Destination: Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls area usually evokes images of honeymoons and daredevils in barrels, but this twin city tourist attraction on the border of Ontario and the state of New York offers plenty of other worthwhile diversions such as fishing, swimming, hiking and plenty of golf.

Of course, the biggest tourist attraction on both sides of the border is Niagara Falls, which also serves as major source for electrical power. Nearly 30 million people visit the Falls each year. On the Canadian side, Horseshoe Falls towers 173 feet and is nearly a half mile wide, while the height of the American Falls varies between 70 and 100 feet and is more than 1,000 feet wide. Lit up by floodlights after sunset, Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular sites in North America.

There are plenty of vantage points on both sides to view the Falls, including from the decks of boats, the Prospect Point observation tower in Niagara Falls State Park, Goat Island and the Seneca Indian Niagara Casino Hotel on the American side. From the Canadian side, visitors can get great views of the Falls from Queen Victoria Park, from underground walkways or the observation decks of the Skylon and Minolta towers.

Summers are mild in Niagara Falls, and late spring and fall are cool, providing a welcome respite for golfers looking to escape the heat in other parts of the country. There are dozens of golf courses on both sides of the Niagara River, many concentrated between Buffalo, N.Y., and the border, as well as roads going North to Toronto.

The green fees at Niagara golf courses are usually more than reasonable, and there's a course for every budget and skill level. There is everything from resort courses, like the Rees Jones Course at Grand Niagara, to layouts on historic sites, such as the three Canadian courses at The Legends on the Niagara, which pays homage to a battle fought during the War of 1812.

Niagara Falls is a little out of the way, but not too difficult to reach. Although Niagara Falls (N.Y) International Airport offers some commercial service, the most convenient and economical way to get to Niagara Falls is either through Buffalo, N.Y., on the U.S. side, or Toronto on the Canadian side. By car, it's less than 90 minutes from Toronto, while the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport is less than 30 miles. Both sides offer plenty of hotels (the honeymoon business still thrives) with the Canadian side (83,000) having more rooms with its slightly larger population.