how to visit niagara falls like a local | canada

Niagara Fall is the honeymoon capital of the world and one of the top international tourist destinations. In fact, in 2011, Travel and Leisure ranked Niagara Falls #5 on a list of the world's most visited destinations. There's no escaping the verdict: Niagara Falls is touristy. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's one of the world's most visited destinations because it's a magnificent natural feat - three waterfalls with over 150,000 gallons of water cascading over the cliff edge every single second. It's a marvel and worthy of a visit, even though that means battling the crowds to see it. That all said, there are ways to visit Niagara Falls and feel more like a local and less like you're lost in a sea of tourists.

Exchange money... and do it at a local bank 

Almost everywhere in Niagara Falls will accept US dollars, but most places will charge extra for doing so. I call it a "US tax." The exchange rate is nearly 1:1 (the dollar was very slightly stronger when we visited), but exchanging money will save you.

When you exchange your money, do it at a local bank instead of The Money Exchange or booths you might see in tourist-centric areas. Many of the local banks will charge a small fee of $5 with no additional commission. We exchanged money at CIBC and were not charged a fee at all.

Additional tip: try to exchange as much money as you think you'll need. Many banks will charge fees for using a credit card internationally (with the exception of some travel rewards cards designed for international use).

Eat at quality, local restaurants

Niagara Falls is overrun with chain and buffet restaurants with glaring neon signs and banners so big they practically smack you as you walk by. Pass those places by and head to a local restaurant. It might take some research, but finding solid, good, local food in Niagara Falls is possible. A few restaurants that I suggest:

Syndicate Brewery & Restaurant: Syndicate offers customers two choices for food - a bar menu and a three-course prix fixe. The prix-fixe is a downright cheap $22. Options like certain cuts of steak and seafood may tack on a few extra dollars. All of the food is locally sourced, organically grown, and the meat is hormone-free. This meal left Zan's and my stomachs and wallets full and happy.

Napoli Ristorante: This finer-dining Italian restaurant offers up homemade bread with warm olive oil to start, a wine list that boasts some local flavor, and a few memorable dishes. We particularly enjoyed the starter salads - Zander chose a roasted beet, while I had arugula with thin pear slices.

KouTouki Greek Cuisine: Our service started out spotty, but once we had the attention of a server, the meal proceeded flawlessly. This Greek restaurant uses fresh ingredients, fairly authentic recipes (I say fairly because there was lettuce in the Greek salad!), and a nice large selection. Our favorite dish: dolmadakia appetizer (grape leaves).

Sleep local 

Big-name, high-rise hotels line the major tourist strip. Granted, they offer incredible views of the Falls themselves, but you pay in price and your sanity staying in them. Experience the Falls like a local by staying at a boutique hotel, an AirBnB rental, vacation rental by owner, a friend in town, a friend of a friend in town, or a local hotel off the main strip.

Zander and I used AirBnB for the first time, and we loved our experience. For $100/night ($50/person!) on a major holiday weekend, we had an entire guesthouse to ourselves, were able to bring my dog Theodore without a problem, and our host made us a homemade breakfast every morning. Staying in her neighborhood about 1.5 miles from the Falls, we had the opportunity to see what life is like for locals of the town. We watched junior high school students play a baseball game, took nightly walks in the quiet, peaceful area, and enjoyed having a place to call our own for a few days.

Hike to see the sights instead of taking expensive tours

Some of the attractions in Niagara Falls are worth the cost - in particular, the Maid of the Mist is a can't-miss tour. Other attractions and tours quickly add up, and you can see many of the sights for free by waking or hiking to them (if possible). My favorite experience of our entire trip was hiking to the Niagara River Whirlpool from the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve. You can read more about that experience here. At the Falls themselves, while you'll never be able to get out of the crowds entirely, consider walking the length of the sidewalk - it offers unique, different views, and many people congregate in the center, most accessible viewing areas.

Get out 

Taking a day trip from Niagara Falls to Niagara on the Lake (20 minutes) or Toronto (1.5 hours) is a great way to experience local culture outside of the main attraction. Zander and I spent a full day in Niagara on the Lake, a quaint town that has been voted Canada's most attractive. I can see why, with its old-fashioned town center brimming over with boutique shops, old homes, and gorgeous lakeside views. Within and on the periphery of the town are 30+ wineries, the major draw of the area. Zander and I visited six wineries enjoyed our experience getting to know the winemakers, tasting grapes unique to the region, and bringing home enough wine to nearly fill a cellar (okay, not quite, but a lot!). Our favorite wineries are below (another post on this to come).

Trius Winery -- from a bone dry, sparkling rose to an approachable reisling ice wine, Trius's wines were among our favorites. But what really won us over is Trius's incredible brunch with wine pairings. It's one of the best meals I've ever eaten in my life.

Konzelmann - I liked that Konzelmann is smaller than Trius but still has a robust flight of wines. We enjoyed their dry red blends, especially "Canada Red." The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the wines.

Marynissen Estates Winery - Our favorite of the six we experienced, Marynissen is a small, boutique winery that has built a name for itself with hard work and wonderful wines. They specialize in Cabernet  Sauvignon (the oldest of those grapes in Canada), Syrah, and Merlot. I loved the small operation, the homey feel of the tasting room, and how inviting and welcoming the staff are. I wish we were closer to make repeat visits.