Fallsview Water Park is a leader when it comes to wet and wild family fun. We have plenty to offer families looking to let loose in Niagara Falls. Our fast and furious slides can boast some of the most exhilarating excitement around, but when you want to take it easy while the kids burn through their energy, you need some simpler entertainment to keep both them and you occupied. Here’s more info on our fabulous pools and play areas perfect for your family’s days in the park.

Beach House Play Area

This area of the park is a veritable wonderland for kids looking for an interactive adventure. Designed like a jungle gym, this area has eight slides of different heights and curvature to thrill even the littlest ones in your group. Plus, kids can while away the hours climbing up and down stairs and rope ladders and soaking each other with the thousand-gallon tipping bucket.

Jungle Beach Playland

If you have a kid who isn’t too keen on getting wet, or if your brood needs a break to dry out for a while, challenge them to climb to the top of this play structure. Kids will be able to explore the jungle as they make their way all the way to the top to get an amazing view of the bustling activity below in all of the different regions of the park.

Tiny Tots Splash Park

If you have smaller kids, you want to be sure they won’t be trampled by older kids or get lost among adults. This play area is designed with the young ones in mind. There are water streams that are guaranteed to amuse a toddler’s mind, and mushroom water pods to keep a tot entertained for hours. Plus, there are small slides so little ones won’t feel left out of the bigger thrills.

Fallsview Beach

You can kick back and relax at the beach any time of year at our water park. With plenty of lounge chairs, plus tropical palm trees, you can sip on your cocktail from the Planet Hollywood Beach Club and finally enjoy your vacation while your kids run amuck in the rest of the park.

Horseshoe Hot Springs

Feel the stress melt away as warm jets of water pound your muscles into sinfully sweet oblivion. These hot springs are for adults only, which means anyone under 16 must keep their distance. You can finally get some time with fellow adults, or else some time just for you.

Sunnyside Patio and Pool

We know we’re known as the country’s best indoor water park, but this outside pool promises everything we deliver inside. The pool and patio are open year-round with heaters used in winter months to keep temperatures comfortable for swimming. You can get your daily dose of vitamin D and fresh air while you lounge in this area.

The Tidal Wave Pool

This enormous wave pool might not be as relaxing as the others, but what it lacks in tranquility, it makes up for in fun. With three- to four-foot waves rolling around you every few minutes, you’ll feel like you’re at the beach — in the middle of Canada.

If you live someplace cold, or hot, or dry, or even wet, you probably enjoy a good waterpark. What’s not to love about a day in the sun splashing around beautiful pools and riding the waves down tall and curving slides? While waterparks everywhere definitely have their allure, there are some around the world that put in the effort and clearly rise above the rest. Here’s our list of the world’s best waterparks.

Fallsview Indoor Waterpark in Niagara Falls

Of course we think our park is better than the rest — it’s hard not to be biased — but there are plenty of real, objective reasons why Fallsview is a great waterpark destination. The fact that our park is indoors means we never close due to weather or temperatures, so you can access world-class wet and wild fun any time of year. Our indoor climate is perfectly controlled to make the air and water in the park the ideal temperature for all-day fun, and unless you venture out onto the patio to swim in the Sunnyside pool, you don’t risk sunburn. Plus, we have tons of unparalleled attractions in the park, including racing slides and a thousand-gallon tipping bucket to get your whole family drenched. Rated as Canada’s best waterpark, Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is one you just can’t miss.

Aquaventure Waterpark in Dubai

Just completed in 2013, this park has broken plenty of records. With the widest slide, the longest river, and the longest zip line in all of the Middle East, Aquaventure probably sees plenty of travelers dumbfounded by the sheer size of the park. Other attractions include a handful of slides and water coasters as well as a nearly 3,000-foot-long private beach. Plus, if you want to take a break from splashing around with other people, the park has a small aquarium where you can hand-feed and play with rays.

