Niagara Falls Bucket List Adventure: Jet Boat & Helicopter Tour

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Jet boating was high on my bucket list ever since I learned about its existence while curating a series of adrenaline-pumping activities a few months ago. When I saw this activity is available in Niagara Falls, I couldn’t resist booking a thrilling jet boat ride. Especially when “Class 5 whitewater” is in the description, I knew it was going to be a hell of a ride and a lot of fun! And to top it off, the tour provider, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, bundles it with a helicopter ride. Double the fun and save 30%? We certainly didn’t want to pass up that offer! This was the perfect chance to check off our Niagara Falls bucket list!

Niagara Falls Bucket List Item #1: Whirlpool Jet Boat

Wet or dry, that’s the dilemma. On a wet jet, you’re guaranteed to be soaking wet. While it sounds fun, it is also going to be freezing cold! The jet dome takes you on the exact same route but keeps you dry. At first glance, the jet dome seems to be a perfect choice. But like my friend said, “You can’t eat a cupcake without the frosting. Go all the way and have fun!” I was convinced. Wet jet it is!

Wet Jet

Jet Dome

45 minutes before our scheduled tour time, we arrived at the check-in counter. We signed the participation agreement and waited to be transported to the dock. On the shuttle bus, our trip leader Natalie went over the safety briefing. Leave valuables in the locker, put on the poncho, wear a life jacket. You know the drill.

As soon as the bus came to a stop, everyone was quick to spring into action. Within minutes, we were all queued up, waiting to feel the power of the Niagara’s class 5 whitewater rapids!

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“The first 3 rows are the power rows where you will get the most water and impact. So choose wisely!” Natalie warned us. Without giving a second thought, we hopped on the boat and took the very first row. Crazy? I called this maximizing the thrill level 😛

Engine, on and off we go!

Captain Mike started off by showing off the jet boat’s contrasting prowess. He deftly maneuvering the boat to give it a quick spin. The boat slid across the surface of the waters, doing a 360-degree spin, and stopped on a dime with a large spray of water. That’s Hamilton Turn! Our first stunt of the day! And this triple turbo diesel water jet, pumping out 1500 horsepower, was capable of making us fly!

As we headed deep into the upriver, spectacular vistas of the Niagara Gorge set in. It was hard to believe that this was where the mighty Niagara Falls stood 12000 years ago! All the way down here in the lower Niagara! The immensely powerful currents of the Falls’ carved its way through solid rock, over centuries, and this is how the 11 km-long gorge came into existence.

Natalie continued to fill us in on all the interesting facts about the surrounding. On the way, we saw Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, one of the 4 bridges in Niagara that connect Canada to the U.S., Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations that carry power to the whole southern Ontario, and Robert Moses Niagara Power Station right across the river, feeding power to Atlanta, Georgia.

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As we traveled further, we could see the walls of the gorge started to get narrower and narrower. The water became fierce and wild. We all knew what was waiting for us.

To ensure all of us would come out safe and sound, Natalie quickly reminded us of the whitewater safety. The boat started picking up the speed and when on cue, we locked our body in the safety position. Staring at the angry rapids, I could feel my heart pounding hard in my chest.

Fearlessly, the boat plunged into Devil’s Hole class 5 rapids. We bounced up and down with the raging waters like on a roller coaster. Then all of a sudden, a massive surge of water swallowed us all. Continuously, we hurtled through gushing bursts with barely enough time to catch a breath. When we finally reached a calm spot, we coughed and spluttered. No doubt, we all got completely drenched. We looked at each other’s bad hair and burst into laughter.

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We did this over and over again for several times. More screams, more laughter, more waves, and more bad hair. Did we get tired of it? Not at all! We did, however, take a break at the swirling Whirlpool, where the Niagara River makes a sharp right-angled turn, forming a 38m-deep basin. Following the Niagara River, we saw the treacherous class 6 Whirlpool Rapids that stretch for 1.6 km and runs as fast as 9 m per second! Because the rapids are too dangerous to ride, we were only able to admire it from a distance.

To see how much fun we had, check out the video below!

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Niagara Falls Bucket List Item #2: Helicopter Ride

After a quick change into dry clothes, we made our way to the next Niagara Falls bucket list adventure – a helicopter ride over the Niagara Falls with Niagara Helicopters!