Things to Do in Niagara Falls

A trio of 18-hole miniature-golf courses, more than 60 interactive arcade and ticket-rewarding games, and a teddy-bear factory beckon kids to all of the varied activities at Adventure Landing. Siblings can wager their Monopoly winnings on hitting below par at their choice of lushly landscaped mini-golf greens studded with tunnels and waterfalls, or challenge parents in the arcade. Before fielding slow, medium, and fast baseballs or softballs at Adventure Landing’s seven batting cages, guests can fuel their bat-swinging biceps at the themed snack bar. Creativity also comes into play at the teddy-bear factory, where visitors can make plush friends according to their personal specifications.

The aquatic-minded architects behind Fallsview Indoor Waterpark stocked their three-acre splash zone with family-friendly amusements that simulate the sun-soaked days of summer year-round. With both kids and adults in mind, the park's designers included two large, adults-only jacuzzis, where grownups can marinate in relaxation while the tots zip down 16 waterslides up to six storeys tall, or high enough to make Aquaman feel like a damp Godzilla. After the kids bodysurf in the wave pool or get caught in the deluge of the 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, families can refuel at Planet Hollywood Beach Club. Located on the site of the Falls Avenue Resort, the waterpark encourages families to retire to 20 acres of luxury for the night and return the next day to shake their fins beneath faux palm trees or traipse through Jungle Beach Playland, a dry indoor playground.

For 35 years, the instructors and staff of Dip 'N Dive have demystified the magic of breathing underwater. They instruct and outfit both scuba divers and snorkelers at their Buffalo location, and the facility's curriculum of PADI and NAUI courses help budding divers stay safe, maintain control of their equipment, and walk like Naomi Campbell while wearing fins. From beginning diving lessons to advanced instructor training, courses include classroom work, pool exercises, and real open-water-diving trips.

In 1965, a small group of scientists gathered to create artificial seawater at the Aquarium of Niagara. They wanted to open an inland aquarium that could host the same types of sea creatures found on the coast, and so they applied their technology on a large scale. Today, the Aquarium of Niagara pumps this synthetic seawater through tanks hosting a variety of indigenous salt-water dwellers, including sea horses, harbor seals, sea lions, and Navy SEALS. While visitors marvel at both the salt-water and freshwater creatures, they learn about diverse aquatic terrain and conservation efforts. A weekly schedule of animal activities allows guests to witness animals in action, from California sea-lion and goldfish training to penguin and shark feedings.

After spending hours on the faces of outdoor boulders and overhangs, the crew at Niagara Climbing Center brings back inspiration as a souvenir. With toughened fingers and memories of these natural rock formations, they return to their indoor facility to lay climbing routes on 6,000 square feet of vertical terrain. The gym's walls reach up to 20 feet above the ground and their features include bulges and slopes to help climbers prepare for real rocks or real trophy rooms of big-game rock hunters.