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I have heard a lot about The Niagara Falls as probably most of you. The word ‘Niagara’ awakens an excitement and joy within me perhaps owing to the falls’ beauty and their strong and impressive image within my mind.

One of my friends went to Canada early this year. When she was back, I was very surprised to hear from her that she visited the Niagara Falls while she was there for I was thinking that the falls are in US. I learned from her not only that the Falls are on the border between the US and Canada but also that the best view of the Niagara Falls is from the Canadian side.

The point of my friend was also supported by some views I have come across in my research about Niagara Falls. This common view was most probably also the reason the American 1953 film ”Niagara” starring Marilyn Monroe was basically shot on the Canadian side of the Falls in Ontario. The film was in my DVD collection but I hadn’t watched it so far. I have watched it and have been charmed by the stunning views of the Niagara Falls in the film. The beauty and attractiveness of Marilyn Monroe in the film also makes you realize once more why she has become a legend. The film is a thriller revolving around a murder mystery yet Marilyn Monroe is the focal point in the film with her beauty and manners even though she stars the ‘villainess’ (bad woman) trying to have her husband murdered to his lover. Another focal point of the film is the Niagara Falls with their stunning beauty. As you watch the film, you feel like touring the falls.

When the film Niagara was released, The New York Times praised the film and wrote: “Obviously ignoring the idea that there are Seven Wonders of the World, Twentieth Century-Fox has discovered two more and enhanced them with Technicolor in Niagara … . For the producers are making full use of both the grandeur of the Falls and its adjacent areas as well as the grandeur that is Marilyn Monroe. … .”.
(For different types of Marilyn Monroe film collections including the film ‘Niagara’, you can check here in Amazon).

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George Bailey, the son of Manny Bailey -who was the captain of the “Maid of the Mist” cruise when the film was shot and had shortly appeared in the film- and the writer of the book ”Marilyn Monroe and the Making of ‘Niagara’” first published in 1998, states in his blog about the film:

”When the “world premiere” occurred at the Seneca Theatre in Niagara Falls Ontario on January 28, 1953 Niagara would never be the same. The scenic beauty of Niagara Falls would be seen by millions. Especially appealing were the scenes in the movie of Niagara Falls illuminated at night.“(www.niagarafallstourism.com/blog/marilyn-monroe-and-the-filming-of-niagara).

I also found those scenes in the movie very impressive and thought that the illumination of the Falls is a must-see for one visiting Niagara Falls. The view of the illuminated falls from the window of Rose (Marilyn Monroe) and her husband’s motel room in very different enchanting colors was wonderful. As Poly Cutler’s husband Ray (the honeymoon couple in the film) entered the room and saw the illuminated Falls, he remarked: ”Look at that; couple of colours I never heard of before. …”. The colours were really magnificent as you may notice in the photo below.

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No wonder that Niagara Falls is a popular place of destination for honeymoon couples for years. About 30 million people visit Niagara Falls each year. (mustdocanada.com). The falls are illuminated in vibrant colors every night of the year. There are also nightly fireworks shows all summer, at select dates in spring and fall and during the Winter Festival of Lights. You can check the schedules on the related web sites for the hours of illumination and fireworks shows (niagarafallstourism.com).

Short Information about Niagara Falls and Things To Do When Visiting The Falls

 Niagara Falls are a group of three waterfalls located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, at the border between the US state of New York and the Canadian province Ontario. The falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation about 10,000 years ago. The largest of the three falls is ‘Horseshoe Falls‘ also known as Canadian Falls which is along the US – Canada border. The other two falls (‘American Falls’ and ‘Bridal Veil Falls’) lie within the United States.

Niagara Falls are 27 kilometers from Buffalo, New York and 121 kilometers from Toronto, between the twin cities of ‘Niagara Falls, Ontario‘ and ‘Niagara Falls, New York‘ which are connected by two international bridges: ‘The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge’ -the oldest bridge over the Niagara River- and ‘The Rainbow Bridge’. Niagara Falls, which have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America with a vertical drop of more than 50 metres, is an important source of hydroelectric power. (wikipedia.org)

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Cruise boats operate from both the American and the Canadian side of the falls. ‘Maid of the Mist‘ operates from the American side. The boat ride available in Niagara Falls, Canada is called ‘Hornblower Niagara Cruises‘. I found out in my research that Hornblower Cruises was also previously operated by Maid of the Mist which then made me realize why the name ‘Maid Of The Mist’ appeared in the film ‘Niagara’. The Rainbow Bridge is suggested for a nice walk with some best views of the falls on both sides.

