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The Kids Will Fall for It!
Niagara USA Offers Family Activities Year Round
Niagara exerts its powerful pull on young and old alike. But anyone who has ever seen the look in a child's eyes as they experience the Falls region – with its unforgettable natural beauty, year-round activities and enriching diversions for families – will have their own sense of childlike wonder rekindled, and not soon forget the experience they shared.
Centered by the awesome majesty of the Falls, Niagara USA is a destination unto itself, capturing the hearts of families and drawing them back throughout their lives. And the attractions in the surrounding area are fun, active and exciting for parents and kids alike.
The main attraction, Niagara Falls State Park, is the perfect spot for experiencing this magical landmark. There are a number of viewing platforms here, as well as some unusual opportunities to get even closer.
For those who don't mind becoming one with the water, the Park's Cave of the Winds is a thrilling guided walking tour along wooden platforms at the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Participants will inevitably get wet as they walk through the spray. Another wet adventure is the famous Maid of the Mist, a boat cruise that takes guests right up to the roaring water at the base of Horseshoe and American Falls (don't forget to don your free plastic poncho).
Nearby is the Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride. Blasted out of solid rock more than 140 years ago, the cave system initially served as a tunnel to provide river water for mills and electrical power. Today visitors can walk through the mysterious tunnels as guides talk about the history of the area and point out fossils and other geologic formations in the rock walls. The tour finishes with an eerie half-mile underground boat ride. Every Halloween, the attraction becomes a "Haunted Cave," drawing thousands of visitors through the month of October.
Families with older kids who want a little more adventure have several options. A helicopter tour over the Falls with Rainbow Air provides a unique perspective for viewing the natural wonder of Niagara. Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours takes guests on a thrillingly fast upriver Jet Boat ride into the whitewater rapids in the magnificent stonewalled Niagara Gorge canyon.