Niagara Falls for the 1st time -HELP!!!

[loveysbydesign]

We stayed on the American side at Comfort Inn the Point. Nice, close to the falls, free parking and breakfast. There are more touristy things to do on the Canadian side though. We just walked across the bridge to get to Canada. You will need passports and $.50 each to walk back over the bridge. If you get in your car and drive about 10 minutes in NY you can find much cheaper places to eat.

Has anyone else stayed on the American side...if so what place would you recommend?

 

[loveysbydesign]

I am getting worried about it being too cold to do Maid of the Mist. Maybe we should scrap our plans and wait to do it next year in the summer/early Sept.
Then I just have to come up with come other place to go for 3-4 days, that's affordable and within 7 hours drive of where we live and that I can plan in 1 1/2 weeks...as that's when we planned to go...any suggestions?

 

[sk!mom]

If you are traveling into Canada by car, you need a passport, passport card or enhanced driver's license. A birth certificate is not enough.

I went to Niagara Falls in August (Canadian side). We stayed at the Embassy Suites with a fantastic view of the Falls. Very nice hotel that includes a buffet breakfast and manager's reception in the afternoon with snacks and drinks.

Maid of the Mist was great fun. A real must-do in Niagara Falls. We had dinner one night at "My Cousin Vinny's" which was across the street from the hotel and the food was very good. Delicious pizza. Be prepared -- everything is expensive in Niagara Falls. For example, we had dinner one night at Applebee's. I ordered a sandwich which here at home would be about $8.00. In Niagara Falls, that sandwich was $14.99.

Have fun on your trip!

We also stayed at Embassy Suites in August. The view was amazing and the hotel was very convenient. The cost of everything was very high so we made the most of the free breakfast and manager's reception.

We loved Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, and Niagara on the Lake. We avoided Clifton Hill.

 

[DawnM]

We stayed there too. It was ok. The kids loved it, but it is on the Canadian side.

I wouldn't get $75 passports for just a day or two.

Doesn't Maid of the Mist have a US tour too? We loved that.

We already had passports so it wasn't an added expense for us.

Dawn

We stayed at the Americana hotel a few years ago. It has a nice water park - you don't have to pay to park- and there is a bus stop right in front of the hotel.

 

[tlh0726]

I am getting worried about it being too cold to do Maid of the Mist. Maybe we should scrap our plans and wait to do it next year in the summer/early Sept.
Then I just have to come up with come other place to go for 3-4 days, that's affordable and within 7 hours drive of where we live and that I can plan in 1 1/2 weeks...as that's when we planned to go...any suggestions?

Being there several times, if it were me I would postpone till next year when it would be way more enjoyable when the weather is warmer. I have gotten wet by the mist (felt like rain) while walking on the canadian side. Not fun when it is cold.

What about going south and doing Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah Valley etc. The scenery with the changing leaves will be beautiful and there are areas that you stop and take a small walk/hike to see.

One more thing if you decide to do Luray Caverns. make sure you have a Giant Bonus card it seems to be the best deal

From the luray caverns website. (not in the most visible place)

There are a number of discounts available. The ticket office has complete information, but some of the most popular include*:

AAA membership discount – $2.00 off each adult admission (up to 6) with your membership card
Ukrop's Valued Customer card – $4.00 off each adult ticket (up to 6)
Giant BonusCard – one 50% reduction off a second regular adult ticket
Participating companies and military bases (through their Human Relations Department) – $4.00 off adult tickets

* Each of the above is not applicable with any any other discount. Discounts are only valid when purchasing tickets on-site.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Being there several times, if it were me I would postpone till next year when it would be way more enjoyable when the weather is warmer. I have gotten wet by the mist (felt like rain) while walking on the canadian side. Not fun when it is cold.

What about going south and doing Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah Valley etc. The scenery with the changing leaves will be beautiful and there are areas that you stop and take a small walk/hike to see.

