Things to Do in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Western New York
The American side of the falls and a Great Lakes city with grand buildings and famous wings.
See top-rated activities »About Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls State Park, created in 1885, is the oldest state park in the country, and it puts you closer to the water than most visitors expect. Paths along the rapids lead to Prospect Point at the edge of the American Falls and across a footbridge to Goat Island, which separates the American and Bridal Veil falls from the Horseshoe Falls. The Maid of the Mist boats leave from the base of the Observation Tower and sail into the mist below the Horseshoe Falls in season, and at the Cave of the Winds you walk wooden decks built right beside the Bridal Veil Falls, rain ponchos included.
Across the Rainbow Bridge, the Canadian city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, has the classic head-on view of the Horseshoe Falls, the Skylon Tower and the Journey Behind the Falls tunnels. Several of the tickets below are for attractions on the Canadian side, which require a passport to visit. Back on the American side, Old Fort Niagara, at the mouth of the Niagara River on Lake Ontario, preserves stone buildings from the 1700s, and the small town of Lewiston has riverside restaurants and a summer arts scene.
Buffalo, about 20 minutes south, was one of the country's richest cities a century ago, and the buildings show it: Louis Sullivan's Guaranty Building, a striking Art Deco City Hall with an observation deck, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin D. Martin House, one of his finest Prairie-style homes. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum reopened in 2023 with a large new building, and Canalside on the waterfront has summer concerts and winter skating. Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office in a Delaware Avenue mansion here in 1901, now a national historic site. And yes, the Buffalo wing was invented here, in 1964, at the Anchor Bar.
Farther south, in Jamestown, the National Comedy Center and the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum celebrate the hometown of the I Love Lucy star, and Letchworth State Park, about an hour southeast of Buffalo, is known for a deep gorge with three major waterfalls on the Genesee River.
Don’t Miss
The country's oldest state park, with paths to Prospect Point, Goat Island and Terrapin Point.
Boats sail from the American side into the spray below the falls, from spring into fall.
Wooden decks beside the Bridal Veil Falls, reached by elevator into the gorge.
A fort occupied by the French, British and Americans, with 18th-century buildings on Lake Ontario.
Frank Lloyd Wright's restored Prairie-style complex, open for guided tours.
Modern and contemporary art in historic and new buildings beside Delaware Park.
A deep river gorge with three major waterfalls and rim trails.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Niagara Falls
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TiqetsTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best in Upstate NY may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Niagara Falls — FAQ
Which side of Niagara Falls is better?
The Canadian side has the best head-on view of all three falls. The American side gets you closer to the water at Prospect Point, Goat Island and the Cave of the Winds. With a passport, you can easily see both in one day.
When does the Maid of the Mist run?
Usually from spring, once the ice clears, until late fall. Cave of the Winds has a smaller winter version, but most boat tours stop in winter.
Where did Buffalo wings come from?
The Anchor Bar in Buffalo is credited with serving the first wings in 1964. Locals usually call them just wings, served with blue cheese and celery.
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