Or put on your camp mindset and be prepared to do a kitsch tour. I’m not sure even the kitsch is worth the bother these days. Niagara Falls is half wasteland/half post-apocalypse mindkill.
(Thinking about it, you don’t say how old your daughter is. If she’s young enough then the Clifton Street trash sites might be fun for her.)
Yes! It’s still there, though it is (as it’s been all along) on the Canadian side. It’s near the Adam Bolt Power Station, which you can reach by traveling up the Niagara Parkway north from Niagara Falls, ON. Just before you reach the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, you’ll see it.
No, AFAIK there is no hydro tour, at least on the US side. There is a big museum right next to Niagara University which tells the story of the Niagara Power Project. It’s actually fairly neat, and it also has a great view of the rapids.
I’m not sure it’s there anymore. I wanted to check it out too, but I never got there, and I’m afraid it’s gone now.
Yeah, I want to defend Da Falls but really it feels like there has been such a lost opportunity. But I will mention a few other places there and nearby that are worth seeing:
–Fort Niagara, north of Lewiston. Come see why the Canadians can’t be trusted at the historic home of War of 1812 Stuff.
–Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls. If you like Italian food, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll recommend Como’s, but make sure you get a reservation.
–Town of Lewiston. Burnt down by the Canadians (see above), rebuilt to be a nice little town like a mini American Niagara-on-the-Lake. Also the launching site of the Lewiston Jet Boat (see my previous post).