We Went To Niagara Falls On July 4th

Last updated on 6 July 2024

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Was visiting Niagara Falls on July 4th worth it?

In the hot summer of 2010, a trip to Niagara Falls was on the cards while we headed from America into Canada to visit family. Being the New Zealand tourists that we were, we needed to stop in Niagara Falls and check them out. But we made one grave error: we went to Niagara Falls on July 4th.

As you can probably imagine, it was busy. And I’m not talking Boxing Sale sales busy, or even Black Friday sales. I’m talking, ‘I’ve never seen more people in one place ever’ busy. And we weren’t even on the American side of the falls.

We spent just two nights in Niagara Falls, one of them happened to be July 4th. A mistake we won’t be making again. But more on that shortly. The few days we were there was a lot of fun, and while it was a short visit, I don’t think you need any longer.

Getting to Niagara Falls

You can get to Niagara Falls from the town of Buffalo in New York State, USA. You can either drive, bus or train across to the border check on the other side of the Niagara River.

The summer of 2010 saw my family and I head to Chicago from New Zealand to visit family, so we were going to Niagara Falls, Canada, from America. We made a long overnight train trip from Chicago to Buffalo.

Note for taking the overnight train ride in summer: It got quite cold at night, and we were not prepared.

When we got to Canada, we were shuffled off our bus but then had to sit outside in the blazing sun without water for several hours before we were allowed into the customs office. There was some hold up inside, so it was a pretty rough introduction into the country.

When we eventually were let into Canada, we found our accommodation (an incredibly quirky BnB a few streets out from the main town), and then wandered into the main shops and attractions. The whole of the world seemed to be there.

Niagara Falls, Canada, township

While the town of Niagara Falls is full of tourist attractions and, to be completely frank, a lot of tacky stores and shops, it was fun to walk through on the way to the waterfront. Due to the sheer number of people there, we didn’t actually visit any of the shops or attractions in the town, but headed to the waterfront almost immediately and spent our time trying to avoid the crowds (easier said than done on July 4th).

Niagara Falls on July 4th

The evening of July 4th, we all gathered (‘we’ being the entire town and all the tourists) at the falls and watched 13 minutes worth of constant fireworks shoot over the cascading waters. Needless to say, it was incredible, and they sure know how to put on a show.

As a New Zealander, it was a really interesting experience being in North America during July 4th, Independence Day. We have our own national day here in NZ, Waitangi Day, to commemorate the first signing of New Zealand’s founding document: Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi, which was signed in 1840.

It’s a day of rest and remembering the Treaty being signed, and recognising how far we still have to go as a nation. We get together with friends and family on our day off and have BBQs, or head to the beach. Some head to Waitangi for a service, some stay home and just take a well-needed rest. While it has its similarities to July 4th, we don’t go all out as America does.

To be in North America for the 4th of July was an experience!

And it was actually really amazing to see the ways that different countries around the world celebrate their national days. The fireworks, the sales, the flags, the everything-is-red-white-and-blue vibes … it was a lot of fun to experience. While we were on the Canadian side of the falls, the hype around July 4th was still very much there, and the fireworks display was just even grander than I was expecting.

The following day, we got a ticket for a bus tour up and down the river and hopped off now and then to check out some of the sights and attractions.

If you have limited time in a city, then jumping on a Hop-On Hop-Off bus is a great way to see the main sights of a new place. They’re great for hitting up the popular spots, and if you’re the type of tourist who loves heading to the places that fill people’s bucket lists, then a Hop-On Hop-Off bus is a great option for you. If you’d prefer to explore on your own, that’s totally fine! Have at it!

As we were there for a very limited time, making use of the bus which run up and down the river was a really good use of our time, and we saw things that we wouldn’t have if we hadn’t made that call.

Things to do in Niagara Falls, Canada

Maid of the Mist

The Maid of the Mist boat trip has you and a large group of others donning blue plastic ponchos and heading out onto the river, right up to the falls.

While it’s a little gimmicky, I have to say it was one of the highlights for me from our time in Niagara Falls. The sheer amount of water that cascades down the falls (2.8 million litres per second!!) is absolutely insane! And to be that close to that much water is both terrifying and invigorating. What a stunning piece of Mother Nature. And just a bit bigger than Multnomah Falls in Oregon. Just a bit. 😆

Note: If you’re going to take the Maid of the Mist, just be aware that they pack the boats quite tightly if you’re there at a popular tourist season. There’s not a lot of wriggle room when you get on if you’re there at peak times.

The Botanical Gardens at Niagara Falls

The Botanical Gardens are really beautiful, and something worth checking out if you want to get away from all the fall-staring crowds. There are over 40 hectares of beautiful sweeping gardens and landscapes, with walking trails through the park and an arboretum. There’s a herb garden too, and the rose garden has over 2,400 roses!

If you’re one for butterflies, there’s a Butterfly Conservatory too, and the Whirlpool Golf Course, if that’s more your thing.

Is the American or Canadian side of Niagara Falls better?

While there’s a bit of a debate as to which side of the falls is better, I think the Canadian side is definitely better for photos, as you see the whole panorama of the falls.

Another advantage of seeing the falls from the Canadian side is that at night they shine coloured floodlights onto the falls, and it’s incredibly beautiful. Because we were there on July 4th, red, white and blue lights were displayed.

Having said that, I didn’t spend much time on the American side, so if you can, check out both and decide for yourself.

A short visit to Niagara Falls, despite the crowds and Vegas-like atmosphere, is well worth a trip. It’s an incredible force of nature, beautiful and terrifying all at once. Of course, there are many more things to do in Niagara Falls on July 4th, or indeed any time of year, but there are a few of the things we did to get you started.

Just avoid being there during really busy seasons. Like July 4th. Lesson learned.

Have you been to Niagara Falls? Ever been on July 4th? Let me know in the comments