Area 47 in Innsbruck

Chilly and mountainous Austria is probably the last place you’d think to have a world-class waterpark, but this outdoor park definitely has some impressive features. Constructed around and in a lake in the Alps, the scenery of this park is hard to beat. In the lake, visitors can ride the hydro-speed slide or jump off a tall diving platform, among other water attractions and rides. Next to the lake, there are even more opportunities for fun on dry land, like a high-ropes course and a climbing wall. But, if you want to visit, schedule a trip between April and September; the park doesn’t hold up well in snowy Austrian winters.

Siam Park in Tenerife

When you think of Thai waterparks, your mind should probably shoot to Thailand itself; however, you’d be missing out on this gem located right in the middle of Tenerife, Spain. Siam Park is filled with Thai themes, especially in its decor and food, which gives the park and interesting edge. Still, what brings people coming back is the 91-foot-tall slide appropriately named the Tower of Power, which sees riders down a perfectly vertical drop before shooting them through an aquarium filled with sharks and rays.

Sometimes the National Lampoons get it right — nothing’s better for a family vacation than a good, old-fashioned road trip. You can spend some quality time getting to know your own flesh and blood; you can teach your kids about the country they live in with the actual sights and sounds; and you can avoid the long lines and tantrums that come with air travel.

Taking a road trip or renting a car is often much more budget-friendly than trying to fly someplace and get around, and you won’t have to worry about losing your luggage. If you want to experience some of what North America has to offer, set your sights on any of these North American road trips — you’ll have access not only to one amazing destination like Niagara Falls, but several.

Michigan, Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio

This route is a giant circle and perfect for anyone starting out around the Great Lakes. You and the family will get a great glimpse of a handful of the Great Lakes, depending on where exactly you start, and you’ll go right through America’s historic city of Detroit. Next you’ll travel through the scenic Canadian countryside and enter the beautiful Niagara region. In Niagara Falls, you’ll be able to get everyone out of the car to watch the falls or a few hours to play at one of the continent’s best indoor water parks.

When you journey back into the U.S., you can choose how deep into New York you’d like to travel, depending on how long you want your trip to be. You should definitely experience the outdoors in the Finger Lakes area, and if you have the time, the kids would love to stretch their legs in Saratoga Springs or the south edge of the Adirondacks.

Through Pennsylvania you’ll get the opportunity to see deep Amish country as well as plenty of the cities crucial to America’s creation, like Pittsburg. Then finally, in Ohio you have some fun museums, like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Southern Ontario

If you’ve never seen much of Canada, a road trip is the perfect opportunity to get a heaping serving. Ontario is beautiful country full of vineyards and lush greenery, and there are plenty of opportunities to stop and learn about your surroundings.

It doesn’t matter exactly where you start with this one — for a short trip, you can start in Peterborough, and to make it longer you can go all the way up to Ottawa. Traveling south and west, you’ll go through delightful scenery and tons of educational opportunities, like the Heinz Factory and Fort Eerie, as well as countless stunning parks and gardens.

On your way, you’ll pass through Niagara Falls, where you can stretch your sea legs on the Maid of the Mist or take a couple days to explore the city’s various attractions. At the potential end of your tour, you’ll see Toronto, Canada’s largest city in the east.

Niagara Falls is undeniably all about the water. If it weren’t for the 3,160 tons of water rushing over the falls every second, Niagara wouldn’t be the must-see destination it is today. Every Niagara Falls vacation needs a little water, especially if you have kids along who would benefit from some hands-on interaction with that tiny molecule that makes Niagara so special. Here’s a short list of the best wet activities for you and your family during your trip to Niagara Falls.

Feel the Falls up Close

Sure, Niagara is beautiful from a distance, but there’s nothing like getting up-close and personal with the falls and feeling the mist and spray on your skin. Plenty of tour groups can get you a great look at the falls, but only a handful will bring you right up next to them.

Maid of the Mist is the most famous and reliable tour boat that takes travelers to the base of the falls. Though they’ll provide you a plastic poncho to protect you from most of the falls’ water, it is advisable to wear waterproof shoes or at least a pair that you don’t mind getting quite soaked. Note that any loose technology could get a little drenched as well — waterproof your cameras, or keep them safely tucked away in bags or back at the hotel.

