Three Sisters Islands for solitude, Goat Island for the spectacle.

Crowds: Goat Island is Niagara Falls’ main drag — expect shoulder-to-shoulder selfies all day. Three Sisters Islands are quieter, even in peak season. You’ll still see people, but you can breathe.

Views: Goat Island puts you right next to the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. That’s the money shot. Three Sisters Islands give you a different angle — looking upriver at the rapids, with the falls in the distance. Less dramatic, more serene.

Difficulty: Goat Island is flat, paved, and wheelchair/stroller accessible. Three Sisters Islands require crossing a series of footbridges with some stairs and uneven stone paths. Not hard, but not zero effort.

If you only have an hour, hit Goat Island. If you want to escape the masses for twenty minutes, Three Sisters is worth the walk.