One of my core childhood memories is taking a family trip to Niagara Falls. I remember being on the New York side, feeling the magnificent force of these powerful waterfalls, and then casually crossing over into Canada, where they called soda “pop.”
I grew up only a three-hour drive from Niagara Falls, so the U.S.’s largest-by-scale waterfalls were quite literally in my backyard. Recently, I had the chance to revisit as an adult, and I realized there’s so much more to do than just see the waterfalls, with tons of dining, prohibition history, and a heap of adventurous activities to feed that inner child. So, if you have three vacation days coming up and you want a fun, quirky American town to spend them in, let me be the first to say, you should come to the U.S. side of Niagara Falls. Here’s how to spend your long weekend here.
Day 1
As a travel writer and content creator, I’m on the road about 80% of the year — bouncing from small castle-filled towns in Italy to very casual road trips through Madagascar — so I understand the importance of having a chill first day of travel. Day ones are always for checking in and dropping your bags at your hotel, grabbing a drink or two with some good bites, and, if you’re up to it, a light, short activity. For Niagara Falls, here’s what that means.
Check into the Giacomo Hotel
Where you stay matters, and if you’re here for the Falls themselves, you might as well stay within walking distance to them. I stayed at the Giacomo Hotel and highly recommend you do the same! The location is prime, there’s a cute bar in the lobby, and rooms are incredibly spacious (and the showers have great water pressure — a must!). It’s also pet-friendly with included breakfast, and takes less than 10 minutes to walk to Niagara Falls State Park.
Imbibe in a Prohibition Walking Tour with Roaming Table
About a 15-minute ride from the Giacomo Hotel is Lewiston, a small town in Niagara County, with some deep history in terms of the foundation of our country. What better way to learn about the history than with a cocktail or two? Take a prohibition walking tour with Roaming Table, where you’ll hit several spots all while learning about Lewiston’s cocktail history. Plenty of food is served alongside the drinks, so bring your appetite.
While stops on the Prohibition Tour with Roaming Table can change, a stop by Hustler’s Tavern in Lewiston is a must. Hustler’s Tavern’s original owner, Catherine Hustler, is credited with inventing the word “cocktail” during the War or 1812. Allegedly, she stirred a gin-based drink with a cockerel tail feather and decorated bottles with rooster feathers. There’s a plaque out front of Hustler’s Tavern with the full story, and her grave can be found nearby at the First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston.
Pro-tip: You don’t necessarily need a car in Niagara Falls, as Uber is quite reliable in the area. If you choose to rent a car, you can book one on Expedia.
Ride the Live on Air Balloon Ride to catch the nightly fireworks
As you make your way back to Downtown Niagara, you’ll have one more stop at 10 p.m. — a hot air balloon ride, of course! The Live on Air Balloon Ride takes you high up in the sky for about 20 minutes so you can catch the nightly fireworks. It’s a fun, adrenaline-fueled way to wrap up your first day in Niagara Falls.
Day 2
For your first full day in Niagara Falls, you’re going to play part tourist, part local. Some things are too iconic to skip, and today’s the day you’ll partake.
Cave of the Winds
Start your morning off with one of the most thrilling things for the duration of your trip: Cave of the Winds. Located on Goat Island, look for entry signs to “Cave of the Wind,” and you can head right to the ticket office to reserve your time slot. First, you’ll be led through a small exhibition center and have the opportunity to watch a short film on the history of Niagara Falls. Then, you’ll take an elevator down to the entryway, where you’ll have a small paved trail with steps to climb up to “Hurricane Deck.”
As its name suggests, Hurricane Deck is where you feel immense power from the Falls, where it gets extremely windy and wet. While this experience could easily only take you about 20-30 minutes, I stayed for over an hour because it’s just so much fun.
- Cave of the Winds tickets must be purchased in person at the ticket office on Goat Island.
Maid of the Mist
Another way to get up close and personal to the Falls, with maybe a little less adrenaline, is Maid of the Mist. Ticketed passengers get on a boat (and the lines can look intimidating, but they move quickly), and go directly up to the Falls. You will get wet, so a raincoat is provided — or you can bring your own like I did — and don’t worry too much about being on the “right side” of the boat. It’ll make several turns to ensure everyone gets a good view of the Falls!
Lunch at Steelbound
Now that you’ve experienced Maid of the Mist, it’s time for a Maid of the Mist lager with some typical western New York food. Steelbound Brewery & Distillery is located right in the heart of Downtown Niagara, and is one of the newest additions in town, having just opened. in spring 2026. When in Rome, as they say, you’ve got to go for the “Buffalo Two-Step,” featuring their award-winning Buffalo wings and beef on weck, a typical sandwich of Western New York made of slow roasted sliced steak, served on a caraway roll with au jus.
