At about $150 USD per person, our tour with Niagara Helicopters was a splurge. But, in my opinion, it was worth it.

The ride was only about 10 minutes from takeoff to touchdown, but it was a great way to see the full scope of Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, the American Falls, and the Whirlpool Rapids all at once.

From the air, the Falls became just one feature in a much larger landscape of gorges, rapids, and parkland. This tour gave me a new appreciation for the sheer scale of the Falls.

This 45-minute adventure — where we hopped aboard a jet boat and sped directly into Class V rapids and the Niagara Whirlpool — was the most immersive activity we did.

Although the operators warned us that we’d get wet, but there’s simply no preparing yourself for getting blasted with that volume of water. The complimentary ponchos seemed included mainly for morale.

Getting drenched by what felt like a tsunami of water was oddly refreshing on a hot summer day. Plus, at $68 per person, it was also one of the best values of the trip.

If I were only visiting Niagara Falls for the day and had time to do one activity, I’d pick a ride with Niagara City Cruises. For about $34, it’s also one of the least-expensive major attractions we did.

The 20-minute narrated sightseeing tour passes the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls before sailing directly into the basin of Horseshoe Falls.

The deafening roar, blankets of thick mist, and whipping winds provide a glimpse of just what 2,509 tons of force means.

During my trip, I purchased the $79 Niagara Falls Plus Pass, which granted me access to several different attractions, including Journey Behind the Falls.

This experience is made up of a series of tunnels, viewing portals, and observation decks that allowed us to get below and behind Horseshoe Falls. I could hear the thunderous water, gaped at the 188-foot cascade from below, and got sprayed by the mist.

Unlike the boat tours, this experience really allowed us to see the Falls from the inside out.

Like Journey Behind the Falls, a tour of the Niagara Parks Power Plant was included in the Niagara Falls Plus Pass.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting a power plant to be one of the highlights of my trip. Perhaps it’s my inner history nerd, but learning about Niagara Falls’ role in pioneering large-scale hydroelectric power made this tour especially fascinating.

Walking through the old generator halls before taking an elevator 180 feet underground and descending into a 2,200-foot-long tunnel felt like stepping back to the dawn of the electric age.

We did the night tour, which included an interactive sound-and-light show that brought the old machinery to life. It was the attraction that exceeded my expectations by the widest margin.

This one’s probably a me thing, but I wasn’t blown away by the WildPlay Zipline to the Falls. To be fair, though, I’m not overly excited about zip lines to begin with.

At $50 for about 60 seconds of fun, it was a good way to mix light adventure with views of the Falls. However, it wasn’t so thrilling that I’d make a beeline to do it again.

The Whirlpool Aero Car was another attraction included in our Niagara Falls Plus Pass. This cable car glides 200 feet above the Niagara Gorge and the swirling Whirlpool below.

The views were stunning, but the long lines we waited in to board created a big buildup for what felt like an anticlimactic ride.

For me, the coolest part was crossing the border between Canada and the US four times in a matter of minutes without ever having to dig out my passport, making it the easiest international travel I’ve ever done.

Clifton Hill is the main tourist drag on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. It’s full of attractions, shops, restaurants, and amusements.

Though the prospect of watching nightly fireworks over the Falls from the Niagara SkyWheel captured my imagination, my desire to escape the throngs of loud children, flashing lights, carnival rides, and long lines won out.

I felt less like I was visiting Niagara Falls and more like I was trapped at a county fair with unusually good scenery.