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The best view of the falls from the American side is from ‘The Prospect Point‘ in ‘Niagara Falls State Park‘, New York. Another important attraction in the park is the ‘Cave of The Winds‘ which is a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls where you can experience tropical storm-like conditions due to the strong winds.

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On the Canadian side, there are platforms offering views of the falls in ‘Queen Victoria Park‘. The observation deck of ‘Skylon Tower‘ in the park offers the highest view of the falls as far as Toronto. The tower has a famous revolving restaurant above the falls. There is also a cable car called ‘Whirlpool Aero Car‘ that takes passengers over the Niagara Whirlpool – a natural rotating water produced by opposing currents- in the Niagara Gorge.

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Another important must-see attraction on the Canadian side is ‘Journey Behind The Falls‘ (known until the early 1990s as the Scenic Tunnels which name also appears in the film ‘Nigara’), which consists of an observation platform and series of tunnels near the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls. The tunnels and platform can be reached by elevators from the street level entrance.  The visitors are provided with plastic raincoats as the deck is sprayed with water. (wikipedia.org)

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Historical sites from the War of 1812 can also be visited on both sides. Fort Erie and Fort George are noted on the Canadian side whereas Old Fort Niagara is noted on the American side. I liked the view of Fort Niagara below which is said to be 20 minutes from Niagara Falls at the base of Niagara River (timeout.com).

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You can stay either on the American side or the Canadian side to visit the Niagara Falls. I would prefer the Canadian side to enjoy the better view of the falls. I liked the appearance of the B&B below (‘A Moment in Time Bed and Breakfast‘), a Victorian house in Niagara Falls City, and the historic ‘The Prince of Wales Hotel‘ in Niagara-on-the-Lake for a cosy stay in the Niagara region, which are just two of many hotels, chain hotels, historic houses, guest houses, boutique style inns or estates that function like hotels, cottages and bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) in Ontario (ontarioaway.com). If you prefer to stay in a big hotel or a chain hotel, Crown Plaza Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario where Marilyn Monroe stayed when they were filming the movie ‘Niagara’ would be a good choice.

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It must be noted that the Niagara region is also a wine region where the world famous ‘Ice wine‘ is produced basically. There are well-known wineries, wine restaurants, breweries and distilleries in the region where Canada’s largest wine festival takes place every September. Each winery has its own unique features and tours. Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario is the basic and well-known wine producing town of the Niagara region.

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I liked this guidebook about Toronto, Niagara and the Wine Country (2019) written by Caroline Aksich – a long-time resident of Toronto writing to top magazines about the region. For a guidebook about Ontario check here. For the book “Moon Niagara Falls: With Buffalo” (2020) – a guidebook about the Niagara region including Buffalo, Niagara-on-The-Lake and Niagara Wine Trail, written by Buffalo native and Niagara Falls tour guide Joel Dombrowski check here.

Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL)

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While I was searching the Niagara Falls, I came across ”Niagara-on-the-Lake”, known as the loveliest town in Canada. This pretty Victorian town in Ontario is located at the point where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. It is the only town in Canada that has a ‘Lord Mayor’ -a title of a mayor of a major city in UK or Commonwealth of Nations with special recognition by Queen Elizabeth II. (wikipedia.org).

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I like Starbucks -its coffees and the comfortable medium it provides to meet with people and to read. I thought one of the prettiest Starbucks shops is probably the one in Niagara-on-the Lake when I saw the photo above. Besides the historical old town of quaint buildings, boutiques and antique shops; vineyards stretch beyond the town. Niagara-on-the-Lake is said to be a top wine producing region in Canada. A wine tour is suggested to visit the wineries. Detailed information about the wineries and the town could be found in the web site of Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce (niegaraonthelake.com).

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Queen’s Royal Park is suggested in the town for picnic or to relax. The town is also known for its historic theaters namely ‘Royal George Theater’ and ‘Shaw Festival Theater’. Shaw Festival is a theater festival held in Niagara-on-the-Lake from April to December every year dedicated to Irish dramatist and literary critic George Bernard Shaw.
(You may check here in Amazon for the book titled “Niagara-on-the-Lake: Its Heritage and Its Festival” about Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Shaw Festival).

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I have also noted in my search that there is a sunset cruise down the Niagara River and that the boat leaves from the pier in Queenston, a little outside the town of Niagara-on- the-Lake. It is said that Niagara Sunset Cruises offer a number of options from wine tasting cruises to lunch and dinner cruises. Niagara Sunset Cruise is a must-do for me as I love sunsets. (https://winesinniagara.com/2015/07/niagara-sunset-cruises).

Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill is a touristic area in Niagara Falls, Ontario full of attractions, shops, museums, adventure parks and restaurants. It is known as ‘The Street of Fun’ and recommended especially for children. Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Dinosaur Adventure Golf and The House of Frankenstein are among the famous attractions. It is close to ‘Skylon Tower’ and the famous ‘Niagara Skywheel‘.

Some Pleasant Places I Have Noted To Take A Break In The Niagara Region

Riverside Patio:

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A terrace down the Hornblower Cruises surrounded by the Niagara Gorge in Niagara Falls, Canada. You can enjoy your food or drink at the terrace as you watch the falls and the cruises. The place is stated as one of the best view experiences of the Niagara Falls.

The Irish Harp Pub:

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I do like Irish Pubs. I find them warm in essence and ideal to hang out with friends while enjoying the quality drinks. That’s why I paid special attention when my friend who visited the Niagara Falls recommended this Irish pub.

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The Irish Harp Pub is on the Canadian side of the Niagara region (245 King St. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario). Besides the wide selection of beers and other drinks, it has an extensive menu including Irish traditional food. There are also a few rooms above the Pub for those who would like to stay there. The Pub is praised for its atmosphere, friendly staff and their service, delicious food and the live music on the weekends. (theirishharppub.com)

Queen Charlotte Tea Room:

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Queen Charlotte was great grandmother of Queen Victoria and great-great-great-great grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Charlotte Tea Room is a family owned tea room and British restaurant in Niagara Falls, Canada where you can have lunch, dinner or high tea. I would opt for the scones -my beloved English classic that goes perfect with tea- in this elegant quaint tea room.

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The invention of “Afternoon High Tea” or ” 5 o’clock tea” is mentioned in the web site of the tea room (thequeencharlottetearoom.com) which drew my interest as I like the concept of 5 o’clock tea. It is stated that afternoon high tea was invented by The Duchess of Bedford in the late 1700s who complained about a ‘sinking feeling’ in the late afternoon since there were only two main meals -breakfast and dinner- then and that it was a very long time between the meals. The food served at high tea were things such as sandwiches, shrimp, fish pate, breads with jams, scones and crumpets. At tea time, the emphasis is said to be on presentation and conversation which I think are the two components that make a ‘5 o’clock tea’ pleasant.

DiCamillo Bakery:

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A family-run bakery founded in 1920 in Niagara Falls, NY famous for its award-winning biscotti, breads, cakes, cookies, pizza, donuts and Italian bakery specialities. Di Camillo Bakery has five stores in the Niagara region, NY where you can also have breakfast, lunch and after 6pm specials. (dicamillobakery.com)

Red Coach Inn:

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A historic bed & breakfast hotel in Niagara Falls, NY overlooking the falls since 1923. Red Coach Inn offers rooms for accommodation whereas its exclusive restaurant is open to public serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also has a Grill Room with fireplace and a wine bar. (redcoach.com).

Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls – Fallsview Hotel

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Crown Plaza was the first high rise luxury hotel built in Niagara Falls in 1929. The hotel was previously called the General Brock, in honour of Sir Isaac Brock, the British major general who defended Canada from the Americans in the War of 1812. It changed names to Sheraton Brock Hotel, the Skyline Brock Hotel, Brock Plaza Hotel and is currently known as the ‘Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls – Fallsview Hotel’. It is located across the street from the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. (niagarafallscrowneplazahotel.com)

The hotel had been a favorite of Hollywood elite and royalty as Niagara’s first luxury hotel. The guests include Walt Disney, Shirley Temple, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth, Matt Dillon, Jackie Chan. (www.niagarafallsinfo.com, Tourism History, Early Hotels & Campgrounds)

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When the film Niagara was shot in Niagara Falls, Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten and Jean Peters all stayed at this hotel. The room of Marilyn Monroe is said to be 801 on the 8th floor. The original suite has since been split up into several smaller rooms. Room 801 was where the original bedroom was located. (niagarathisweek.com).

In an interview made in March 2014, Joseph Legace, the general manager of the Crowne Plaza Hotel (who still is) said the following about Marilyn Monroe and the hotel:
”It’s more than just the room, it’s the entire hotel because this is where she stayed when they were filming the movie Niagara. … . We have taken actual photos of her when she was filming the movie and we have placed them on the eighth floor for all our guests to see. … . This hotel has a lot of history, whether it’s the king and queen of England being here, or a movie that was shot on the 11th floor. People want to know the history of what has happened here.” (niagarathisweek.com).

