I did almost every major attraction on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Here are 5 that were worth it and 3 I'd skip next time.

I tried a bunch of different activities on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.

Melissa McGibbon

Last summer, a friend and I extended our trip to Toronto and made the two-hour journey to Niagara Falls.I expected waterfalls, but I didn't expect arcades, haunted houses, carnival vendors, and professional photographers at nearly every attraction.Within minutes of arriving on the Canadian side, Niagara Falls felt less like a historic landmark and more like an amusement park built around a natural wonder.To figure out which attractions were actually worth the crowds and admission prices, we tried nearly all of them. Some exceeded my expectations, while others felt like expensive ways to spend time waiting in lines.

The helicopter tour was pricey, but worth it.

We loved our 10-minute ride with Niagara Helicopters.