The Journey Behind the Falls is another great way to see the falls from a new (and moist) perspective. You’ll take an elevator and stairway down 150 feet from Table Rock through bedrock to the base of Horseshoe Falls and take a walk along a tunnel to see the falls like never before. Like the Maid of the Mist, you’ll wear a waterproof poncho, but you should come prepared to get a little damp.

Make Time for Play

After a couple days of sightseeing, it’s definitely nice to have a day devoted to play. Niagara’s best indoor water park provides attractions of all stripes for families of all shapes and sizes.

If you prefer to test your fears, try some of the death-defying slides. If you like a relaxing dip, try one of the wave or floating pools. If you love to splash around in a giant jungle gym, there’s plenty to choose from. As long as you plan to get a little (or quite a bit) wet, there’s something for you to do here.

Learn a Little, Too

One of the lesser-known attractions in Niagara Falls, Niagara’s Fury teaches travelers just how Niagara Falls was created so many millennia ago. This thrilling show puts poncho’d participants on a stage surrounded by screens and ominous-looking fans and rain-makers. You’ll be blown by the extreme winds carrying rain and snow; you’ll feel the shifting temperatures of the region as the landscape changes around you. Not only does this attraction put you right in the middle of the action — getting you just as soaked as the falls themselves — but it also lets you learn a little more about how the region came to be.

Anyone who has ever traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and ridden the “Jungle Cruise” attraction is probably familiar with the joke that many captains tell, in which they promise to show cruisers what the “back side of water looks like.” The joke, of course, is that the boat travels under a cascade, allowing you to view the falls from both sides.

All joking aside, it is possible to the see the other side of a far more impressive waterfall in Niagara Falls. While most people are content to experience the thundering waters from a cruise like Hornblower Cruises, or to view the falls from the comfort of their hotel, experiencing the falls on land from just a few feet behind them is an experience unlike any other. There are several ways to get this unique view of the Niagara Falls.

Journey Behind the Falls Tour

The Journey Behind the Falls tour takes you behind Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the river at Table Rock. On this tour, you’ll take an elevator down 150 feet through bedrock tunnels, and then traverse another tunnel to the two observation decks. Each deck is located just a few feet from the water, which flow past at an astounding rate of nearly 2,800 cubic meters per minute at a rate of 65 kilometers per hour.

Niagara’s Fury

While not an outdoor attraction behind the real falls, Niagara’s Fury is a 4-D, theme-park style attraction that provides a unique look at the creation of Niagara Falls. This experience allows you feel what it was like when the falls were created, from the cold temperatures to the pounding rains and ever-present mist. The floor moves, the wind blows and you’ll feel as if you’re really at the water’s edge — even though you are safely indoors. You can purchase a combination ticket for Niagara’s Fury and the Journey Behind the Falls tour.

Cave of the Winds Tour

Located on the American side of the falls, the Cave of the Winds Tour take visitors behind Bridal Veil Falls, the smallest of the three waterfalls that comprise Niagara Falls. Like the Journey Behind the Falls tour, Cave of the Winds begins with an elevator ride, this one 175 feet down into the gorge. From there, you can traverse a set of wooden walkways along the edge of the river (which are dismantled every fall and then rebuilt into the bedrock each spring to ensure safety) as the water rushes past. The final stop on the tour is the Hurricane Deck, where it feels like hurricane conditions all the time.

All of the “behind the scenes” tours of Niagara Falls provide rain ponchos for guests; the Cave of the Winds tour includes a pair of specially designed safety sandals as well. Still, consider bringing a change of clothing, and carry a waterproof camera or protective gear to prevent damage to your expensive photography equipment. Each experience takes about 45 minutes to an hour, but the impressive views and opportunity to experience the falls from a different perspective make it time well spent.

A family vacation is often a great thing. You can finally take the whole crew out of your regular cramped space and participate in new experiences as a loving team. However, if you’ve already been on a vacation with your young ones, you know full well that not everything goes as perfectly as planned. Niagara has plenty of attractions well-suited for families of all shapes and sizes, but when you’re on vacation, it can be tricky to figure out how exactly you’re going to get to all of them on schedule and on budget. Here are some of the more popular ways to get around Niagara when you’re bringing along your kids.

