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Get Away This Fall -To Niagara Falls and Western NY

posted by Teresa Farrell at 2022-09-30 20:31:00

The foliage may be letting go, but the fall weather is still here, and it’s a perfect time to visit Western New York’s Niagara Region, where you’ll find a perfect mix of things to see and do as the seasons begin to change.

 
First up, of course, is Niagara Falls. It’s well worth the trip to experience the beauty of the falls in any time of year—after all, it’s still one of the seven natural wonders of the world. On the American side, Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the country, is a 400-acre park home not to the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.


Some attractions are seasonal—the Maid of the Mist boat tour, for example, runs its last trip for the year on November 6—but other year-round attractions, like the Cave of the Winds tour, the observation tower overlooking the fall, and hiking trails through the gorge, sweeten the deal. Take a visit to the nearby Aquarium of Niagara to see to sharks, penguins, sea lions, seahorses, and plenty of other marine life. Shows, interactive events like feedings, and the opportunity to observe various types of marine life in their tanks make this a stop to remember for kids and adults alike.

 
Nearby, you can continue exploring history with a stop at Old Fort Niagara, open Wednesdays through Sundays through the end of December (hours shorten to Friday-Sunday only from January through March and are extended in the spring and summer).  Old Fort Niagara is a National Historic Landmark; it’s the oldest continually occupied military site in North America and home to the oldest buildings on the Great Lakes, and served as a strategic base for three countries--France, Great Britain and the United States--over the course of the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812.


Today, the fort is open to the public and offers an immersive experience to delight history fans of all ages. Interpreters dressed in old-time clothing offer demonstrations of tasks like churning butter, blacksmithing, and more. Take a guided tour of the grounds and buildings and you’ll get a chance to look at an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits that highlight the history and archeological aspects of the site. The fort also has a visitor’s center with exhibits, artifacts and a short film to give you some background on the history.  

 
As the sun goes down, enjoy a fantastic light display that illuminates the falls in a rainbow of colors before wrapping up your day with dinner in town—or maybe heading into nearby Buffalo for some authentic Anchor Bar chicken wings.


The towns of Lockport, Newfane, Olcott, and Medina, with its famous railroad museum, are all located nearby as well, with plenty of shopping, dining and attractions—if you make it a weekend trip, you’ll have plenty to explore as you soak up the essence of fall in Niagara Falls. 

 
PHOTO CREDITS
Falls from bottom photo credit Niagara Falls State Park
Cave of the Winds photo credit Niagara Falls State Park
Old Fort Niagara photo credit Old Fort Niagara
Falls lit up photo credit Niagara Falls State Park

 

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