I spent $1,000 to stay in a hotel directly facing Niagara Falls. The room surprised me in 4 ways.

• I had no idea what it would sound like to wake up in a hotel room facing Niagara Falls.
• I had no idea how my view would change when the sun went down.
• My two-night stay at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel was full of surprises.

When I got to my room, I was surprised to find that I’d be able to see Niagara Falls from my bed.

At 10 p.m., I watched a fireworks show explode over the glowing waterfalls without having to deal with the crowds.

I also didn’t realize my room would give me a front-row view of a nightly fireworks show.

During my first night in the hotel, after I was already mesmerized by the light show, I was completely awestruck when fireworks started popping off above the falls.

The fireworks display happens every night at 10 p.m. from late May to early October, according to Niagara Falls Live. The show went on for about six minutes each night. I thought it felt magical. 

Seeing the fireworks show from my bed was a happy surprise, and I was glad to avoid the crowds of people rushing to admire them from the same viewpoints below. I felt like a VIP on my own private perch and thought it made the nightly $500 price worth it.