Photo: Birds hanging out at the Bird Kingdom

I wrote a short article about Niagara Falls after my visit last year, and this year I went back to try a few things that I hadn’t done before, so here is an update to that old article with a few new ideas!

Floral Showhouse (botanical garden)

Admission: $8 CAD

Is it worth it?: Yes, but only if you like plants. This is not the biggest or best botanical garden I’ve been to, but for just $8, it’s probably the cheapest attraction in Niagara Falls and is a decent way to spend half an hour if you enjoy looking at plants. 

The area around the showhouse and the entrance of the showhouse itself are both nice and are free to enjoy if you don’t want to pay to enter the main greenhouse area. You can see plenty of plants, water fountains, and even turtles in these areas. If you pay the $8 admission fee, you will also be able to enter the two main greenhouses (one featuring tropical plants and the other featuring a floral display that changes from time to time) as well as an outdoor area behind the greenhouses, where you can see large figures (like a huge fish and a dragon) that have thousands of plants growing out of them. 

Unfortunately, when I visited recently, both the floral display (in the second greenhouse) and the figures in the back area were in the process of being planted, so I wasn’t able to really enjoy them. Visiting later in the season (perhaps in July), when everything is in bloom, would certainly be a better experience.

Power Station (at night)

Admission: $32 CAD

Is it worth it?: Yes, especially if you’re prepared (I wasn’t! I’ll explain more below). This huge, old power generating station is a very impressive example of engineering and architecture, and inside you can see the old machines that were used to generate hydroelectric power and learn about how they worked. At night, the interior of the power station is lit up with a semi-interactive projection show, which is especially fun for kids. After seeing the show and checking the machinery and lounge/gift shop, you can take the elevator waaay down to The Tunnel.

The Tunnel is a massive underground walkway which features information about the history of the structure and is colourfully illuminated at night. Even in the summer, it is damp and cool in the tunnel, so it can be a nice way to cool down on hot days, but be sure to bring a warm sweater or jacket if you go there at night! 

At the end of The Tunnel, there is an observation deck that is very close to Niagara Falls itself, which means that you will be sprayed by mist and get quite wet if you stand there. They offer light, plastic rain jackets, but it might be better to bring your own (and wear sandals or shoes that won’t get wet easily - my shoes got soaked!). From this area, you can see the falls illuminated with different colours at night and you might even catch the fireworks at 10 pm (though I think there are better places to see them from).  

Bird Kingdom

Admission: $23 CAD ($21 CAD online)

Is it worth it?: Absolutely! This was the highlight of our trip this time and probably the coolest thing I’ve seen in Niagara Falls so far! When purchasing your ticket, you can also pay an extra $5 to have a bird-feeding experience (if you don’t mind getting a bit closer to some of the birds).

At this attraction, located in an old museum, you follow the story of an adventurer who disappeared while seeking a lost bird kingdom. You proceed through three floors of exhibits, seeing various animals along the way (lizards, snakes, spiders, bats, and lots of birds), before finally reaching a huge open area where the birds are completely free to fly and walk around. It truly looks like a scene from an Indiana Jones movie, like you have discovered the hidden and magical Bird Kingdom! It’s hard to describe in words, but it’s a really cool place and I have never seen anything like it before. There’s even a small waterfall and a carved wooden building from the island of Java inside of this area!

If you’re afraid of birds, though, this could be a terrifying experience! The birds come very close to you and may even land on you. They could also fly overhead and poop on you. Also, in the large, open area, the birds squawk and sing quite loudly, which can be a little intimidating, especially for young children. They may also bite you if you try to touch them. However, if you like animals and you want to get up close (with no fence or glass in the way), then this could be an amazing experience, like it was for me!

*Admission prices are for adult tickets in Canadian dollars before tax.