What I find most interesting about Niagara Falls is the people who visit it each year. It has been a tourist destination for over a hundred years (Oscar Wilde wrote commentary about people honeymooning here).
While walking along the coast of the falls you'll see people taking pictures of their friends and family and "saying cheese" in four hundred languages. There's a tremendous cultural diversity at the falls itself but beyond that it's mostly locals and people passing through to Canada. The tourist area really only stretches for about three blocks from the falls on the New York side and that's only because there is a casino. A few blocks away the Western New York community is going about their daily business of farming or shopping or going to school.
The Canadian side is a different story. It's like an alien interpretation of Times Square. People walk down the street dazzled by the flashing lights and noise so you need to be prepared for a time consuming walk.
The falls is such an odd and complex place because of the diversity it offers, it's fascinating. Oh and the waterfall is pretty cool too (a ton of water).
