A travel influencer has shared the harsh realities of what it’s really like to visit Niagara Falls – claiming it’s not as beautiful and glamorous as some may think.
Avid traveler Amy, from Canada, often jets around the world and documents her adventures on her TikTok account, where she has racked up more than 87,000 followers.
She recently took a trip to one of the most popular tourist attractions right in her home country but was left stunned at what she found.
The content creator said there were crowds of people, dirty waters, expensive parking and a ‘tacky’ town before branding the stunning waterfall as the ‘Vegas of Canada.’
A travel influencer has shared the harsh realities of what it’s really like to visit Niagara Falls – claiming it’s not as beautiful and glamorous as some may think
Avid traveler Amy, from Canada, often jets around the world and documents her adventures on her TikTok account, where she has racked up more than 87,000 followers
‘This may be controversial, but Niagara Falls is overrated,’ she wrote across a TikTok video.
She recently took a trip to one of the most beloved vacation spots in her home country
‘Tourist trap to the max,’ she added in the caption.
In the video, she said that her boyfriend, Sam, who hails from the UK, ‘really wanted to go’ and see the famous waterfalls, so they decided to take a day trip together.
She explained that they had to pay $15 for parking, and while the view was nice, it was hard to enjoy it thanks to the immense amount of people.
‘Sure, the view isn’t bad, but what you’re not seeing are the crowds of people and tacky town,’ she said.
‘I hate to say it but it’s the Vegas of Canada. I mean look at this water, this is exactly what you’re actually seeing when you look down,’ she added, while showcasing a brown murky pool.
Instead, Amy suggested driving 30 minutes over to a town called Niagara on the Lake, which sits on the edge of Lake Ontario.
She ended her TikTok by showing her and her boyfriend sitting and enjoying a glass of wine together.
She said there were crowds of people, dirty waters (seen), expensive parking, and a ‘tacky’ town, branding the stunning waterfall as the ‘Vegas of Canada’
She explained that they had to pay $15 for parking, and while the view was nice, it was hard to enjoy it thanks to the immense amount of people
Instead, Amy suggested driving 30 minutes over to a town called Niagara on the Lake, which sits on the edge of Lake Ontario and has numerous wineries
‘You’ll find many beautiful wineries there, spend the day there instead,’ she concluded.
She ended her TikTok by showing her and her boyfriend sitting and enjoying a glass of wine together
The area outside of Niagara Falls, called Clifton Hill, is well known for being a highly popular destination filled with lavish casinos and resorts, restaurants, amusement parks, museums and shops.
Amy spoke further about some of the downsides to visiting the ‘natural wonder of the world’ on her Instagram.
‘Parking is a minimum of $15 for the day, but it could be $20+ of you want to be closer to the falls,’ she wrote.
‘[No matter what day you go] you’re always going to be among a crowd of people.
‘We went on a Monday and it was packed.
‘And you really only need 30 minutes at the falls because there isn’t much to do.’
She slammed the ‘commercialized town built around the falls,’ claiming that it ‘really takes away from the beauty.’
‘[The area outside of it] is super tacky and filled with chain restaurants and bad amusement parks. Avoid if you can,’ she said.
The area outside of Niagara Falls, called Clifton Hill, is well known for being a highly popular destination filled with lavish casinos and resorts, restaurants and amusement parks
Amy’s video, which was viewed more than 281,000 times, sparked a debate between viewers, some of whom were thankful for her advice and others who disagreed with her
Amy’s video, which was viewed more than 281,000 times, sparked a debate between viewers, some of whom were thankful for her advice and others who disagreed with her.
‘It is overrated,’ one person agreed. ‘You need to go on the trails/hikes and the journey behind the falls and stuff like that to really enjoy it.’
‘As someone who lives in the area, fully agree,’ someone else said.
‘I was disappointed my first time, I thought it would be surrounded by mountains,’ another user shared.
A fourth comment read, ‘We totally agree with you. Way to crowded. We loved Niagara on the Lake.’
‘Finally, someone said it,’ commented a different person. A sixth simply wrote, ‘So real.’
Others, however, defended the area, with one person insisting, ‘No Niagara is beautiful and amazing.’
‘I love my city, it’s not tacky,’ someone else replied. Another wrote, ‘Nah, Niagara Falls is fire.’
In the end, Amy said it was simply ‘not her vibe.’