The Falls are extremely tourist -friendly -- observation towers, elevator rides. boat-trips, walkways and even a helicopter service are on hand to make this a memorable sight-seeing trip.

Take a boat ride on the Maid of the Mist – it gives you a close up view of the spectacular falls from the water and takes you as close to the roaring cascades as it possibly can. It is an exhilarating experience to feel the spray of the mighty waters on your skin! One can walk across the Rainbow Bridge to the Canadian side (provided you have ID or a Canadian visa, as the case may be) and see the Horseshoe Falls.

To get to Buffalo, wing into Buffalo International Airport on any of the airlines serving this town. It is just a one-hour flight away from New York. From the airport, your best bet would be to rent a car and drive into the town. The airport is a half an hour drive from the town. Shuttle buses are also available at intervals.

If you are coming in by road, Buffalo can be reached on the I-90 New York State Thruway. To get to the Niagara Falls, travel twenty miles further north on the I-90 from Buffalo. Amtrak's Chicago bound trains stop at Depew, close to the airport. There is an Amtrak service to and from Niagara Falls.

Once you are in Buffalo, you can use the Metro Bus and Metro Rail that serve the city. There is a Metro bus to Niagara Falls. The best option is of course to have your own set of wheels, so rent a car if you can.

It is warm and humid in the months of June-August. In winter the area is freezing with winds blowing in from the north. So if your purpose in getting to Buffalo is to see the Niagara Falls, summer is the best time to see the gushing waters as in winter, there is too much ice.

Accommodation is easy to find in Buffalo. The city offers both expensive and moderately priced hotels and you can choose what suits your pocket. There are a number of cheap motels near the Falls area, but be sure to check out the rooms, before you decide as a lot of them are quite tacky.

The city is crammed with cafes, snack-joints and elegant restaurants. Little wonder then that one of America's favorite dishes 'buffalo wings' (spicy chicken with a cheesy sauce) was created in this city. Broadway Market is a good place to give in to your taste buds, as many eating-places are located here. Close to the Niagara Falls, there are several fast-food places as well as restaurants serving European and American cuisine. There are some interesting clubs and bars in the city, with some serving as venues for live music performances. People are keen on theatre and the performing arts and there are regular performances in the various theaters.