Niagara Falls State Park
Established in 1885 and the nation’s oldest state park, the 400-acre Niagara Falls State Park lies on the American side of the falls. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York City, and offers more than 15 miles of hiking trails. At the Niagara Falls Visitor Center, the Imax-like movie “Niagara: Legends of Adventure” recounts the Niagara story, as do various exhibits.
The Maid of the Mist boat trips board on the American side and offer an up-close look at Horseshoe Falls, located on the Canadian side. The Cave of the Winds, a series of decks alongside American and Bridal Veil Falls, is a longtime favorite visitor experience. The newly opened Cave of the Winds Pavilion offers exhibits on how the falls’ power has been harnessed. It also includes information on the area’s history before it was declared a state park and people built their houses overlooking the falls.
“Old Fort Niagara, in Youngstown, is another popular group location with a year-round living-history program including a native American component,” said Andrea Czopp, director of communications for Destination Niagara USA. “They work well with groups and can put together a historic program or meal.”
Boarding at nearby Youngstown and Lewiston, two jet boat companies take riders through Class V rapids and up to the Devil’s Hole whirlpool. Guides narrate the history of the fort and the Native Americans who lived in the area. And in Lockport, 25 minutes east, Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises offers two-hour journeys on the Erie Canal.
