Getting There

Niagara Falls International Airport is mostly for charter and cargo planes (the one passenger option is Myrtle Beach Direct Air, with twice-weekly service to Myrtle Beach), so plan to fly into Buffalo Niagara International Airport (4200 Genesee St.; tel. 716/630-6000). See section 1, earlier in this chapter, for all airline listings. ITA Shuttle runs from Buffalo Niagara International Airport to both the American and the Canadian sides of the falls (tel. 800/551-9369 or 716/633-8294) five times a day. The cost is $30 per person one-way to the American side, $40 to the Canadian side.

When driving from I-90, take Route 290 to Route 190 to the Robert Moses Parkway -- this will put you in downtown Niagara Falls, New York, and you'll see signs for the Rainbow Bridge to Canada. The Greyhound station (tel. 800/231-2222) is at 303 Rainbow Blvd.; Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL) comes right into the Niagara Falls station at 27th Street and Lockport Road.

Visitor Information

On the American side, the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation is at 345 Third St., Suite 605, Niagara Falls (tel. 877/FALLS-US or 716/282-8992). Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm. In Canada, Niagara Falls Tourism, 5400 Robinson St., Niagara Falls, Ontario (tel. 800/563-2557), is open June to August, Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm; rest of the year 9am to 5pm daily.

Note: At press time, US$1=C$1.13.

When to Go

While hotels and restaurants stay open here year-round, several of the top falls attractions, like Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds, operate only when the ice has melted, which could be in April or as late as May. The season usually runs through October.

Getting Around

A car is not essential for getting around on either side of the falls; in fact, if you're just planning on seeing the in-town attractions on either side, you'd be better off without one -- traffic and parking in the summer are nightmarish, and parking at the attractions is expensive year-round. Though most attractions are fairly close to each other, you don't even have to walk: Shuttles on both sides of the falls will take you to the major hotels and the major attractions.

Crossing the Border

You can get to Canada by either driving or walking. I recommend hoofing it. The walk across the river is only a couple of city blocks long and you'll get great views along the way. More importantly, you'll avoid the lineup of cars -- the wait can be an hour or more in summer. Either way, be sure you have proper documentation of citizenship: U.S. citizens will need a passport when arriving by land or sea. Customs folks on both sides will ask why you're going, how long you'll be, and, upon your return, if you're bringing anything back with you. If you're in a car, be prepared to pop the trunk.