'Nothing could have prepared me': Four big surprises at iconic bucket-list destination

Uncontrollable, scream-out-loud, pure, exhilaration! That's how it felt when I experienced the awesome power of Niagara Falls for the first time.  

My Niagara City Cruise to the base of the falls was one of the most exhilarating things I've ever done.

It's on par with my first (and only) sky dive, and the moment I hit 270km on the Bathurst straight (both are stories for another day).  

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I expected Niagara Falls to be extraordinary, but nothing could have prepared me for the absolute thrill of being tossed around in the churning water beside one of the great wonders of the world, only metres from where six million cubic feet of water comes crashing over the crestline every minute. 

By the end of the cruise, I was drenched. Completely soaked, head to toe. 

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And it was worth every single drop, to be able to hear the thundering roar and feel the full force of mother nature, up close. 

Here are the four things that surprised me most, during my recent trip to Niagara Falls.

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There are so many ways to experience the falls

The folks at Niagara have made it possible to see the 12,000-year-old falls from every possible angle. 

From waterside walkways and elevated viewing platforms to hidden tunnels, helicopter rides and scenic restaurants. There's an observatory tower, a sky wheel, an aerial tram and even a zipline, with birds eye views.

Niagara's "Flight without feathers" has to be one of the most stunning zipline locations anywhere in the world.

Dangling from a height of just under 70 metres, it's been cleverly designed to provide uninterrupted views of the falls from start to finish.  It felt slower than other ziplines I've done, but that allowed me to really appreciate the wonder and majesty of the iconic scenery before me. 

There are four ziplines running parallel, each with its own mounted camera to capture individual videos for every customer. What they don't tell you about this experience is that you really shouldn't wear a dress. That video captured me from an especially unflattering angle as I came in to land and my backside was suddenly jolted up into the air, directly into the camera. I really wished I'd worn jeans that day.

Something else they don't tell you, is that the landing spot is a great location to get spectacular photos of the falls - and you can only access that spot by doing the zipline. 

I was grateful the staff didn't rush me to leave because I was able to take my time and capture some really amazing photos. I did my zipline about an hour before sunset when the light was golden, so my pics had that extra special glow.

The "Journey Behind the Falls" experience provides another unique perspective. A lift took me almost 40 metres underground, where I then walked through a series of tunnels to a huge outdoor viewing platform. 

The platform is technically located beside the falls, rather than behind them, but it was still a thrilling spot to see, hear and feel the unbelievable power of the water. 

I did venture deeper into the tunnels and found two small portals located directly behind the falls. 

I had a brief moment of panic when I realised that one-fifth of the world's fresh water supply was crashing down above, beside and around me (this would be a challenging experience if you're claustrophobic), but it was mesmerising watching that gigantic swirling sheet of water that was so close, it felt like I could reach out and touch it. 

It's a mini-Vegas

There are actually two waterfalls at Niagara, sitting either side of the American/Canadian border - the American Falls and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. 

I stayed on the Canadian side in the tourist town of Niagara, where many of the major hotels are walking distance to the main attractions. 

There's also a convenient incline railway that links many of the hotels to the Niagara Parks below and an efficient bus system that shuttles visitors all over town.  

But, in a striking contrast to the breathtakingly beautiful natural wonder this town was built to support, it looks and feels like a super-commercialised mini-Las Vegas. 

If you decide to stay in Niagara town, be prepared for lots of giant flashing neon signs, massive crowds and all kinds of theme-park-style attractions. 

With so many attractions here besides the waterfalls, this might be a good base for families with small kids, but the relentless intensity of the crowds and the theme-park vibe was a little too much for me.

Why had I never heard of Niagara on the Lake?

For a more scenic (and peaceful) option, I'd recommend you stay in the adorable town of Niagara on the Lake. 

Only a 30-minute drive from the falls, it offers a welcome escape from the hectic atmosphere of Niagara central. With pretty tree-lined streets, heritage homes, boutique shopping and cute cafes, it's got all the charm of a rural country village.  

If you're looking for things to do in addition to the actual falls, there are plenty of picturesque wineries nearby, including the family-owned Ravine Winery, the French inspired Chateau du Charmes and Trius Winery – which was recently named one of the top 25 wineries in Canada in the 2025 Canadian National Wine Awards.

Their 'Icon' red put Trius on the map when it was awarded best wine in the world in 1991. These days, they're also making headlines with their food. 

The Trius Winery restaurant received a Michelin recommendation last year. Executive Chef Frank Dodd works with local farmers and producers to create inspired 2- and 3-course menus, with optional wine pairing. This was hands-down my favourite meal in Niagara - the (local) peach and gelato dessert was heavenly.

As a famous peach-growing region, they feature heavily on most menus around town – and even at the local Exchange Brewery, where many of their beers are crafted using fresh Niagara fruits. 

The six-beer tasting flight was a great way to sample all the unique flavours – including their niche "sour beer" (definitely an acquired taste) and the peach beer, which was sweet, refreshing and surprisingly delicious.

That Canadian hospitality

"No problem". You hear that a lot, when you visit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls – because Canadians really are the kindest people on the planet.

I swear Ontario must be home to the friendliest hospitality staff in the world. Over three full days, visiting multiple attractions in and around Niagara, I experienced nothing but friendly, helpful, attentive service – everywhere I went. 

And for a tourist town that welcomes around 12 million visitors each year, that truly is impressive.

Sami Lukis travelled at her own expense and was hosted as a guest of Destination Canada. You can follow Sami on Instagram @Samilukis.

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