Guided Niagara Tours

If you’re looking to see all Niagara has to offer, you might look into some of the many organized tour groups that guide travelers around Niagara’s most important sights. You’ll probably get some insider information that you’d miss otherwise, including access to the best viewing spots for the falls or backstage tours of the most popular attractions.

There are many different kinds of tours, and you should select the one that fits your family best. If your children are especially small, car or bus tours would be most effective at conveying your group from one place to another. Alternatively, if you have slightly older kids, a bike or Segway tour might be a great way to see the city and sights.

Public Transit System

Niagara has just recently completely revamped its public transportation to make the bus system even more accessible and useful to travelers and natives alike. The new WEGO buses replaced two of the old transit systems and work to move Niagara’s visitors to the best places to see. To get a taste of where you can get to with WEGO buses, here’s a list of the different routes to some family-friendly attractions:

• Red Line. Niagara Falls History Museum, Queen Victoria Park, Skylon Tower.
• Blue Line. Marine Land, Maid of the Mist, Fallsview Indoor Water Park.
• Purple Line. Niagara Falls Aviary, downtown shopping.
• Green Line. Butterfly Conservatory, great views along the river.

There are other transit systems intended for Niagara natives to get around the city that might be useful to your family, depending on your intended activities. Niagara Falls Transit and Niagara Regional Transit both offer reasonable fares for adults ($2.50 and $6.00 respectively) and children ($1.25 for 6-12-year-olds and free under 6 years) and have routes to basically anywhere in the city and surrounding areas. Additionally, GO buses are the transit system for the greater Toronto area, so if you are hoping to experience Canada outside of the falls, you might want to hop on a GO bus into the largest nearby city.

The Rails

For a more scenic and sentimental commuting experience, you can try riding the VIA Rail and Amtrak trains into and around the Niagara Falls region. If you live in the Northeast, you may be able to find a good deal on tickets, which will allow you to see more of the countryside than if you choose to fly in.

Niagara Falls isn’t just for lovers. The whole family can have a great time getting up close and personal with the falls on Maid of the Mist boat tours and boardwalk tours like the Whitewater Walk or the Cave of the Winds in New York. Bringing the kids to Niagara Falls is a great way to instill a love of nature from an early age.

You’ll find family-friendly Niagara Falls attractions all over town. Whether your kids like animals, dinosaurs or crafts — or all three — there’s more than enough to keep them occupied. Book a hotel room this summer and receive free family passes to some of the area’s finest attractions.

Bird Kingdom

Bird Kingdom is open year round, so no matter when you visit Niagara Falls, you can take the kids here to see hundreds of birds as you won’t get to see them in many zoos, flying around happily within their enclosure. The world’s largest free-flying indoor aviary and home to over 400 birds, this multi-level rainforest habitat has won the Niagara Falls “Attraction of the Year” Award four times. Give the kids, and you, a chance to see 80 species of gorgeous tropical birds, many of which are threatened or endangered in the wild.

Crock A Doodle Niagara

The whole family can get their hands on some creative fun at this pottery-painting studio located in Falls Avenue Resort next to the Hershey Store. At Crock A Doodle Niagara, you and the kids can choose from a wide selection of ready-to-paint pottery and ceramics. Once painted, your pieces will be glazed and kiln-fired overnight, ready for you to pick them up the next day. Your pottery pieces will be colorful, safe to eat from and long-lasting. This is a low-key, relaxing way to bond with the kids and spend some time together as a family.

Dinosaur Adventure Golf

Dinosaur Adventure Golf is just one of many family-friendly attractions on Clifton Hills in Niagara Falls. If your kids (or you) are obsessed with all things dino, a trip to Dinosaur Adventure Golf could be one of their fondest childhood memories. This 36-hole course is Canada’s largest mini golf course. Play your way through the interior of a 50-foot volcano that really erupts — don’t worry, it’s only steam, not actual hot lava! Your kids will shriek with delight at the 50 life-sized, realistic dinosaurs roaming this 70,000 square foot mini golf course.

