My first impression of the Maid of the Mist was that it was an overrated, overcrowded boat ride that brought visitors closer to the Falls for a bird’s eye view that can be obtained from no other spot on the American side. I observed the boat from the top of the American side in the State Park on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the height of Summer. From my vantage point, the boat appeared incredibly crowded. However, to complete this website, I would need to ride this boat. So rather than cramming myself into a boatload of people over the weekend, I waited until the end of Summer and took the boat ride during the week.
The Boat Ride
I am pleased to report that the boat ride was absolutely amazing. It was breathtaking being that close to the falls, feeling the mist on my face and the deafening roar of the water, surrounded completely by the Horseshoe Falls. Incredibly 681,750 gallons of water pour over the Falls per second. You also get an amazing view of the American Falls. I don’t recommend taking this boat ride on a weekend during the summer unless you don’t mind large crowds and long wait times. I must, however, recommend that everyone who is able to take this boat ride should, at least once in their life.
Admission
You definitely want to make sure that it is a nice day when you ride the Maid of the Mist. It can be really uncomfortable if the day is anything less than 65 degrees. The boat runs every 15 minutes from the dock from 9 am-5 pm on weekdays and 9 am-6 pm on weekends between the Beginning of May thru October 31st.
Helpful Links:
http://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/
Address: 24 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY, 14303