Nourished by the mystical Niagara River, this quaint little island is burrowed in the midst of the gushing Niagara Falls. Although this little island is predominantly inhabited, it is very popular due to the incredible views of the falls it offers. The island credits its name to a local settler in the 18th Century, who used to keep goats on the island. Throughout its history, the island has remained fairly undeveloped, and it is this desolateness which makes the island all the more charming. An integral part of the Niagara Falls State Park, the island today contains a monument to the legendary inventor Nikola Tesla gifted to the United States by Yugoslavia in the 1960s. Its fringes adorned with scenic escarpments and rocky outcrops, the island is pleasantly swathed in dense, lush woodlands and crisscrossing trails that evince wild, magical silhouettes of nature.

For the best views of Horseshoe Falls you must visit Goat Island. This tiny chunk of land is situated in the middle of the Niagara River between Bridal Veil and the Horseshoe Falls and allows visitors to get up close and personal to the raging rapids. I recommend parking at the visitor centre and walking along the Robert Moses Parkway towards Goat Island, the footbridge across Green Island also provides some amazing views of the Niagara River upstream.