Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Visited: May 2, 2004
NPS Site Visited: Not an NPS Site
Local Website; Maid of the Mist Website
 WHAT IS IT?
Perhaps the world’s most famous waterfall. Three waterfalls in all. The 176-foot high American Falls and its neighbor the Bridal Veil Falls are located in the United States. The 169-foot Canadian Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful of the three, cascading nearly 9/10 of the Niagara River.
BEAUTY (9/10)
The sheer power of Niagara Falls has transfixed generations. It is a relentless and fearsome beauty. Other waterfalls are much higher and have a greater elegance, but few equal Niagara’s overwhelming muscle. The roar of the falls and the towering plume of mist rising from the base of Horseshoe Falls must be heard and seen in person to be believed. The Great Lakes contains 20% of the world’s fresh water. Nearly all of that water flows over Niagara Falls.
The State Park grounds offer both a Frederick Law Olmsted designed park area on Goat Island just above the Falls and a manicured tulip garden around the Visitor Center. Pretty nice.
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE (7/10)
There is a lot more history at Niagara Falls than one might imagine. Aside from the numerous fantastic stories of people riding barrels over the falls, children saved after boating accidents, tightrope walkers and publicity seeking lunatics things actually have happened here.
The world’s first large hydroelectric plant opened here in 1895. In 1896, Nikolai Tesla first utilized his invention, the alternating current induction motor, combining its AC power with the plants existing DC power. The plant had been unable to transmit energy over large distances. Tesla’s invention changed everything. The Falls lit up the town of Buffalo, some 30 miles away. We still primarily use Tesla’s AC/DC electrical system.
Niagara Falls also because America’s first state park in 1885, preserving it for generations to come. We are reminded that we cannot take our natural wonders for granted and that we have great thanks to the people who started the state park system in the United States.
CROWDS (8/10)
It was 50 degrees, drizzling and foggy when we arrived in Niagara Falls. Most of the crowd were soaked to the bone and shivering. Everyone was happy and excited. The 20-minute Maid of the Mist Boat Ride to the base of the Falls was packed and giddy. The enthusiasm was contagious. Strangely enough, we seemed to be the only two people on the boat speaking English with an American accent. We hope that as the summer comes, we will find more fellow Americans appreciating and patronizing their national wonders. The only Americans we found at Niagara Falls were the throngs that filled the Seneca Nation Casino.
 EASE OF USE/ACCESS (4/5)
Highway access is easy and signs to the Falls are numerous. If you spend the $10 to get into the State Park Parking Lots you can drive from lot to lot. Access to all viewpoints is paved and ramped. Access to the Maid of the Mist departure point is through a large elevator and then down winding ramps. It seemed to be fully handicap accessible.
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (4/5)
The State Park has three separate gift shops with tons of affordable and attractive if not chintzy merchandise. Not many books to be found but that’s not really the point. We got a nice $1.99 magnet shaped like the Maid of the Mist boat complete with blue poncho wearing tourists.
COSTS (1/5)
If you park in the State Park Lots, the cost is $10 per car. There are other parking opportunities but few that are free, unless you stay in town. The Maid of the Mist boat tour is $11.50 per adult. The elevator down to the Cave of the Winds at the base of Bridal Veil Falls is $3 per adult. There is also a charge for the 20-minute film shown at the Visitor Center. Nothing is free. Your trip could get pricey.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (1/5)
We saw no Guides or State Park Rangers. The help was mostly kids hired to herd people into the boats and hand out rain ponchos. Not so sure what they could help with, though, as Niagara Falls is mainly a visceral experience.
TOURS/CLASSES (8/10)
The Maid of the Mist boat tour is fantastic. It lasts 20-minutes but seems to be over in a flash. The Falls engulf your senses. You feel the mist in your face while your feet and legs get soaked. You hear the roar of the Falls and the animated chatter of your boat mates. You smell and taste the water all around you, the water that envelopes your body. You see the majesty of the falls from what must be mere yards from their base. Take this tour.
The historic exhibit panels at the Visitor Center were well done and informative. Look hard because they are tucked in a corner under the stairs and next to the cafeteria and gift shop. An exhibit on Nikolai Tesla actually is in the Gift Shop.
 FUN (9/10)
We saw no one at the Falls without a broad smile on their face.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (9/10)
Of course.
We did not visit the Canadian side of the Falls. We have heard that the views from across the gorge are spectacular. Please be advised that the Rainbow Bridge that crosses between countries looked like a parking lot at 9:30 a.m. on a Sunday. Customs alone could prove to be an marathon adventure.
TOTAL 60/80
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