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For years Niagara Falls has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States and Canada. Visitors from abroad and North America alike cannot seem to shake their desire to visit this dramatic aquatic spectacle. But why exactly? The falls are not particularly convenient to any major U.S. city (apologies to Buffalo), which means visitors to the US will need at least two days to fit in a visit to Niagara. Furthermore besides the actual falls themselves, there is little in the way of cultural or natural points of interest in the area. That is unless you consider a visit to Ripleys Believe it or Not to be a cultural experience. Finally, the climate in the Niagara region is rather daunting for much of the year. The area gets a lot of precipitation throughout the year and winter is definitely rugged in that region.

The short answer to why Niagara Falls has such a following is good PR. People from far and wide have heard of Niagara Falls. I recently asked a friend from Taiwan if she had heard of Niagara Falls before moving to the states. Of course!, she replied, we learned about Niagara Falls in grade school. She went on to explain that most people who grew up in Asia consider Niagara Falls to be one of the most important sites to see in the U.S. Its reputation is also strong throughout Europe and India. The thought of missing Niagara Falls is akin to missing the Great Wall or the Taj Majal on a visit to China or India respectively.

The real key to Niagara Falls enduring lure, however, may be simply that it does not disappoint. The falls themselves have an undeniable dramatic beauty. Furthermore, the ever popular Maid of the Mist boat ride that takes tourists directly into the falls is truly thrilling. Beyond that, the town of Niagara Falls, Ontario has a certain dilapidated charm. As you stroll along Queen Victoria Park facing the falls on the Canadian side, you cannot help but get a sense of what it must have been like to visit in more innocent times; before we were jaded by extreme vacations and adventure tours. To think of someone actually climbing into a barrel and heading over the falls in 1901 (actually done for the first time by a 63 year old school teacher) still captures the imagination.

To get more insight into what impression Niagara Falls makes, I interviewed 40 people who had visited the Falls in the past several years. The survey, taken from a semi-randomly selected sample, is patently unscientific. However, the results are interesting nonetheless. (A few words about the sample: most respondents were not born in the US but were living here, the age range was from young adults to retirees, most had begun their trip in either New York City or Boston, and most had gone to the Falls on a bus tour.)

Here is a summary of the feedback:

Was it worth visiting?
A resounding yes. Most respondents acknowledged that the eight hour trip from New York City was long, but surprisingly few seemed to mind. Several people expressed how much they enjoyed seeing the countryside and getting a sense of the real United States. Those who included a visit to Niagara Falls as part of a tour of Canada were the least likely to complain about the distance. Only one respondent expressed regret that he made the trip. He said he just did not find the falls themselves that impressive and did not think it was worth the long bus trip.

Most recommended attractions?
Hands down the Maid of the Mist boat tour was suggested as the must-do activity. Several people also pointed out that this was the best way to view the falls for those who were not able to go to the Canadian side because of visa re-entry issues. The Cave of the Winds tour, which takes you by elevator to the bottom of the falls, got high marks for those who preferred not to take a boat ride. The helicopter tour also got raves, but only one person in the survey took a helicopter tour. The nighttime illumination of the falls got mixed reviews, with some calling it stunning, while others found it tacky. Several people who traveled with children also recommended exploring the town of Niagara Falls, Ontario. It offers typically touristy attractions that are sure to please kids.

How long should you stay?
Almost everyone answered either one or two days. A few people thought only a few hours were sufficient to see the sights, and no one suggested staying more than two days.

When should you go?
This is a little hard to decipher. Not surprisingly most people visited Niagara Falls in the summer. The few who did go in the winter said they were impressed by the falls surrounded by ice, but expressed regret that they could not go on the Maid of the Mist (it stops running in October). In short, it seems like you should not go to Niagara in the winter unless you are prepared for the cold. A few also recommended going in the fall to enjoy the foliage in Upstate New York along the way.

