One afternoon in Niagara Falls next weekend
 

Tim and I will be picked up at the Buffalo airport late morning next week, and we need to be back in Buffalo later that night. We (four adults) would like to go to the falls for the day. We have all been there before, but not for about 10 years.

Is this doable?

Is it worth it? We were dismayed to see that the Maid of the Mist won't be running next weekend. What else is there to do?

We are visiting wineries on Saturday.

Thanks for any opinions/advice!
-Liz

Journey Behind the Falls is open. I'm not sure about Cave of the Winds (worth it if it is).

You can still visit Goat Island and the Three Sisters Islands on the US side - beautiful views of the falls and the rapids.

You can "play carnival" on Clifton Hill (it's like a carnival midway - go with that expectation and you'll enjoy it).

The Butterfly Conservatory is open.

You can hike the Niagara Glen dependent on the weather.

White Water Walk may still be open.

Whirlpool aero car may still be open.

We went to Niagara Falls, Canadian side last February and had a fun time. I don't see why you couldn't pull off a trip in an afternoon, either to the Canadian side or even the US side. It's not far from Buffalo. If the weather is nice, it's worth just walking next to the falls, hearing the roar and feeling the spray in the wind. We couldn't do the Maid of the Mist, either, since it was winter - but we still had a good time.

Thank you!

I'm one of those who love the Falls and would make a day of it at any time! If I had the day that you do, I would go to Goat Island and just walk viewing the Falls. You can get up so close to Horseshoe Falls from there. (take something warm and cover your head, the mist will get you damp) Then I would just walk the Canadian side taking in the views from there and have a late lunch at The Keg, asking for a window seat, the views from there are wonderful. http://www.embassysuitesniagarafalls.com/thekeg.html