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

[loveysbydesign]

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?
2. What are 1-2 must-do attractions? I assume Maid of the Mist is one of them.
3. What should we definitely not do.
4. Anyone know how far of a drive it is from Lehigh Valley, PA?
5. Should we bring our birth certificates to cross over the border?

 

[momtwo4]

Having grown up in Western NY, I would definately bring your kids birth certs and your passports if you have them. Check to see if you need them now to cross the bridge ( this was going to change recently and adults were going to be required to show a passport i believe, but check to make sure)

The Canadian side really does have much more to offer.
Maid of the Mist
Clifton Hill has silly things like wax museum-your kids may enjoy but adds up fast $$
Just across the border on the Canadian side there is a large casino that many adults cross the border for as well, obviously your kids will not be going there but you will see it.

I do not have any hotel recommendations as we have always lived in a Buffalo suburb so within driving distance.

Editing to add- if you can I would go when the weather isnt cold. Yes it is an amazing site to see anytime BUT when its cold with the water and wind blowing it can can turn a really nice trip into a miserable one very quick!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Anyone stayed here http://www.nfcourtyard.com/index.php/screen/kidspackages

 

[antmaril]

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!

 

[loveysbydesign]

My dh and I have passports but the kiddos don't.
Is this the one you stayed at http://www.niagaraembassysuites.com/index.php

Also we're looking to stay away from too much expensive touristy stuff...just see the falls, relax, eat a good meal or 2 and maybe do 1-2 "fun" things...like Maid of the Mist!!

 

[TupperMom7]

You had better check out the passport situation. Much has changed. Used to be you could just show your birth certificate, now you need a passport and I am not sure about children. My sister's daughter and her family moved to Canada and my sister has not been to visit yet because she doesn't have a passport and her grandson whom she has custody of needs one too. The problem is not getting into Canada - it's getting back into the United States!

 

[loveysbydesign]

You had better check out the passport situation. Much has changed. Used to be you could just show your birth certificate, now you need a passport and I am not sure about children. My sister's daughter and her family moved to Canada and my sister has not been to visit yet because she doesn't have a passport and her grandson whom she has custody of needs one too. The problem is not getting into Canada - it's getting back into the United States!

Maybe we would just have to visit the US side then..I'm not buying 3 passports for my kids...we're trying to do a short budget trip-lol!

 

[Tammi67]

We stayed here when traveling with 3 adults and 2 kids. Not a falls view, but we had more space, and it was a short walk to the falls. http://www.niagarafallscomfort.com/
My kids were 6 and 4 when we went. We did the Maid of the Mist, rode the Skywheel, went to the Midway (giant arcade), did the Journey Behind the Falls, drove to Niagara on the Lake, went to the Gorge, but did take the cable car across, and various other "walk around and look at stuff" things. Here is a good website to check out all the activities. http://www.niagarafallslive.com/index.htm Have fun!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Found this passport info!
http://www.nfcourtyard.com/index.php/screen/usvisitorinformation

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Mid of the Mist & Cave of the winds were both fantastic! But to fully enjoy cave of the winds you will get wet. If it is too chilly to get wet, pass on the cave of the winds tour.

We stayed at a Hampton Inn on the NY side.

In Canada, we really enjoyed the butterfly conservatory in the botanical gardens.

 

[antmaril]

My dh and I have passports but the kiddos don't.
Is this the one you stayed at http://www.niagaraembassysuites.com/index.php

Also we're looking to stay away from too much expensive touristy stuff...just see the falls, relax, eat a good meal or 2 and maybe do 1-2 "fun" things...like Maid of the Mist!!

Yes, this is the hotel. Very nice. I'm not sure if you have stayed at Embassy Suites before, but the rooms have a living room with a sofa bed, desk, tv. There is a microwave, small refrigerator, coffee maker and a separate bedroom with either two queens or a king and another tv. We had a room with a beautiful view of the Falls. The hotel has a shuttle bus that takes you down to the Falls with several stops at the favorite sites, including the Casino, Clifton Hill, etc. The cost is $3.00 per person which is good for your entire stay. One word of warning, it was $30 a day to park the car.

It looks like children under the age of 16 can enter Canada with a birth certificate (don't use a Xerox copy).

 

[loveysbydesign]

We stayed here when traveling with 3 adults and 2 kids. Not a falls view, but we had more space, and it was a short walk to the falls. http://www.niagarafallscomfort.com/
My kids were 6 and 4 when we went. We did the Maid of the Mist, rode the Skywheel, went to the Midway (giant arcade), did the Journey Behind the Falls, drove to Niagara on the Lake, went to the Gorge, but did take the cable car across, and various other "walk around and look at stuff" things. Here is a good website to check out all the activities. http://www.niagarafallslive.com/index.htm Have fun!

That hotel has a neat "family suite"- thanks for the link!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Yes, this is the hotel. Very nice. I'm not sure if you have stayed at Embassy Suites before, but the rooms have a living room with a sofa bed, desk, tv. There is a microwave, small refrigerator, coffee maker and a separate bedroom with either two queens or a king and another tv. We had a room with a beautiful view of the Falls. The hotel has a shuttle bus that takes you down to the Falls with several stops at the favorite sites, including the Casino, Clifton Hill, etc. The cost is $3.00 per person which is good for your entire stay. One word of warning, it was $30 a day to park the car.

It looks like children under the age of 16 can enter Canada with a birth certificate (don't use a Xerox copy).

WOW..$30 a day to park at the hotel????

 

[antmaril]

WOW..$30 a day to park at the hotel????

I'm afraid so. Nothing is cheap in Niagara Falls.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I'm afraid so. Nothing is cheap in Niagara Falls.

Do all the hotels charge to park there???

 

[big_red_s]

Here is a trip report from 2006 of our Niagara Falls long weekend trip:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/laorfamily/niagarafalls06/tpod.html

We stayed at Youngstown, NY which I recommend highly (and saved us a ton of $$$)

 

[loveysbydesign]

Anyone gone to the waterpark? I see a few of the hotels offer packages that include admission to it.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Here is a trip report from 2006 of our Niagara Falls long weekend trip:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/laorfamily/niagarafalls06/tpod.html

We stayed at Youngstown, NY which I recommend highly (and saved us a ton of $$$)

'
Do you happen to have a link to the place you stayed at? I googled it but can't find it

 

[Tammi67]

That hotel has a neat "family suite"- thanks for the link!

Yes, we had the family suite. Much more budget friendly than the big highrise hotels with falls views.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Yes, we had the family suite. Much more budget friendly than the big highrise hotels with falls views.

Did you have to pay to park there?
Was the free breakfast good?
Could you walk to many things or did you have to drive?