Has anyone ever walked across the rainbow bridge at Niagara falls? If so is it worth it? What is there to see on the american Side? If anything?

I have. It is absolutely worth it in the summer.

There is the Cave of the Winds, a tunnel system that leads to the rocks at the bottom of the falls. You can walk out on the rocks and stand in a raincoat and get lightly splashed or you can cast your raincoat aside and stand under the full blast of the falls clinging to each other and delighting in her warmth through the thin, er, well never mind. The Cave is in a nice park, beyond that Niagara Falls NY is pretty rough but the park's far enough for walking. Lots of great views from the bridge and from various look outs in the park.

In the winter I wouldn't bother.


http://www.niagarafallslive.com/cave_of_the_winds.htm

Better to drive. US immigration are inherrently suspcious of anyone without a car, and when we tried the queue for the temporary green card was long and the office not air conditioned, plus back then it was US cash only.

Its a trek of sorts to the US park by foot I would think, but the park itself is very nice, and theboardwalk in the summer around the base of american falls is pretty cool.

NF NY itself is a dump though.

I don't think it's far from the bridge to the elevator but for those who do find it too much there's a trolley service.

HB and I tried this on our first visit to Ontario in summer 2001. When we got to the US side the border guards told HB he had to pay $6 to be allowed in to the US (as a Canadian, I could get in for free). Has anyone else had this happen, and if so, what is the $6 for? We offered to pay $6 Canadian, but they would only accept US money so we walked back to Canada.

$6USD is for a 90 day visa for non Canadians and non Americans. If you enter by air it is effectively in your air ticket but by land you have to pay..and remember to give up the visa within the 90 days to a Canadian or US immigration official

We have done this twice in the summer and winter and have had no trouble walking over worth every cent. We also walked/took the bus around Goat Island winter was the best time for this snow covering the ground very pretty.
The only trouble we had was the mother in-law, they couldn't get a finger print. She said this was because she has worked so hard all her life, I have heard that cauldrons burn off finger prints.

LOL, The same thing happened to my Father in Law, LOL I thought it a little strange too! :scared:

As I live in Niagara Falls, Ontario, I can't for the life of me wonder why anyone would want to walk over to NF, NY. There are lots of other bridges to walk if you like to walk on bridges. Perhaps if a large earth moving machine razed the city to the ground so they could start over, what might be then new might be worth seeing. However, the best views, the best attractions and the safer streets etc are on the Canadian side and you don't have to be finger printed for your trouble. There is a tunnel behind the Canadian falls you can go in and you can go down to the base of the falls too. Why bother doing it from the other side?

Because it's cheaper and wetter and walking across the bridge affords a very good view. My Niagara Falls tour consists of the Maid of the Mist, walking along the road in Canada, the Cave of the Winds, and that's that, all else is a rip off.

If you had told me you were coming, you could have come over for a nice supper. I am not advocating holidays in Niagara Falls, Ontario, just that the US side is not as nice. There are other things to do here other than those that you mentioned. If you sit on the sofa in our front room, one of the kids will jump on the cushions next to you. Its not quite a roller coaster, but it is fun.

Thank you. Should I need bouncing in Niagara I shall certainly be in touch.

We walked the rainbow brige on our honeymoon, the american side is sooo peaceful and tranquil after the hustle and bustle of the Canadian falls, also the queues for the maid in the mists were shorter and the boats were not so crowded and the cave thingy was cool too, we would have found it useful to have some american dollars although it wasn't really needed. Would cross the bridge again!