Head to DiCamillo Bakery
Where Steelbound is the new, cool kid on the block, DiCamillo is the old school joint that has hardly changed a beat, and we hope it stays that way. Opened in 1920 by Italian immigrants, DiCamillo is still run by the same family that once started it over 100 years ago, now onto its fourth generation. Locals loyally line up everyday for their freshly baked bread, and if you want to try more typical Western New York dishes, here, you can order peanut sticks — a fried donut coated in crushed peanuts, and “Old fashioneds,” a fluffy focaccia topped with a sweet tomato sauce, though at DiCamillo’s they call them “Romanos.” You can also get your coffee fix here with a full espresso bar, and if you’re there on. particularly hot day, they have gelato, too.
Take a cooking class at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute
You’ve done a lot of eating, but now it’s time to put your apron on and cook, too. Cue Whitney Houston, “I believe the children are the future,” and head to Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. I love learning a new skill when I’m on vacation, and what better one to learn than how to properly cook a steak and make a Bearnaise sauce? I participated in about a two-hour cooking class with students at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, along with a chef who oversaw and led the group, and it was not only inspiring to see young professionals in action, but I learned tips and tricks about how to cook root vegetables and how to not break a Bearnaise sauce.
Day 3
Don’t cry just yet — your time is almost over, but you’ve got one exciting day ahead of you before you depart. And some of the best things I did during my three day sin Niagara Falls, I saved for last.
Early helicopter ride of the falls with Rainbow Air
You’ve got to end on a high note, no pun intended, with a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls. There’s no real. way to explain how incredible this experience is, and it was easily one of the most breathtaking moments from my trip. Seeing Niagara Falls from above while also having the general thrill of riding a helicopter is about as magical as it gets, especially when you catch the iconic rainbow that is always lingering of Niagara Falls.
Rainbow Air also offers VR experiences where you can “paraglide over the Falls.” This experience only takes about five minutes but, as virtual reality so often does, feels like you’re really there.
At Rainbow Air, there’s also a free Heritage Gallery, featuring the life and work of Nikolas Tesla, a Serbian immigrant who is best known for inventing the modern Alternating Current electrical system.
Take a historical E-bike tour with Buffalo Bike Tours
I told you we’re saving the most fun activities for last, and an e-bike tour with Buffalo Bike Tours is something you do not want to miss. Tours last around two or so hours, and your guide will take you around Downtown Niagara and its surrounding areas. to show you landmarks that you likely would have missed otherwise. My guide, Marc, who is the owner of the company, taught me a lot about Indigenous History of Niagara Falls, pointing out a building that looked like a turtle, and showing. me the Iroquois flag, which I admittedly would not have recognized without his guidance.
He also brought me over by the Niagara Falls Amtrak station to check out some murals, and we made one final pitstop at the very colorful Prophet Isaiah’s Second Coming House, a public art installation designed by Jamaican-born Isaiah Robertson.
Grab a po’boy from Dockside Bar & Grill
It’s almost time to head out, but you can’t leave on an empty stomach. Head over to North Tonawanda for one last hurrah at Dockside Bar & Grill. Set alongside the canal, Dockside makes a fun mix of margaritas and frozen cocktails like a frozen espresso martini, and my waitress told me the Haddock po’boy is her favorite thing on the menu, so I took her lead. She didn’t steer me wrong, but pro-tip: ask for a side of pickled onions and some hot sauce to take it over the top.
Cure your sweet tooth at Platter’s Chocolate Factory
And last but certainly not least, you’re going to end on a sweet note at Platter’s Chocolate Factory. Also located in North Tonawanda, Platter’s is an historic chocolate shop serving. up — you guessed it — more typical Western New York bites. What started in a basement in 1938 has now become a staple in the area. They make excellent orange chocolate, both in its classic form but also in the form of soft serve ice cream, and even iced coffees (highly recommend an iced coffee with a pump of orange chocolate), and you must try a piece of sponge candy. If you plan to take some chocolates with you on the go, just note that sponge candy doens’t always survive heat.
How to get to Niagara Falls
Getting to Niagara Falls is easier than ever. If you plan to fly, Buffalo Airport (BUF) is your best bet. There’s also an Amtrak train station in town with the stop being Niagara Falls, the last stop before Canada or the first stop in the US.
When to visit Niagara Falls
While you can technically visit year round, and while I will always encourage an off-season visit, summer is prime. Upstate New York winters are brutal, and if you want the chance to experience things like Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds, coming in early summer or early fall is your best bet to do that while missing some of the crowds.
DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!
DISCLAIMER II: Destination Niagara USA sponsored my trip.
