The Mighty Roaring Cascades - Niagara............

The most awaited attraction for every visitor to US is Niagara Falls!!!! Till the date skimmed through lot many Niagara clicks by relatives, colleagues, friends; but finally the clicks turned to be my own on long weekend!!!!!!

Planning makes man perfect! Collecting complete information, booking the tickets, reserving hotels online well in advance helps a lot and saves lots of your time as well as the most IMPORTANT - "M-Vitamin" .

Various informative and online package tour booking websites are available. To mention few of them:-

1. http://www.niagara-usa.com/niagara-falls-packages.html?gclid=CKmYnr7IoakCFRNe7Aod4CAetA (Combined packages)
2. http://www.hotel.com (To book the best hotels at cheaper deals)
3. http://www.niagara-usa.com/ (everything about Niagara Falls including calendar of events)

Days Inn, Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn are few of the leads to name which are near to the falls and major attractions.
Good motels are also available at best prices and located in the vicinity of the falls and attractions.

The first task to be performed is booking the Niagara Discovery Pass online. The pass provides gateway for the 5 main attractions:-

1. Niagara: Legends of Adventure Theatre
2. Aquarium of Niagara
3. Cave of the Winds Trip
4. Discovery Centre
5. Maid of the Mist (This includes entry to the observation desk

Apart from those 5 attractions Free Niagara Scenic Trolley Ride to the destinations is available throughout the day. Charge for the discovery pass is $33/- per adult. Rates for the Senior Citizens and Children differ and are available on the website. In case of online booking of the discovery pass; printout of the booking is required which needs to be submitted at the visitors centre to obtain the discovery pass. Generally evening times are better to obtain the pass as there is not much of rush and few attractions can be covered at the same time. The pass validity is till Oct - 11 if booked in Summer - 11.

With extended summer hours one can take benefit of as many attractions as possible. Niagara Scenic Trolley is available from destine to destine; so even oldies and kids can cover major attractions. Ride through Scenic trolley is a unique experience.

The entrance to the falls is through the "Niagara Falls State Park, New York". While driving on the Rainbow Boulevard one can see the Niagara Fumes and the famous hotels Sheraton and Skylon Tower in Ontario. The flow becomes speedier once you start approaching the actual falls. Entrance of the park is really eye alleviating. Resting on the benches surrounded by the Greenery and watching the speedy bouncy water is a kinda awesome meditation.

Paid Parking is available at the visitor's centre as well as at the other public parking lots. For free of charge parking you can park at your own risk in the residential lanes ;bit far from the main attractions.

It is always better to visit the visitor's centre to get more information about the attractions, times, schedules and collect the discovery passes if booked online.

If its evening time by which you are visiting the Falls, following attractions and view points can be covered. Extended summer hours offer you to cover:-

Niagara Legends of the Adventure Theatre
The 40 minutes film is about the ancient and age old stories told about Niagara and the Maid of the Mist, the discovery of Niagara Falls by ancestors, various events, incidences related to Niagara and the people who did lot many adventures around and within Niagara to earn name and fame.

Goat Island
Scenic drives, Picnic areas , various falls view points can be covered under this island. There are two bridges to approach the island American Rapids Bridge and Pedestrians' Bridge. To name few of the best points at Goat Island:-

• Luna Island (To watch American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls)
• Nikola Tesla Memorial
• Cave of the Winds (Here you can actually experience hurricane under the falls and hence the name "Hurricane Deck", be a child and catch the cascades. Due to the extended summer hours Cave of the Winds is open till 9.45 p.m. and opportunity to watch night view closely can be grabbed at the same time. So bang on the target to achieve two goals under one roof!!!! Yellow coloured raincoat and the blue coloured floaters can be kept as iconic longer lasting memories of the place visited)
• Terrapin Point (To watch the Horseshoe Falls)
• Top of the Falls restaurant at Terrapin Point (Good places for foodies. Take a break and enjoy snacks watching the falls)
• Three Sisters Island
• View of Skylon Tower and Sheraton Hotel and Casino of Ontario.