If your kids don’t like dinosaurs, don’t worry. You can take them to Wizard’s Golf instead, an 18-hole glow-in-the-dark mini golf course decorated with wizards, dragons and trolls. With its climate-controlled environment, Wizard’s Golf is a great entertainment option if foul weather rears its ugly head on your family vacation.

Niagara Falls offers plenty of wholesome fun for the whole family. Take the kids to Crock A Doodle Niagara to decorate some personalized crockery, or show them some of the world’s most exotic birds at Bird Kingdom. You can even pretend to be the Flintstone family at Dinosaur Adventure Golf. But really, with so much to choose from, the sky is literally the limit.

Toucan image by Gary J. Wood from Wikimedia Commons

There’s plenty for everyone at Fallsview Indoor Waterpark. Kids of all ages — we’re looking at you, too, parents — will find pools, play areas and slides to suit their varied fancies. However, in almost every family, there’s one member who can’t enjoy a vacation without something to jumpstart their adrenaline. Fallsview Waterpark definitely has activities for those travelers who enjoy their feet firmly on the ground, but for those others who feel most at home slipping and sliding at terrifying speeds, here are the three best slides in the park for you.

Toob Tower

You know you love it when your heart is racing, but you also like a variety of choices in your danger; Toob Tower is perfect for you. With four different non-stop slides and the opportunity to slide solo or with a buddy, this slide allows you to pick your poison when you get to the top of the tower.
All four slides provide non-stop sliding from the ceiling to the floor of the indoor park. You’ll need to hold on tight to your tube; there are plenty of twists and turns that could see you scrambling. You do need to be at least 42 inches high to ride these slides to be sure that you’ll be absolutely safe.

Extreme Racing Slide

Hopefully you aren’t the only adrenaline junkie in your party, because this next slide is best enjoyed with a friend. This attraction features side-by-side, identical slides that allow you and a partner to race to the bottom. You and your partner get a choice between pairs slides: Thunder and Kamakazi or Sky Screamer and Drop Canyon. The nail-bitingly steep incline of the first pair of slides lets you reach intense speeds perfect for the excitement-seekers in your group, but the second pair boast twists and turns for those racers who love Formula One.

You’ll probably find yourself in line again and again for this slide in an attempt to perfect your technique for your next race. Here’s a pro’s tip: Keep your head back and your toes pointed to make your body as aerodynamic as possible. Because you’ll be riding a mat, you’ll need to be a little taller to ride these slides — higher than 48 inches.

The Canadian Plunge

This slide is far and away the most exhilarating of Fallsview’s attraction options. Unlike any of the other slides in the park, the Canadian Plunge is a giant centrifuge, meaning it tosses and turns you around a giant bowl. You’ll push off from the top and slide right up to the rim of the bowl, then speed around and around the bowl until you fall through a funnel into a pool below. You’ll be spinning in your raft and around the bowl so fast you won’t have time to be dizzy, but you will end up with a quicker pulse than when you started. Ride alone or with a friend, but make sure you’re at least 42 inches tall or you won’t be able to experience the thrill.

Niagara Falls continues to be a popular destination for families of all sizes and ages. With activities like the below it’s no wonder why. Kids can pick and choose from a variety of exciting adventures when not standing in awe of the size and power of the falls that give the city its name.

Butterfly Conservatory

The butterfly conservatory in Niagara Falls is run by the Niagara Parks Commission and rests in the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture. The conservatory was opened in 1996 and operates year-round in spite of the frigid temperatures during the winter. Within the conservatory are over 2,000 butterflies of more than 60 different species.

An interesting note about the conservatory is that it’s kept in balance by the presence of several species of natural predators like quails, turtles, goldfish, toads and beetles. Also, they have no need to feed the butterfly from feeders as the conservatory is populated with nmyriad species of flowers that provide natural food sources.

Greg Frewin Magic Show

Greg Frewin is a world-famous magician that has appeared at venues such as Caesars Palace, the Flamingo Hilton and the Tropicana. He has also made more than 35 TV appearances and is recognized as “The International Grand Champion of Magic.” He placed first in the Olympics of Magic in Yokohama, Japan in 1994.

