Niagara Falls is not an inherently stress-free vacation spot. In fact, as one of the world’s top destinations — seeing over 30 million travelers and tourists in a year — Niagara Falls can be one of the most stress-filled vacations, if you aren’t careful to plan ahead.
Fortunately, even if you aren’t the type of traveler to type out a trip itinerary, you can find stress-reducing activities in and around Niagara Falls. Here are a few pointers for stressing less on your Niagara Falls vacation.
Stay in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is nestled conveniently in the middle of what could be a treasure trove of travel destinations — but for the sake of simplicity, you should probably stay in the city itself. Immediately outside Niagara Falls is a bevy of small towns like Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines and Twenty Valley, and beyond these you can find larger cities like Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Ontario. However, by tying to add these into your trip, you are doomed to a stressfully busy vacation schedule, especially considering that there is so much to do already in and around Niagara Falls.
Because you should commit to visiting Niagara Falls itself (and saving the surrounds for another trip) you should look only for hotels near Niagara Falls. Specifically, you should concentrate on Niagara Falls, Ontario — the Canadian side — which is where the vast majority of attractions are located. Then, you won’t have to worry much about struggling to get in and around the touristy areas; you’ll already be there, ready to enjoy your trip.
Use the Tourist Transit
While it might seem like a good idea to rent a car — or to drive your car to Niagara Falls — the truth is that keeping track of a vehicle can be hard work, especially in tourist-dense areas like Niagara Falls. Fortunately, Niagara Falls offers a valuable alternative: WEGO. WEGO is a bus system that connects most accommodations in Niagara Falls with popular attractions throughout the city and surrounding region. You can buy two full days of WEGO rides for $13.50 (for adults), meaning you can get wherever you want to go without worrying about navigating or parking your own vehicle. You can buy WEGO passes online in advance, which will save you the stress and hassle of trying to acquire them once your vacation starts.
Buy Tickets for Activities Now
Speaking of buying things early, you should also try to get ahold of tickets for attractions before you get to Niagara Falls. Especially in the high season, which extends from late spring to early fall, tickets to attractions like river cruises and other tours sell out fast, which means you might not have access to the activities or time slots you want if you don’t plan ahead. Fortunately, most attractions sell tickets online, which means you can reserve your spot now to enjoy ease and certainty on your trip.
You might also invest in a vacation package, which comes with access to a variety of attractions as well as meals and other amenities. Often, vacation packages allow you to save money on features you likely want anyway, and you can acquire a package through your hotel or through other portals online. For instance, if you are visiting Niagara Falls with your family and expect to spend some time at Clifton Hill, you can get everyone in your party a FunPass, which gets you into a handful of top attractions for a much lower price.
Spend Time in Niagara Nature
Finally, there is nothing quite as relaxing in any vacation as an adventure into nature. Niagara Falls itself is a gorgeous product of natural forces, and there are several places around Niagara Falls where you can destress by spending more time in the quiet serenity of a natural landscape. One of the most convenient natural escapes is Dufferin Islands, a series of interconnected islands just south of Niagara Falls that are crisscrossed with walking paths and spotted with picnic tables. You can also experience a slightly more curated form of nature by walking through Queen Victoria Park or the Niagara Botanical Gardens, both of which feature attractive natural flora.
Niagara Falls is a beautiful destination, and you shouldn’t taint your memories of it with feelings of stress or anxiety. Let the thundering waters of Niagara wash your stress away by planning your Niagara