If you did not know, there's much more to Niagara Falls than the falls itself. No doubt in its entire majestic splendor, the Falls remains the biggest draw. Still, both the Canadian and the United States sides of Niagara Falls are full of peripheral attractions that you wont like to miss.

On the American side, places like the Aquarium of Niagara offer both parents and kids lots of entertainment. For someone fond of outdoor enjoyment, the place to visit is Niagara Falls State Park. The park offers you room for biking, hiking, fishing and camping. The Daredevil Museum captures the history of attempts to conquer the falls, while the Schoellkopf Museum deals with its history and geology.

On the Canadian side, Niagara Falls Ontario offers an attractive variety of attractions like gaming and duty-free shopping. Other top Niagara Falls attractions include Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds, Goat Island, Fort Erie, and Niagara Falls Winter Garden.

Maid of the Mist boat tours, a half-hour ride, will take you into the swirling waters on the American side of the falls. Be ready to get wet during the ride, although hooded raincoats are provided if you forget your own. In the Cave of the Winds trip, you take an elevator deep into the Niagara Gorge. Standing on the Hurricane Deck you get a view of Bridal Veil Falls from a distance of just 20 feet.

For children, two great spots are Marineland, featuring killer whales, dolphins and sea lions, and the Fun House, where they can play in the rolling barrels.

You will also find some great restaurants like Bettys, Happy Wanderer, Niagara Grand Dinner Theatre, bars and clubs like Beer Garden, Applebees Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Al Macs Bar and Grill.

If you are a compulsive shopper, you will find anything from toys to curio shops. The Niagara Duty-Free Shop, open daily, offers anything from liquor to crystal, many of them at an attractive discount.