Niagara Falls, New York

The US gateway to Niagara Falls, where Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist bring you up close to the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Niagara Falls, New York, sits in the northwestern corner of the state, facing its namesake city in Ontario, Canada, across the Niagara Gorge, linked by the Rainbow Bridge. Niagara Falls is made up of the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls; the US side has the first two, while the best full frontal views of Horseshoe Falls are from the Canadian side. The main sightseeing area is Niagara Falls State Park: Prospect Point sits right on the brink of the American Falls, the Goat Island loop trail links Luna Island, the Cave of the Winds, Terrapin Point and the Three Sisters Islands, and the Maid of the Mist boat departs from below the Observation Tower at Prospect Point to approach Horseshoe Falls. Downstream, 4–12 km (2.5–7.5 mi) away, are Whirlpool State Park, gorge trails, the Niagara Power Vista and jet boat tours from Lewiston; about 8 km (5 mi) east is the outlet mall that's a staple of East Coast bus tours. The best season is May–October, when the boat and Cave of the Winds are fully open and water flow is highest; in winter most water-based attractions shut down, but you can see the falls draped in ice. The falls are illuminated at night year-round, with fireworks on some summer nights. Getting there: it's about 30 km (19 mi) from Buffalo Niagara International Airport, with direct Amtrak trains and long-distance buses from New York City, or a 6–7-hour drive; Chinese-language East Coast tours are mostly two-day trips from New York with an overnight at the falls. Plan on 1–2 days. If you want to walk across the Rainbow Bridge to the Canadian side, Chinese passport holders need a Canadian visa and should make sure their US visa allows re-entry.

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