Niagara Falls in Winter and Ice Wine

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It is stated that the best time to visit Niagara Falls is summer (from June to August) due to convenient weather and much more available attractions to see. Fall or spring season may be preferred for warmer temperatures. Winter causes many attractions like boat tours to shut down yet the hotel rates are down. (travel.usnews.com). The possibility to see the falls as frozen – their another form of natural beauty – and the sight of the enlightened trees and figures on snow in ‘Winter Festival of Lights’ are the bonuses of the winter season. However, to choose the winter season to visit the falls, one must be prepared for the freezing cold in the region.

The amazing light displays and the fireworks shows in Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Canada between mid-November and mid-January are said to be a must-see for the tourists visiting the region in winter. (niagarafallstourism.com).

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Niagara Falls, Ontario is also famous for its ice wine. Ice wine is made from grapes that are left to freeze on the vine over the winter. Once the temperature drops to -8 degrees Celsius, the grapes are then collected and allowed to thaw, a process that helps intensify their flavor.(travel.usnews.com). The grapes most commonly used to produce ice wine are Riesling, Vidal, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir and Cabarnet Franc which are the classic cool-climate grapes. Niagara Ice Wine Festival takes place in Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), Ontario in January. In the March 2020 issue of ‘Food & Travel’ magazine, ‘Reif Estates Winery‘, ‘Inniskillin Estate Winery‘ and ‘Peller Estates Winery‘ are suggested as the producers of ice wine around Niagara-on-the-Lake. I had also noted the ‘Clos Jordanne Vineyard‘ in the Niagara region in my search.

You can check this book titled ‘Touring Niagara Wine Country‘ in Amazon about Niagara region and more than forty wineries in Niagara.

Back To The Film ‘Niagara’ – Some Places I Have Noted In The Film:

‘Rainbow Cabins’ Motel

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When I saw this pretty motel with wonderful views of the Niagara Falls, where Rose (Marilyn Monroe), her husband George Loomis (Joseph Cotten) and the honeymoon couple Poly and Ray Cutler (Jean Peters and Max Showalter) were staying in the film, I thought I must search if it still exists. I found out that it was a fake motel built roughly for the film at Rambler’s Rest, Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. (themoviedistrict.com).

The Road Near The Falls

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I found the road near the Niagara Falls along which George Loomis was walking at the beginning and at the end of the film very pleasant. It is said to be ‘River Road‘ in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. (themoviedistrict.com).

Rainbow Tower and Carillon

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The tower which is often seen in the film is ‘The Rainbow Tower’ located at the Canadian end of the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The tower houses a ‘carillon’-a musical instrument consisting of a keyboard that controls a series of bells. The Rainbow Carillon which has 55 bronze bells is one of the largest carillons in North America. It is sounded 3 times a day. Although the bells have been automated since the early 2000s, they can be played by a carilloner on special occasions. (wikipedia.org and niagarafallstourism.com).

The Song ‘Kiss’

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We often hear the carillon in the film playing the song of Rose (Marilyn Monroe) and his lover: ‘Kiss’-music by Lionel Newman and lyrics by Haven Gillespie. We also hear Marilyn Monroe singing the song in one of the scenes of the film. I think it is a very nice melody suiting perfectly with the mysterious power of the Niagara Falls and the beauty of the region.

Some Views of Niagara Falls from the Film ‘Niagara’

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In one of the scenes of the film, George Loomis went near the falls early in the morning. As he walked very close to the falls and looked at them -seeming to have been astonished by the power and grandeur of the falls- he said the following :

”Why should the falls drag me down here at 5 o’clock in the morning? To show me how big they are and how small I am? To remind me they can get along without any help? Alright, so they proved it. … .”

These words probably reflect very well the feelings of one facing the Niagara Falls.

Notes: For different types of Marilyn Monroe film collections including the film ‘Niagara‘, you can check here in Amazon. For the book “Moon Niagara Falls: With Buffalo” (2020) – a guidebook about the Niagara region, check here.

You can check this book in Amazon titled ‘Niagara: Daredevils, Danger and Extraordinary Stories‘ as a collection of interesting stories about Niagara and covering Nikola Tesla as well, who had converted the energy of Niagara Falls into electricity in 1890s.
Check this book titled “Touring Niagara Wine Country” about Niagara region and more than forty wineries in Niagara and check here for the book titled “Niagara-on-the-Lake: Its Heritage and Its Festival” about Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Shaw Festival.

I liked the Niagara Falls posters and pictures here and the Niagara Falls mugs here.