Niagara Falls is a popular attraction that Business Insider's reporter found less glamorous than it appears on social media and in ads.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
When I reminisce about my boat tour of Niagara Falls, I think of the hot-pink ponchos.I spotted a rainbow from behind a sea of heads in these disposable, mist-shielding cloaks, stretching their arms in an attempt to get an unobstructed shot of the natural wonder. The picture or video may not capture their honest view of the roaring white water, but those who see it on Instagram will never know.This was in August 2022, when I took my first trip to Niagara Falls, the iconic landmark of massive waterfalls on the border of the US and Canada.I expected to take epic hikes and savor breathtaking views and peaceful moments in nature, but that's not quite what happened. While I was in awe of the gigantic and dramatic falls, I thought the environment felt more like an attraction than a nature getaway.I trudged through a crowded boardwalk on the Canadian side and saw the falls from viewpoints blocked by glass and other barriers. I spent more time than I anticipated waiting in lines and looking at the backs of people's heads."Niagara Falls draws people because it's different every time you visit, not despite the crowds, but because of the energy that comes with sharing something this powerful with people from all over the world," Adam Stiles, interim President and CEO of Niagara Falls Tourism, told Business Insider. "Summer brings that energy at its peak, and yes, that means lines. But the Falls are just as extraordinary in October."
