Lockport, NY Outdoor Activities

The 12-foot-wide vertical wind tunnel at Niagara Freefall Indoor Skydiving & Interactive Center stretches 20 feet to the ceiling. Inside, it churns with currents of recirculating air—a system that allows its operators to control the wind conditions and temperature regardless of outside weather. Padded walls and floors, as well as trained instructors, keep those inside safe as they're borne aloft by currents of up to 120 miles per hour. Instructors prepare adventurers—who may be as young as 7 years old—for these turbulent conditions during preflight training sessions, during which they divulge flight physics, safety, and communication hand signals. They also encase their visitors in all necessary safety gear, such as helmets, pads, flight suits, and invisible force fields.

For all its might, Niagara Falls remains one of the world's youngest geological formations, carved by the melting of glaciers a mere 12,300 years ago. Its thunder power has fascinated humanity for the extent of documented North American history, from the Native Americans who lived in the region to the French priest Louis Hennepin, the first European to behold the cascade. That power also drew early captains of industry, who sought to harness the ferocious rush of liquid with water wheels, an idea so common it threatened to ruin the area's natural beauty. In 1885, some of the earliest ecological crusaders changed history—successfully pressuring the state government into designating the Falls and its surrounding lands as one of the United State's oldest State Parks.

Today, the Park serves as a popular destination for tourists in search of natural wonder, wedding parties and honeymooners seeking an unforgettable backdrop, and coopers seeking to market their barrels as recreational vehicles.

Preparing explorers for jaunts through the waterways and paths of the historic Erie Canal, the staffers of Erie Canal Boat Company outfit visitors with bicycle, kayak, canoe, pontoon, and paddleboat rentals, as well as appropriate supplies. They lead group and private lessons, teaching tender-footed kayakers the basics of safety and stroke skills for recreational, competitive, or impress-your-favorite-seal's-mom kayaking. They also host weekly paddling clubs and races, as well as annual regattas, and stock a variety of gear at their shop to ensure pioneers are suitably appointed for paddling and pedaling excursions.

It's hard for Bayside Boat and Tackle's owner Captain Ken Strimple to imagine a life without fishing. Captain Strimple first pulled sunfish out of his grandfather's pond when he was 4 years old. From this early foundation, he moved on to bigger fish and competed in bass tournaments including the ESPN Northern Tour. Today, Captain Strimple and the team at Bayside Boat and Tackle help new generations connect with nature through fishing and boating on scenic Irondequoit Bay aboard rented pontoon boats, rowboats, and paddleboats. They also supply live bait and tackle to help customers snag a fish for dinner or a tire to replace a recent auto flat. Dedicated anglers can join Bayside's Let's Catch Fish fishing club, whose members enjoy discounted store purchases and boat rentals.

On Performance Paintball’s year-round outdoor field, teams compete in 10-minute rounds of elimination or capture the flag. Clutching Tippmann 98 paintball guns, players stalk and pursue enemies around obstacles—or climb the two-story Tower of Terror for a bird’s-eye view—as they fire gelatin capsules from pressurized air-guns, splattering enemies with water-soluble, biodegradable, nontoxic paint. Customers can arrive alone during open-play hours, or organize teams for a party or event. The outdoor playing field is open year-round, allowing players to compete against both friends and snowmen.