Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
north of the falls and the fort is another six miles beyond.) Seeing both towns involves a
five- to six-hour day with a blend of driving, walking, and sightseeing.
The city's
downtown
area is immediately adjacent to Niagara Falls State Park, with hotels,
restaurants, and attractions all within walking distance of the park. The epicenter is Old
Falls Street, which runs from the Seneca Niagara Casino to the pedestrian entrance of the
park.
Little Italy
is about one mile from the park, along Pine Avenue. Here you'll find small
shops, authentic Italian restaurants, and a sense of what the city was like at its zenith
in 1950. Pine Avenue becomes
Niagara Falls Boulevard,
and morphs from a walkable
neighborhood into a four-lane thoroughfare with accommodations and retail stores. The
boulevard is known for its value-priced hotels and family-operated motels, and it provides
access to I-190.
Traveling on I-190 north from the city leads to the village of
Lewiston
and
Fort
Niagara.
These two destinations are more pastoral and historic than urban Niagara Falls.
Each year, more than eight million people journey to
Niagara Falls State Park
(Prospect
St., 716/278-1796,
www.niagarafallsstatepark.com
, 24 hours daily, parking $10), drawn by
its 400 acres of unparalleled beauty and splendor. Although many waterfalls are taller than
Niagara, none are more prodigious. Visitors come here to feel the power of nature and ex-
perience a boat ride on the chaotic, roiling waters beneath the world's most famous water-
fall. There are manmade diversions here, but make no mistake, the main attraction is the
750,000 gallons per second of water hurtling over American Falls, delivering 2,700 tons of
force into the water below. Within the boundaries of the park, you'll find the famed Maid
of the Mist boat tour, the Cave of the Winds, Terrapin Point, and Three Sisters Islands.
At the entrance to the park, walkways, hedges, and signs will direct you toward the vis-
itors center, which houses an information desk with maps and brochures, as well as clean
bathrooms.Thelowerlevelofthevisitorscenterhasagiftshop,restaurant,interpretivehis-
torical displays, and the Adventure Theater.
