I spent $400 a night for a hotel with a famous Niagara Falls view. The best views were free.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author's child on a balcony at a hotel near Niagara Falls.
The author said that she regrets chasing an image rather than an experience during a family trip to Niagara Falls.

Courtesy of Theresa Pickett.

We spent 48 hours visiting Niagara Falls. Here's what was actually worth doing — and one big mistake I'm glad we avoided.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Two men in ponchos at Niagara Falls
We spent 48 hours seeing Niagara Falls in New York and Canada, doing both touristy activities in the city and underrated ones nearby.

Ash Jurberg

I finally visited Niagara Falls for the first time. It was disappointing, but I'm still glad I went.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Amanda and her boyfriend take a selfie in Niagara Falls.
I visited Niagara Falls in Canada and was a little disappointed by the experience.

Amanda Shammas

I visited Niagara Falls on the American and Canadian sides. Both had huge perks, but I still had a favorite.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Emily and her husband take a selfie in front of a waterfall in Niagara Falls.
I visited Niagara Falls in both the US and Canada.

Emily Pogue

I paid $1,000 to sleep in a hotel room facing Niagara Falls for 2 nights. It was totally worth it.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
A table, sofa, and chair in a hotel room backed by floor-to-ceiling windows and a Juliette balcony facing Niagara Falls
The reporter went to Niagara Falls, Ontario, and booked two nights at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Disappointing photos show what it's really like to visit Niagara Falls in Canada

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
side-by-side photos show the expectation and reality of visiting Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a popular attraction that BI's reporter found to be less glamorous than it appears on social media and in ads.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Canada's Niagara region declares 'state of emergency' as a million total solar eclipse watchers predicted

Tech Insider
Total solar eclipse
The 2017 total solar eclipse at 100% totality.

John Finney photography / Getty Images

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