Don't miss the night view of the illuminated falls from this island. Especially from the Luna Island point. You can see the enlightened beauty of American and Bridal Veil Falls.

Next morning journey can be scheduled for the most awaited close view of the falls through "Maid of the Mist". You need to go 50-60 Ft. down by lift through the observation tower to board Maid of the Mist. Get dressed up in blue coloured raincoat and be ready to face huge showers. First encounter is American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls view from Maid of the Mist. It's like a huge wide white film screen in the Maid of the Mist theatre that appears in front of your eyes. Your retina clicks an awesome picture and mind stores the awesome unforgettable image into your permanent memory!!!!!!!!

Then the boat heads towards the Horse-Shoe Falls. Closer you start approaching the falls more are the noise, pressure and showers that you experience. The screen before eyes becomes so wet and misty that you are unable to see anything. Water current , forceful showers sometimes don't allow you to open your eyes but enjoy the same and just feel the mighty, roaring cascades!!!!!!!Then Maid of the Mist turns back towards the Observation Desk. Leaving behind the Horseshoe Falls now it approaches the side view of American and Bridal Veil Falls to have a glimpse one more time!!!!! But people still look back at that enduring nature creation Horse-Shoe Falls and have a last glance at it before the MM (Maid of the Mist) reaches destination. Like Yellow coloured Cave of the Winds Raincoat this blue coloured raincoat of "MM" adds up to another longer lasting iconic memories.

Landed down from the heavenly experience of Maid of the Mist, get ready for another enchanting and very close view of American and Bridal Veil Falls!!!! Staircases take you to the point where you can watch the falls very closely and have an experience of "Bridal Showers" from the American & Bridal Veil Falls!!!!!!

Drain out yourself from the showers and be prepared for the fantastic view of all the three falls from the "Observation Tower". Admission to the Observation Tower s free and included in the MM ticket if you opt for Discovery Pass or else there is a charge to have a view from this point till the last tour of MM at 7.45p.m. during Summer. After the last ride of MM the Observation Tower is open for all and free. By the time falls light up you can have visit of Aquarium, Niagara George Discovery Centre and ride through Trolley. On the way back to the observation tower have a different close glimpse of falls from Prospect Point.

Great Lakes Garden
Located outside the Visitor Centre, view the 1.5 acres of lush floral gardens that depict the Great Lakes region above the Falls, including grassy areas in the shapes of Lake Michigan, Superior, Huron and Erie as well as a walkway that follows the course of the Niagara River.

Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours
Falls view from up in the sky. $85 - 100 are worth spending for the fabulous airy ride of all the 3 falls. Open from 9 a.m. to dusk.
Site address - 454 Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301
Contact Info - 716-284-2800.
More information on the website - www.rainbowairinc.com

By 8.45 p.m. catch up Observation Tower to reserve your panoramic view of the glowed falls (All the three together - American, Bridal Veil and Horse Shoe Falls) by night. If it's Friday or Sunday then wait and watch the 10p.m. Firecracker show. One of the must watch events during your Niagara Visit. The special show is available at the same time on Long weekends.

Next day morning if you are planning to pack up; a short visit can be planned to the

Rainbow Bridge
The bridge connects Canada and USA. With valid passport and visa, required identity documents you can walk on the Rainbow Bridge with a nominal fee for the pedestrians to view Niagara Falls.

Old Fort Niagara
Original 18th century fortress active during The French and Indian War, American Revolution,and War of 1812. Experience exciting living history programs, exhibits and spectacular scenery.

While driving back every visitor who visits the falls from US side makes sure that (S)He visits the same from Canada side.

But two in one plan can turn out to be a good option if you have already taken out Canadian Visa and completed with the documentary formalities and a plan for a week's outing! 3 days from US side and cross the international border through Rainbow Bridge and enjoy the Falls view from Skylon Tower and a ride through Maid of the Mist of Canada.