Niagara Falls is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in both the United States and Canada. The natural beauty of the falls has turned the area into can't-miss destination. But, amid all the parks, high-end hotels, and award-winning restaurants, there's a weirder side to the falls. From bizarre museums to flying saucers to cursed caves, Niagara Falls has plenty of adventure off-the-beaten path.
Brampton, Canada
Maintained by Niagara Parks horticulture staff in conjuction with Ontario Hydro, the giant Floral Clock in Niagara Falls is made up of over 16,000 plants and dates all the way back to 1950. The floral design is changed twice each year, (in the spring and again in the fall) and the clock even has custom Westminster Chimes that ring every quarter hour.
Tips: Admission to the park is totally free, and if you walk around to the back of the giant clock, you can get a peek at its internal mechanisms!
For several years, Nightmares Fear Factory year-round haunted house, located on the Canadian side of the falls, has been running an automatic camera that photographs the reactions of spooked people at the split second one of the most intense scares occurs (we won't spoil what it is, in case you plan to visit.) The images have become internet legend, and they regularly post the best ones on their Facebook page.
Don't worry, it's not all gimmick. This is one of the scariest haunted houses in North America. It's so scary, in fact, that over 150,000 people haven't made it all the way through.
Tip: Tickets run $14 for adults, and you can expect to be in the dark attraction for around twenty minutes. You can bring kids under 12, but we wouldn't recommend it.
When visiting the falls, it's kind of hard to miss the house that looks like it fell from the sky and landed upside down. Interestingly enough, everything on the inside of the house is upside down too, and you can see it for yourself on a bizarre tour that will leave you feeling dizzy and disoriented from walking on the ceiling.
Tip: At $20 for two people, the price of this attraction is pretty steep. You can walk the whole place in around five minutes, so if you're feeling thrifty, skip the tour and take a few photos from the outside.
Those looking to do a little legend tripping while in Niagara need to look no further than the infamous Screaming Tunnel. Once a passageway for farmers to move their animals safely under the railroad tracks, the spooky tunnel is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a girl who died under the thick limestone archway many years ago. To this day, legend says that those who light a single candle in the middle of the tunnel will hear the wails of the phantom girl echo from beyond.
Brampton, Canada
Whether you're visiting the rock gods of wax, investigating ancient curses, or having a beer with the Founding Fathers, there's no reason not to add a little weirdness to your trip to Niagara Falls.