Fallsview Indoor Water Park

Fallsview Indoor Water Park is a guarantee hit with the kids. Not only will they enjoy themselves fully but they’ll get the opportunity to vent some of that energy that can seem infinite in youth. With 16 slides and seven pools it will be easy to sit back and watch them run and swim excitedly while on vacation. The best part of the place is that it’s within easy walking distance to a number of hotels, museums and other attractions in the area should any parents get some time to themselves.

MarineLand

MarineLand is one of the main tourist destinations in Niagara Falls, Canada. This is largely due to the combination of animal attractions, rides and proximity to other natural attractions. MarineLand has orca whales, dolphins, beluga whales and deer exhibits as well as orca whale performances. It also features many rides that include what was, at its opening, the largest non-stop rollercoaster in the world, Dragon Mountain. It contains two vertical loops and the only bow-tie loop of its kind in the world.

Clifton Hill

For kids a little older, try Clifton Hill. This is a heavily attraction-packed area that boasts pretty much everything: wax museums, rides, games, video arcades, haunted houses, restaurants, mini-golf and IMAX. In combination with the water park, Clifton Hill promises a great two-punch combo to knock a day of the trip out of the park.

Whether your kids are interested in marine life and butterflies or waterslides, magic and amusement parks, Niagara Falls can deliver it. This is why Niagara Falls continues to be a great destination for families and young couples alike. For the young at heart there is surely a little innocent fun to be had.

If you’re visiting Niagara Falls with the kids, you’re almost guaranteed to be pulled in by the touristy area on Clifton Hills near the falls. Here you and the kids can revel in souvenir shops, museums, haunted houses, a huge Ferris wheel — and some lovely family-friendly restaurants.

Many area attractions offer summer package deals that can get you tickets to other attractions in the area or dining credits you can use at restaurants like the Rainforest Cafe or The Flying Saucer Drive-In. Your kids will still be talking about these fun restaurants even after you’ve been home for weeks.

The Flying Saucer Drive-In

The Flying Saucer Drive-In offers a truly otherworldly experience just minutes away from the falls. Eat your delicious, affordable meal in a “real” spaceship. The Flying Saucer Drive-In stays open late, too, so if you’re looking for a bite to eat after a long day of sightseeing, look no further. If you’re in the mood for an award-winning breakfast, you’ll find familiar favorites and new creations side-by-side on the menu here, with early bird specials available until 10:00 a.m.

Rainforest Cafe

The Rainforest Cafe is more than just a restaurant — it’s an interactive experience that teaches kids about the rainforest and its animals. Kids at the Rainforest Cafe can come face-to-face with animals like the red foot tortoise and the white-lipped python. Animal encounters are supervised by experts, who teach the children fascinating facts about each of the creatures.

When not involved in an encounter, the animals are displayed at the entrance to the restaurant. Here you’ll also find a 5,500-gallon aquarium that’s home to a white-tip reef shark, as well as blue damsels, horse-eyed jacks and other fish. A 750-gallen tropical fish tank displays puffer fish, angel fish, wrasse fish, tangs and other species.

Zappi’s Pizza

A favorite with the locals since 1971, Zappi’s Pizza offers a great selection of reasonably-priced, tasty food. If you’re looking for a laid-back, hassle-free dining experience with the kids, choose Zappi’s. Here you can order family-size meals or order individual meals from the menu. Is one of your kids having a birthday? Celebrate with a build-your-own pizza birthday party package. Let your birthday boy or girl build his or her own pizza, while wearing his or her own personal chef’s hat! Spaghetti and meatballs or pizza cupcakes are included with the package.

If you’re visiting Niagara Falls with the kids, you’ll find there’s plenty to keep them entertained. After a long day taking in the raw power and majestic beauty of the falls, you may want to perk the kids up with a dining. On the other hand, if you’ve spent the day traipsing up and down Clifton Hills, playing mini golf, painting pottery at Crock A Doodle Niagara and souvenir shopping, you may want to wind down with a subdued meal at a down-to-earth, family-friendly establishment. No matter what you’re in the mood for, you can find it — for the whole family — at Niagara Falls.