Niagara Falls Tourist Hub

Many first-time visitors to Niagara Falls have a pretty clear picture of what they expect to see when they arrive: roaring water and a cavalcade of clamoring tourists pushing for that perfect view. They expect to see Maid of The Mist, that legendary boat that takes visitors on a soaking wet journey to the mouth of Horseshoe Falls. Maybe they expect to stay at a towering resort hotel overlooking the majesty of it all.

What they generally don't expect, however, is actually the second-most-popular attraction in Niagara Falls: the Clifton Hill tourist district.

When driving across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada, the first thing visitors come across is Clifton Hill; a short, winding street packed with attractions unrelated to the falls themselves. It is a larger-than-life, blinking wonderland of tourist town beauty. Visitors will no doubt recognize the names of most of the attractions.

There are no less than four (yes, 4!) haunted house attractions, several Ripley's museums, wax museums, a large ferris wheel, several video arcades, chain restaurants, an indoor waterpark, a casino... the list goes on. During the day, screaming children run around through the attractions, during the evening the older crowds emerge to enjoy the numerous themed bars and restaurants. At all hours, the area is overrun with lights, sound, and people - kind of like a mini Times Square and Las Vegas all meshed into a small corner.

Clifton Hill is about a mile away from the Fallsview section of town (wherein are located the major resorts). There are several budget hotels in the Clifton Hill area, but Sheraton on the Falls towers over them. It is certainly the most upscale; mirroring the better Fallsview resorts, but with less of a view of Horseshoe Falls.

If you're making a trek to Niagara Falls, you pretty much won't be able to avoid Clifton Hill - all roads seem to lead right to it.