Bottom Line: Most people sampled in this informal survey thought Niagara Falls was a great weekend getaway and a good place to take visitors from abroad. If possible, include a stop in Niagara Falls on a visit to Toronto for a great long weekend trip from New York or Boston. Chances are you will not be disappointed in a trip to Niagara Falls if you go when you are prepared for the weather, do not stay more than two days, and do not have high expectations of the attractions outside of those related to the falls.

Lila Kahn is the Marketing Manager of GotoBus.com, the leading online marketplace for bus tickets and tours in the USA. You can find out more information about the company and contact information for the author at: http://www.gotobus.com/

Does panting on the treadmill give you nightmares? For many, the prospect of losing weight can be a scary thing. However, it's important to first understand that there are many ways to lose weight, without having to exhaust oneself totally.

Myths of weight loss

There are some popular misconceptions associated with weight loss. Before you actually start an exercise regimen, it's important to remove all pre-conceived notions. We have listed out some of the most popular ones:

Myth 1: Ab exercises flatten the stomach

Fact: Ab exercises only tone and firm the lower layers of stomach muscle. If you happen to have layers of fat above, it won't make any difference. Therefore do aerobic exercises to shed the fat.

Myth 2: Drinking water before exercise is harmful

Fact: Water is essential to replenish fluids lost during strenuous exercise. Therefore, drink water in equal amounts.

Myth 3: Eliminating fats helps shed weight faster

Fact: Fats in small amounts can help you feel fuller during the day. This avoids binging.

Myth 4: High protein, low carb diets burn fat faster

Fact: Ingesting too much protein can result in high fat and cholesterol levels in the body. Too many carbohydrates in the diet can result in the formation of Ketones which lead to kidney stones. The trick lies in a balanced diet.

Myth 5: One can lose weight no matter what one eats

Fact: Not watching what's eaten can lead to alarming weight increases

Myth 6: Skipping meals burns fat quickly

Fact: When you skip meals, your body goes into a conservation mode where its metabolic rate starts dipping, resulting in weight gains.

Myth 7: Weight training doesn't shed weight

Fact: Weight training can actually be a great way to lose weight in a short time span.

Myth 8: Consuming nuts and dairy products can be fattening

Fact: If taken in small doses, nuts can actually be good for health.

Myth 9: Counting calories isn't really necessary

Fact: It is absolutely necessary to keep track of everything you eat right from sugar to tea or even snacks.

Myth 10: Salads are a great health snack

Fact: Yes salads are great but not with the fatty dressing.

Cardio to help shed fat

It has been clinically proven that cardio exercise is your one and only ticket to effective and quick fat loss. Cardio exercises involve any form of exercise that raises heart rate to higher levels. Especially when it comes to fat loss goals, the higher the intensity, the greater the chances of your slimming down quicker!

Why high intensity cardio is so great

There are many reasons why cardio helps shed weight fast:

- High intensity cardio rapidly raises your metabolic rate

- This increased metabolic rate remains at the same rate even after exercise

- Increases lean muscle mass which contributes to increased resting metabolic levels

- Other benefits include:

- Greater lung strength

- Strengthens your heart

- Improves blood circulation.

Timing and its impact

The best time of the day for any cardio exercise is early in the morning, before you've had any breakfast. This is because in the morning hours, muscle and liver glycogen levels are really low. This means that with lower blood sugar levels, your chances at burning fat at this time is much more than later in the day.

Top 5 cardio exercises to shed fat

If you think a 30 minute morning walk at moderate pace will help, then you're wrong. While it certainly will help you lose more calories over a period of time, if you're looking for fat loss you need something extra!

1.Jump rope: On an average if you jump rope for 15 minutes you burn 174 calories!

2.Swimming: The forward crawl stroke seems to burn fat the best and its also non-impact.

3.Sprinting: It will burn tons of calories, beats fat like none other and reduces stress and tension in the body.

4.Step aerobics: Burns a whopping 400 calories in a 30 minute time span

5.Cycling: It exhausts carbohydrate reserves in the body resulting in enhanced metabolic rates.

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