Heading to Niagra Falls this week - any last minute tips?

lisaross

DIS Veteran
Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
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Seems lots of u have gone this summer so just wondering if u have any last minute tips, must do's etc. Staying on the canadian side

lisa
 
You might want to check the Canadian board for info. on trips to Niagara Falls--there have been several discussions this summer.

Other than that, I suggest you go on the Maid of the Mist boat ride, and take a side trip into the wine areas near N.F. Check out Niagara-on-the-Lake as well.
 
We're going this weekend too. Check out the free fireworks on Friday and Sunday nights. An adventure pass is a great value if you're planning to do everything on it. I'm buying a Clifton Hill pass this time around because I know it's all things we want to do and bundling it together saves you money. If you have kids they have a Rainforest cafe on Clifton Hill. I saw this coupon here on the Disboards and was going to try it out https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...1abtwF&sig=AHIEtbSlsu2srtSzqVAiUhPiU9kvUOukWg
 
yes, we are arriving on Sunday - leaving Wednesday! I already purchased the Adventure Passes - will also be purchasing the Clifton Hill ones - not sure if i should get them online or wait till i'm there...

how long are u staying? what hotel? we're at the Comfort Inn, Clifton hill
 

oh we are also going to the Oh Canada Eh show on Monday night

We're going this weekend too. Check out the free fireworks on Friday and Sunday nights. An adventure pass is a great value if you're planning to do everything on it. I'm buying a Clifton Hill pass this time around because I know it's all things we want to do and bundling it together saves you money. If you have kids they have a Rainforest cafe on Clifton Hill. I saw this coupon here on the Disboards and was going to try it out https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...1abtwF&sig=AHIEtbSlsu2srtSzqVAiUhPiU9kvUOukWg
 
#1- Maid of the Mist - DEFINITELY

#2- be prepared to be awed!
 
Only 2 days for us but we've been so many times. We just do the things now that we really enjoy the most so for us the Maid of the Mist is always a must do. Table rock and Clifton hill. We have to do the ferris wheel and we usually play mini golf and arcade games and do a museum so the Clifton hill pass makes sense for us. We like to eat too so we usually have to get some salt water taffy, fudge and one of those swirly cones the sell on clifton hill. We're staying at the Sheratton on the Falls. The kids love rainforest cafe and it's pretty much the same price as a Kelseys or TGI Fridays. I'm going to try the coupons and see if they take them. You never know here in Canada they don't always take everything. If you haven't been I would skip the iHop on clifton hill. I went once and thought it would be like any other iHop but this one was super expensive.
 
We went in June arrived Sunday night and left Wednesday. At least when I purchased the Clifton Hill pass online we got an extra ride on the ferris wheel. We liked the trolley that was included in the Adventure Pass and used it to get to places like the Clock Tower and Sam Adam Beck power plant tour. Check out the coupons you get from the adventure tour in can use any of them. If you are interested in haunted houses we were offered half price before noon at Dracula's castle.

My kids were excited about Great Wolf Lodge being in Niagara Falls, Canada. It turned out all they were interested in was Magic Quest. I called and was told that you don't need to be a hotel guest to do it. We took the trolley there and spent about 3 hours running around doing the Magic Quest which was a lot of fun. It was expensive for two games (wand and game per child) but we budgetted that in.

If you aren't planning on visiting the US side I would strongly recommend at least visiting Cave of the Winds on the US side (and be prepared to get wet). We found that while two full day was plenty to see the major attractions we could have filled more days if we had stayed longer.
 
I grew up on Grand Island (3 miles upstream from the falls) and I can tell you the Canadian side is much better than the U.S. side with two notable exceptions. The Cave of the Winds is better on the U.S. side with its decks, and Goat Island is cool because at least back in my day you could walk right up to the rapids (not right by the falls however!). I was living there when they temporarlity damned up the U.S. rapids. I still have a rock from the river bed!
Trivia Question: There are falls higher than Niagara, there are falls wider than Niagara, yet Niagara was listed as one of the original 7 wonders of the world.....Why?
 
Only 2 days for us but we've been so many times. We just do the things now that we really enjoy the most so for us the Maid of the Mist is always a must do. Table rock and Clifton hill. We have to do the ferris wheel and we usually play mini golf and arcade games and do a museum so the Clifton hill pass makes sense for us. We like to eat too so we usually have to get some salt water taffy, fudge and one of those swirly cones the sell on clifton hill. We're staying at the Sheratton on the Falls. The kids love rainforest cafe and it's pretty much the same price as a Kelseys or TGI Fridays. I'm going to try the coupons and see if they take them. You never know here in Canada they don't always take everything. If you haven't been I would skip the iHop on clifton hill. I went once and thought it would be like any other iHop but this one was super expensive.

We are hear right now and I had to laugh at the ihop is super expensive. We we went to Denny's last night. We usually spend no more than 35 with tip. Last night our bill came out to $58!! We had to pay $62 because we paid with USA bills. Plus we had some Candian money that we used for a tip. Tourist trap!!! Oh and Wendy's also their food that's normally .99 is $2.20 here! So everything is way more OP
 
If you pay for parking at a State/National park on the U.S. side, save your receipt. It will let you in to other park parking free all day.

We parked and rode the Maid of the Mist. That receipt let us in free to the parking by Cave of the Winds. Both of these are EXCELLENT ways to experience the natural wonder of the falls.

The we came back to see the falls lit at night. Same parking receipt, no additional charge.
 
Don't go to the aquarium on the US side. It is small, dirty, dark and doesn't have much in it. There is a sign at the entrance that says no refunds- that should be a red flag!
 
Have fun and be prepared for ice cream cone sticker shock! lol:lmao:
 
We are hear right now and I had to laugh at the ihop is super expensive. We we went to Denny's last night. We usually spend no more than 35 with tip. Last night our bill came out to $58!! We had to pay $62 because we paid with USA bills. Plus we had some Candian money that we used for a tip. Tourist trap!!! Oh and Wendy's also their food that's normally .99 is $2.20 here! So everything is way more OP

Experienced the same thing at Perkins 2 years ago. Not your typical pricing. I can expect a couple dollars more due to tourist area but $60 for 3 people for breakfast is too much. We did not go back.
 
For a good, reasonably priced breakfast, try Flying Saucer Restaurant at 6768 Lundy's Lane http://flyingsaucerrestaurant.com/ Nothing fancy, just diner type food.

Also, we love Swiss Chalet also located on Lundy's Lane, for delicious rotisserie chicken and french fries. http://www.swisschalet.com/home.php

Both of these restaurants are about a 5 minute drive from the fallsview area-less than 2 miles away.
 














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