If you’re planning on going on a  Niagara Falls tour on either side of the river then you really should check out the view from the deck of one of the Maid of the Mist 80 foot, 600 passenger, 350 horsepower tour boats that depart every fifteen minutes and take passengers clad in raincoats to the very foot of the massive falls. Generally included as part of any Niagara Falls tour package, the Maid of the Mist is North America’s oldest tourist attraction, beginning their tours back in 1846.

The main entrance to the Maid of the Mist docks is located at 5920 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada and is open from late April or early may until October 24th. They also pick up on the US side at the entrance to the NY State Falls Observation Tower. The tour itself goes past the foot of the American falls and then goes into the basin of the awe inspiring Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Prices for the ride are under $15.00 on both sides of the border and you get to keep the souvenir raincoat they provide you with. All proceeds go to the preservation of the nature and heritage of Niagara Falls, which operates without any tax dollars or assistance from either the US or Canadian Governments. 

A Niagara Falls tour is an unforgettable experience for adults and children alike. From the deck of the Maid VI or Maid VII you can look up and truly appreciate the scope of this powerful creation of Nature that men have attempted to conquer since they first discovered it. The thought of the number of manned barrels that went over the side to come crashing down in the basin is mind boggling. Why would anyone subject themselves to that? The Falls at their highest point are 54 meters (177 feet) tall and stretch nearly 328 meters (1075 feet) across on the American side and and 675 meters (2200 feet) on the Canadian side. 168,000 cubic meters of water flow over the crest into a basin below that is 56 meters (184 feet) deep.

Would you voluntarily put yourself in a barrel and get dropped over the side of such a monstrosity? The good news is you don’t have to. The Maid of the Mist will take you out on the water and you can stand below the Falls and experience the power (and soaking) that any barrel rider might encounter. You won’t face any risk at all, you can take pictures, and you can go shopping when you get back to dry land at Maid of the Mist Plaza. If you’re booking a Niagara Falls tour with your travel agency make sure they include this as part of your itinerary. You won’t regret it.