This fantastic boat takes your right up next to the falls, and under the "mist" of Niagara Falls. It is totally awesome!
Don't just stand and look at the falls. Hop on the Maid of the Mist boat and ride right up to them to feel, smell and even taste (if desired) Niagara Falls. It is an experience you will never forget and something I recommend to everyone who can stand on a rocking tour boat.
Riding out to the falls is an experience in itself. Reaching the falls, where the boat stops and lingers under the Niagara Falls spray for a few minutes, is magnificent.
I loved every moment of it and would gladly do it again in a "New York minute".
View of Niagara Falls from the Maid of the Mist boat just before we
entered the mist
Maid of the Mist Boat Ride - Niagara Falls
The Maid of the Mist boat ride takes approximately 20 minutes.
On the July summer day we visited Niagara Falls, it was fairly crowded in
the Niagara Falls State Park, but the line for the Maid of the Mist was
reasonable. We only had to wait for the length of one boat ride before
we were boarding the boat. Therefore, our wait time was approximately 20
minutes and part of that time was spent receiving and donning the head to
toe rain poncho provided with the price of the ticket. The poncho makes the
perfect souvenir too!
I took my small travel camera so I could take pictures from the boat. However, I did tuck it inside my cape right before we entered the mist. Unfortunately, there is no way to photograph from within the mist without a waterproof camera. Next time, I will take an underwater camera!
If you look closely, you can see the boat in the (back) falls
mist
You can also see the walking trail on lower left side
The cost of the boat ride ticket includes admission to the observation deck. The elevator down to the boat docking area is the center section, that looks like a support beam, under the center of the observation deck.
Parking at Niagara Falls State Park
There are several parking lots for cars. As you enter the park, there
were at least two areas for parking for a picnic or just for viewing the
rapids.
In our case, we went to Niagara Falls State Park while moving our daughter
to New York. Therefore, we were in a fully loaded U-Haul truck.
At first, we were concerned for where we would be allowed to park, and for
good reason. Most of the lots accommodate standard car, SUV or van
size vehicles. Fortunately for us, and our camper vehicle friends,
there is a parking lot on Goat Island just for the longer, wider
vehicles. Plus, there is a reasonably priced trolley to the heart of
the park from the #3 parking area for those who would prefer to ride instead
of walk.
Simply pay attention to signs as you enter the park. It is easy to miss parking directions
because it is exciting to see all that is there, plus the need to watch out
for pedestrians.
Believe it or not, there is more to see at Niagara Falls State Park than
the falls. While Niagara Falls is clearly the main attraction, there
is an aquarium, hiking trails and the "Cave of the Winds" (a man made walk
along the bottom of the falls), as well as food vendors and souvenirs. There
is also a Top of the Falls Restaurant that overlooks Niagara Falls.
You can view
Niagara Falls at Night
too thanks to the colored lights which Mary Beth photographed and previously
published on Review This Reviews.
Explorer's Guide Buffalo & Niagara Falls (Explorer's Complete)Check Price
Bridge to Goat Island over the rapids that feed Niagara Falls
More to See at Niagara Falls State Park
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