I Went to Niagara Falls and Hated it!

The idea of visiting Niagara Falls filled me full of hope and wonder what the falls would be like however I left feeling somewhat disappointed and underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, the falls are beautiful and up close the falls are incredibly powerful and I learned that the 1/5th of worlds fresh water goes over these falls everyday. It also begged the question, how did anyone ever survive going over the falls in a barrel?

4 shot hand held pano, stitched in Photoshop

What was disapointing is how the falls have been commercialised and quite frankly ruined by the number of Casinos, Starbucks and the cheap theme park atmosphere that has flourished.

I understand that there needs to be a requirement for hotels and resturants etc but after counting seven Starbucks within a square kilometre resulted in the conclusion that Niagara Falls had been turned into a tourist trap.

Mid morning, when it was the most quietest

The sheer number of mirror mazes, haunted houses and cheap thrills has detracted from the brilliance and awe inspiring power of Niagara Falls.

Just after Sunset

Maybe I was expecting to much, maybe I should have lowered my expectations because I certainly didn’t expect a cheap theme park atmosphere aimed at young people (Canada’s legal drinking age is 19) and as I left I wondered if the other 7 wonders of the world had been ruined by commercial gain.

Upside Down House……..Why?

Would I go again, No, not a hope, and for these reaosns. The distance from a major East Coast Australian airport to Niagara Falls is just shy of 17000 kilometres (one way) and several very long haul flights however the main reason is that Niagara Falls leaves you with an overall feeling of being nothing more than a cheap theme park which just happens to have a waterfall steeped in history and is the 8th wonder of the world.

Happy Shooting