This Maid of the Mist Niagara Falls review is part of a trip report. For the prior posts, please see:
What to Do in Lockport, Near Niagara Falls
Sheraton at the Falls Niagara NY Hotel Review
Cave of the Winds Niagara Falls Review
Visiting Niagara Falls last fall was a first for me, even after 7 years in NYC, but is a must for anyone inspired by beautiful and majestic waterfalls, or simply the raw power of nature. The Maid of the Mist boat ride is a good option for those who don't want to necessarily get as close (or potentially as drenched) as you could in the Cave of the Winds experience. I personally wouldn't recommend Cave of the Winds for kids 5 and under, even though apparently they're allowed free, with an accompanying adult. As a boat ride, the Maid of the Mist feels safer, although if you're right in the front of the boat, expect to still get quite a bit of spray!
We began our experience by walking a few minutes over from our hotel, the Sheraton at the Falls, to Niagara State Park. It was quite a nice day and there was even a wedding being held there (you can glimpse of few members of the wedding party in the photo below).
Tickets are available at the Visitor Center, although it's easy to also buy tickets online, on the Maid of the Mist Web site.
Armed with our tickets, we stood several minutes in line, which you should expect for many of the morning times, especially during peak season. I'm told that the lines are often much shorter in the afternoon, especially after 2pm.
As with the Cave of the Winds, you receive a plastic poncho (blue, for Maid of the Mist) and make your way to an elevator to descend to the launch point for your boat ride. The first photo of the post is taken from the bridge you cross, before taking the elevator down to the boat. To be honest, the elevator ride was my least favorite part of the experience, as we were packed like sardines, which is saying something for someone used to NYC subway trains at rush hour. But fortunately the elevator ride is very short.
The two Maid of the Mist boats, Maid of the Mist VI and Maid of the Mist VII, each carry up to 600 passengers. And while there weren't as many as that on our boat, it was quite crowded, so is not for the claustrophobic. Ideally you'll manage to be one of the first ones on the boat so as to stake out a good position for photos or videos, if you choose to take them. You may want to have a waterproof cover for your camera or even a waterproof camera, given the amount of spray you'll encounter close up to the falls.
You first see the Bridal Veil Falls, which you see up close on the Cave of the Winds experience. My photo taken from the bridge before the Maid of the Mist is actually better, since I didn't want to get my camera too wet, but you can get a sense of perspective for the falls by seeing the size of the Cave of the Winds visitors relative to the Bridal Veil Falls.
My favorite part of the Maid of the Mist was the grandeur of the Horseshoe Falls. Here's the approach:
And here's a section of the Horseshoe Falls close up, with seagulls wheeling and crying in the foreground, yet pretty much drowned out by the thunder of the falls:
2014 Schedule
The Maid of the Mist generally operates May through October. The current 2014 schedule is as follows, although the Web site notes that due to “extreme winter ice conditions, opening day is TBD”
May 1 – May 16: 10am – 5pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends
May 17 – May 8: 10am – 8pm
May 19 – May 23: 10am – 6pm
May 24 – May 25: 9:15am – 8pm
May 26: 9:15am – 6pm
May 27 – June 20: 10am – 6pm daily
June 21 – August 8: 9:15am – 8pm
August 9 – August 28: 9:15am – 7:30pm
August 29 – August 31: 9:15am – 7:15pm
September 1: 9:15am – 5pm
September 2 – October 3: 10am – 5pm weekdays, 10am – 6pm weekends
October 4 – October 31: 10am – 5pm daily
2014 Pricing
Adults: $17
Children 6-12: $9.90
Children 5 and under: Free with accompanying adult
Visa, MasterCard and cash accepted.
The Verdict: If you're planning to go to or go through Niagara Falls, the two activities I'd not miss are the Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds.
If you've been on the Maid of the Mist, what was your experience?
Disclosure: I was the guest of Niagara Tourism and received a complimentary ride on Maid of the Mist, however the views expressed are my own.
Related Posts
Cave of the Winds Niagara Falls Review
Sheraton at the Falls Niagara NY Hotel Review
What to Do in Lockport, Near Niagara Falls
NYC with Kids: Family Travel Guide
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