Anyone familiar with Southern Ontario area?

[mrudman]

I know this isn't exactly related to the budget board, but in a way it is cause taking a budget trip this year trying to save up for a trip to Disney next year, lol!

But anyway...

I have a question for any of you who are familiar with the Ontario area... we're planning a camping trip where we're going to circle Lake Erie..

Planning on staying on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls for probably 4 nights... have passports from a trip we took with my parents, so that's already covered.. going to stay at Yogi Bear campground, so 4 nt/5 days will only cost us about $250 lodging.

Probably going to do a couple of the activities that are the touristy-type things to do there... such as Maid of the Mist and possible a museum.. but hoping for the most part, we'll just be showing my dd's the sights and walking.

The "un-budget" part of this part of the trip is that I definitely want to take dd's to Marineland.... since they closed our Sea World down 8 yrs ago, I've been wanting to take them to a similar place.. I remember going there every year, and feel so bad that my girls have never been.

We'll then continue West, and head toward Detroit, down through Toledo, then back home (northeast ohio). Thinking of staying 2 nights somewhere around Wheaton, ON (possibly Camper's Cove) since that'll be about 1/2 way point between Niagara Falls and home.

Anything interesting I could have my dd's see around there, or along rt. 403/401 (thinking that's the route we'll be traveling)? (keeping budget mind, so free things would be great, lol)..

Thanks for any input!

Thanks!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Well, I would say I'm familiar with the "coast" of southern Ontario. I spent a lot of summers boating there.

Point Pelee might be an interesting place to stop. They probably have a campground there. You can also take the ferry to Pelee Island.

I always had fun in Leamington (it's the Tomato Capital of Canada!), and it's neighbor Kingsville, but there's really not all that much for kids to do there.

I can't really recommend a stopover in Detroit, but there's some interesting stuff just outside the city (Greenfield Village, for instance) that might be worth a day of your time.

 

[ChisJo]

You should ask this question on the canadian boards. There are tons of people from Ontario that frequent that part of this site!

 

[mrudman]

Thanks for the replies,

 

[iluveeyore]

We live here in the Lake Erie/southern Ontario area! First, let me say that your Marineland visit should be thought over carefully. My son worked there for two years, and I got an annual pass because it's a half hour from where we live and I wanted to wait for him in the park if he had a short shift - what a waste of money! You should really look at the park map/website to see if it's worth it for you. The whale/seal show is a joke, the dolphin show is a joke and everything is so spread out, you spend most of your time walking just to find only one or two things to do at the end of your hike. The food prices are ghastly with very little to choose from.
I just can't sit idly by and watch someone save up for something I know will disappoint them. It is nothing, nothing like Sea World. I would spend the money taking your kids to the indoor water park for the day, or make the drive to Canada's Wonderland if you want a proper theme park. It would be even better to visit Darien Lake just 40 min across the Buffalo border crossing where they have campgrounds. The Niagara area is beautiful, and you will enjoy just wandering and taking in the sights, but please don't waste your money on Marineland - if you've been to WDW and Sea World, you will just leave Marineland shaking your head with disappointment!

 

[mrudman]

We live here in the Lake Erie/southern Ontario area! First, let me say that your Marineland visit should be thought over carefully. My son worked there for two years, and I got an annual pass because it's a half hour from where we live and I wanted to wait for him in the park if he had a short shift - what a waste of money! You should really look at the park map/website to see if it's worth it for you. The whale/seal show is a joke, the dolphin show is a joke and everything is so spread out, you spend most of your time walking just to find only one or two things to do at the end of your hike. The food prices are ghastly with very little to choose from.
I just can't sit idly by and watch someone save up for something I know will disappoint them. It is nothing, nothing like Sea World. I would spend the money taking your kids to the indoor water park for the day, or make the drive to Canada's Wonderland if you want a proper theme park. It would be even better to visit Darien Lake just 40 min across the Buffalo border crossing where they have campgrounds. The Niagara area is beautiful, and you will enjoy just wandering and taking in the sights, but please don't waste your money on Marineland - if you've been to WDW and Sea World, you will just leave Marineland shaking your head with disappointment!

Hmm, thanks for the input on this... did look up reviews on this place after I read your post, and seems as if a lot of people do say the same thing.

Second-guessing now whether it'd be worth the cost... or if I should just treat dd's to 2-3 other attractions for similar price.

Don't really care for water parks too much.. but wondering if there's something else in that area that would be fun for dd's to do.

Thanks again.

 

[iluveeyore]

My kids loved the Butterfly Conservatory when they were younger. The Maid of the Mist you already mentioned is a must as well. Yes, there are many other smaller things you could do in the Niagara Falls area for the price of a day at Marineland. There's even a Rainforest Cafe on Clifton Hill to give you a reminder of WDW!

 

[formill]

Agree with Marineland being a waste of money! Nothing like Sea World. If you like animals African Lion Safari http://www.lionsafari.com/index2.asp near Cambridge Ontario is great and we really like a day at Safari Niagara http://www.safariniagara.com/ not expensive and lots of animals and a splash park.