Hey Guys!
This post continues our time at Niagara Falls.
Read Day 1 here and click here for a link to all of my blog posts
We started each morning waking up to these incredible views of the falls!
I highly recommend you stay in a falls view room if you ever visit Niagara…it’s so worth it!
We started our morning with breakfast at a nearby IHop...well, everyone but me..I decided on Starbucks for coffee and a pastry instead.
Note: The food at IHop is very expensive!!
Read reviews of IHop here
After breakfast we took the nearby (3 min walk from our hotel) Falls Incline Railway to the Fallsview tourist area where the Table Rock Welcome Center is located.
You can purchase an all day pass to ride the railway for $7 and it’s definitely worth it!
The tram gives you amazing views of Horseshoe Falls!
Once you exit the tram, you will be very close to the Table Rock Welcome Center.
The building is huge and has several restaurants and shops!
For a falls view dining experience, book a reservation at the Table Rock House Restaurant.
Read reviews for the restaurant here
As you exit the welcome center from the back of the building, you will have breathtaking views of Horseshoe falls!
A shot of us standing in front of the falls
The boats go right up to the falls!
You can book a boat tour to Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side as well…book your tickets here. They also offer a fireworks cruise to the falls.
After admiring the falls for a while, we headed back into the welcome center to purchase our tickets to Journey Behind the Falls.
Tickets are $24 for adults and $16 for children ages 3-12.
This is a timed entry ticket and the entrance is located inside the welcome center.
Once we entered, the line was really long!
Once again, you are given a free poncho because you can get wet!
On this tour, you are taken down by an elevator 125 ft to explore 130-year-old tunnels through the bedrock behind Horseshoe falls!
After you exit the elevator, you will walk through a tunnel to reach the first portal called Cataract Portal. 
The portals are cut straight through the rock, offering a once-in-a-lifetime view of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water crashing down in front of you!
Ok, I have to admit, I have never had a panic attack but this tour almost made me have one!!
There is such a strange feeling you get walking through these tunnels…it was claustrophobic feeling and you could actually feel the vibrations of the falls above you! I came VERY close to leaving!
My mom and one of my sisters didn’t stick around to see the portal because the line was long and they didn’t like the feel of it either!
However, I stuck it out with my 2 other sisters but we decided to bypass the first portal and head to the second portal called the Great Falls Portal.
These portals are located directly behind the Falls. So, the falls are actually on top of you!
Such an eerie feeling!
This was as close as you could get …but who would want to get any closer?!
After this portal, we headed to the outside observation deck.
The deck gives you incredible views of the falls…so, if you can’t handle the portals, head straight to the observation deck!
You can get very close to the falls from the deck…and, it’s much better than being under it!
The tour takes approx. 30 mins…just depends on how much time you want to spend here.
Read reviews here
After this tour, we headed back outside to the welcome center to admire the falls from a much safer place!
A picture of the Hornblower boat getting very close to the falls!
As we were walking along the sidewalk, we spotted these beautiful yellow roses!
Of course, I couldn’t pass up a picture of the roses with the falls in the background.
A few minutes later, we spotted the Skylon Tower.
I had really wanted to go up to the observation deck in the tower, but never made it.
I did make reservations for all of us to have dinner at the restaurant at the top of the tower but we ended up not being able to make our reservations due to time constraints.
Read reviews of the restaurant here
During our walk, we spotted the Queen Victoria Park so we spent some time exploring the park and gardens.
The well-groomed lawns offer ideal spots to relax. The park features a beautiful rock garden, hanging baskets, a hybrid tea rose garden and attractive floral displays.
I loved these blooming lily pads!
A few minutes walk from the park, you will arrive to the Clifton Hill area.
If you have children, this is a must do area but for us, it was cheesy!
It’s a major tourist area and was super crowded!
Read reviews here
It reminded me of all the cheesy rides and attractions at a carnival or Gatlinburg!
However, my sister and I did decide to ride the Niagara Sky Wheel!
The Ferris Wheel is 175 ft tall and gives incredible panoramic views of the city and of the falls!
Read reviews here
The cost to ride is approx $12.
After the ride, we headed to a nearby restaurant called Boston Pizza, to have lunch.
They offer an extensive menu with lots of options besides pizza but we all ended up ordering pizza and it was really good!
Read reviews here
After lunch, we headed for ice cream at the nearby Sweet Jesus.
I ordered the rocky road rage in a cup and it was delicious!
Read reviews here
We then started our walk back towards the Table Rock Welcome Center.
The walk takes approx 25 mins.
On the way back, we passed the Oakes Garden Theater that was established in 1937.
A few minutes later, we came up on the Grand View Marketplace.
The marketplace offers restaurants, shops and an observation deck.
Views from the observation deck
This is also where you would come if you wanted to zip line next the falls!
As we continued our walk, we spotted these crazy looking trees that resembled a purple leaf plum tree but they appeared to be growing upside down!
You could walk under the tree and it was like a canopy!
A few minutes later, we passed another one!
After making it back to the welcome center, we decided to walk to the floral showhouse.
The showhouse is a 10 min walk from the Table Rock Welcome Center.
On the way, you will pass the Niagara Parks Power Station.
The power station offers a couple of different tours.…one being their new sound and light show.
The path to the floral showhouse
We arrived to the floral showhouse approx 20 mins before they were closing but decided to go ahead and purchase tickets since the employees told us they wouldn’t kick us out if we went past 5!
The cost is $8 for an adult and $5 for children ages 3-12.
The showhouse was first opened in 1894 for the purpose of growing seasonal plants for Queen Victoria Park. The first floral conservatory soon followed in 1897.
The Floral Showhouse you see today opened in 1946, with the north and south houses added in 1951 and in June 1980, the front reception and gift shop opened.
The showhouse isn’t that big so 20 mins was enough time to walk through the inside and the outside.
The building was full of beautiful flowers and plants!
A few shots of the outside.
Read reviews here
After leaving the gardens, we headed back to the welcome center where we decided to purchase tickets for Niagara’s Fury.
Niagara’s Fury is a 4D motion theater where you will discover the ancient story of Niagara Falls in a multi-sensory simulation of the last Ice Age.
The temperature will drop, mist and snow will fall and you’ll be surrounded by stunning visuals along the mighty Niagara River.
However, I wasn’t impressed at all and wouldn’t recommend!
The tickets costs approx $13 in USD… Way over priced in my opinion!
Tip: You can pay in USD but you will be given Canadian money back…we used our credit cards to pay for everything.
Read reviews here
Tip: You can purchase combo tickets that may save you money if you plan to do several of these activities
After Niagara’s Fury, we decided to head back to the hotel via the Falls Incline Railway.
That evening, we once again watched the lighting of the falls and the fireworks from our hotel room!
After watching the fireworks, we called it a night!
Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned for Day 3!
Read Day 1 here