Niagara Falls draws in millions of tourists each year, but the misty waterfall is just one of the many things to see in the area. 

Thanks to the Discover Niagara Shuttle that’s back for its fourth season, visitors can get a ride to 16 other stops, all for free.

“For tourists, they're getting a totally different experience outside of Niagara Falls," said Sara Capen, executive director of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. "They might go visit Niagara Falls for an entire day, but then when they hop on the shuttle, they get to experience more of a history, more of the culture, the great food, so it's really broadening the experience."

But being a visitor from out of town isn't required; locals can be a tourist in their own back yard, thanks to the free service.

“We have a lot of locals that use it," Capen said. "They use it for outdoor recreation, whether it's hiking, whether they put their bikes on, we have people who use it to get to their jobs, to get to appointments. We have families that say, instead of loading kids up in the car, they go down to the silo and get an ice cream cone together, so people have really expanded the way you can use it."

For businesses and attractions that are a little further from the falls, the shuttle quite literally helps put them on the map, and brings passengers along for a scenic route.

Robert Emerson is the executive director at Old Fort Niagara, and said he’s seen the shuttle improve the area these past couple of years.

“It's one more thing that we think helps keep people in our area," Emerson said. "I mean, a lot of people come to Niagara Falls, but the perennial problem has been you see the falls and you move on, and this really helps to work against that problem. I think it keeps people in the area longer. They spend more money; it creates a much better economic impact then we had before the shuttle existed."