Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

NIAGARA FALLS : Overview

OVERVIEW

Niagara Falls, famous for its romantic falls and reputation as a destination for honeymooners, can be visited and viewed from two different perspectives – the US and Canadian sides. We visited the Canadian side, and found the falls were somewhat accessible to the physically challenged traveler.

LANGUAGE

The official languages of Canada are English and French.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Canada is the Canadian dollar. We were able to use US dollars on our visit without any issue.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

NIAGARA FALLS : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

The Niagara Falls International Airport offers convenient access to Niagara Falls. We have always driven to Niagara Falls, so cannot comment on the accessibility of the airport.

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

Absolute Taxi: This company provides service to both sides of the falls, and has a wheelchair accessible van available. We could not locate a website, but the phone number is: 905 735-8294. We have always driven to Niagara Falls, so cannot comment on the service of Absolute Taxi.

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SHUTTLE

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

 Boulevard Van City Mobility Solutions: For convenience, Boulevard Van City offers pick up and drop off of a wheelchair accessible rental for a fee.

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BUS

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NIAGARA FALLS : Accommodations

HOTELS

Best Western Fireside Hotel: On our visit to Niagara Falls, we stayed at the Best Western Fireside Hotel. Our room was accessible, and there was an elevator to our floor. Note that this hotel is located a bit too far from the falls for individuals with mobility limitations. We drove over to the falls and parked on our visit.

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LUXURY RESORTS

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NIAGARA FALLS : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

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ACTIVITIES

Horseshoe Falls: The Horseshoe Falls are an amazing site to see in person. The sheer volume of water passing over the falls is simply impressive. Obviously, the falls are free to observe and you can stay as long as you like. In the evening, the falls are illuminated by colored lights, adding a different dimension to the experience. On the Canadian side, the sidewalk along the falls is bordered by a waist-high stone fence that is capped with a railing. If you are unable to stand or elevate, you may have trouble viewing the falls from the railing. My electric chair elevates vertically, so I was able to elevate and see them pretty well.

Maid of the Mist: This boat tour will allow you to get personally kissed by the falls – literally! The tour motors up the Niagara River straight to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. According to the Maid of the Mist website, the tour is wheelchair accessible. Because I am in a motorized chair, I did not want to chance getting the electronics wet.

Journey Behind the Falls: This attraction allows you to go behind the falls and experience the thunderous roar of the falls up close. According to the website, this tour is wheelchair accessible, except for the lower level observation deck, which is reached by stairs.

White Water Walk: Located a few miles upstream of the falls, the White Water Walk is a boardwalk that runs along a section of intense whitewater rapids. According to the website, the majority of the boardwalk is wheelchair accessible. There are two small areas that have stairs that allow closer access, which are not wheelchair accessible.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Niagara Falls has many accessible restaurants and nightclubs. We ate at a place right across from the casino, and it had an elevator to the 2^nd floor, where there was outdoor seating on the rooftop deck. While the name escapes me at the moment, it was a stones throw from the IMAX Theater.

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NIAGARA FALLS : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Health System Services

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NIAGARA FALLS : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Niagara Falls is a very accessible city, but there are some steep hills around town to watch out for. If you are in a chair or scooter, be sure to charge your batteries and check your brakes.