One more thing if you decide to do Luray Caverns. make sure you have a Giant Bonus card it seems to be the best deal

From the luray caverns website. (not in the most visible place)

There are a number of discounts available. The ticket office has complete information, but some of the most popular include*:

AAA membership discount – $2.00 off each adult admission (up to 6) with your membership card
Ukrop's Valued Customer card – $4.00 off each adult ticket (up to 6)
Giant BonusCard – one 50% reduction off a second regular adult ticket
Participating companies and military bases (through their Human Relations Department) – $4.00 off adult tickets

* Each of the above is not applicable with any any other discount. Discounts are only valid when purchasing tickets on-site.

I'm definitely open to other suggestions.
We had considered something a little south of us but couldn't really come up with anything that would keep all the kids entertained...not sure if my 2 y.o. would want to go into the caverns. I'm afraid of him freaking out. We also need to be able to plan 1-2 pit stops before we get to where we're going as after about 2 hours he needs a break to get out of the car and run around. Do you happen to know of any affordale, clean nice places to stay down that way? I would love to see the foliage but I'm sure my dh would be wanting to know exactly where our final destination would be. Thanks!

 

[disneybound31]

If one wanted to fly in to see Niagra (US) to what airport would one fly? We are too far to drive and have had Niagra on our to-do list of places to see.

 

[tlh0726]

Buffalo would be the nearest major airport in the US

 

[tinkerbellmichelle]

I apologize in advance if i'm repeating things but got excited to see your post as we just got back from niagara falls.


We've never been to Niagara Falls and are thinking of taking a short trip with our 3 kids, ages 10, 7 and 2...maybe for 2-3 nights dependent on cost.
1. Where to stay? Embassy Suites - - - and right now travelzoo has amazing discounts fro Embassy Suites. It had a great location, was super clean, and had such great offers to go along with the awesome room rate. this is on the Canadian side, by the way.
2. What are 1-2 must-do attractions? I assume Maid of the Mist is one of them. There is also a tour behind the falls.
3. What should we definitely not do. Uh, Clifton hill (on the canadian side) unless you want to spend a lot of money on games and haunted houses etc.

 

[hegs65]

Has anyone done the festival of lights? Is it worth it?

 

[tekmom]

We just got back last weekend. We stayed at the Sheraton on the Falls, Canadian side. It was nice and right across the falls at the bottom of Clifton Hill. We got an excellent rate. We did Maid of the Mist , Canadian side and walked back across the Rainbow Bridge to the US side and did Cave of the Winds. We also did Journey Behind the Falls.... NOT WORTH THE TIME, in my opinion. We ate at Montana's Steak house (okay), and the Fallsview Restaurant in the Sheraton. We did the Casino Niagara and the kids did the arcade...very convenient to the hotel. We didn't do the waterpark, not enough time, as we were only only there from Saturday afternoon through Monday a.m.

I have to say, the US side doesn't have anything to offer. The welcome center was gross and the only hotel worth staying at would be the Seneca. We couldn't believe that the US side looked so crappy. I did like the park like setting provided on the US side, but if we go back, I'll stay Canadian again.

 

[big_red_s]

When we went we took a tour on the American side (which we liked better) that did almost everything there is to do on the American side (Cave of the winds, Maid of the Mist, touring around the powe plant, seeing the rapids, Daredevil museum etc.) for one price.

It was a long day 6-8 hours but was absolutly worht it.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Resurrecting my own post-lol. We still haven't gotten there but may go this Sun-Tues. I realize the boat is closed. We need to keep it cheap...aren't into glitzy things. Think we might just walk around the park on the U.S. side...is there any other 1 thing you'd recommend is a do not miss for Niagara falls that doesn't cost an arm and a leg for a family of 5...kids ages 10, 7 2 1/2??

 

[loveysbydesign]

Bumping my thread! We never made it in the fall and are looking to go in May...just on the US side to see the falls, do Maid of the mist, hike and relax.
Can anyone recommend a great place to stay on the US side?