Niagara Falls, Ontario

[clori]

Oh on the Canadian side my kids enjoyed getting a kinder surprise egg which is basically a piece of hallow chocolate with a toy surprise inside. They are illegal in the US I think due to be considered a choking hazard. The kids didn't really like the chocolate but loved getting a surprise toy. I found them in a convenience store at the top of Clifton Hill. http://www.ferrero.com/products/the-most-famous-products/kinder-surprise/surprise-play-chocolate/

 

[Ngwira]

I was thinking about doing the NY side on our first day down...now you guys have me thinking .

 

[Ngwira]

Oh on the Canadian side my kids enjoyed getting a kinder surprise egg which is basically a piece of hallow chocolate with a toy surprise inside. They are illegal in the US I think due to be considered a choking hazard. The kids didn't really like the chocolate but loved getting a surprise toy. I found them in a convenience store at the top of Clifton Hill. http://www.ferrero.com/products/the-most-famous-products/kinder-surprise/surprise-play-chocolate/

Great. I'll look into it!!! Thank you!

 

[tvguy]

Never been, but love watching the webcam.

http://www.earthcam.com/canada/niagarafalls/thefalls/?cam=niagarafalls2

 

[ktmo]

I took my girls last summer. We got Adventure Pass. I recommend getting it before you go (if you can). We ended up waiting in line to get ours, but they helped get our times set for the day. We did the Hornblower cruise, Behind the Falls and Niagara's Fury. My girls LOVED Niagara's Fury. I didn't know what to expect, but my 8 year old still talks about it.

We did a lot of walking and waiting in line. I remember thinking, it is hot and we are waiting in line after line, we should have gone to Disney.

 

[Ngwira]

Never been, but love watching the webcam.

http://www.earthcam.com/canada/niagarafalls/thefalls/?cam=niagarafalls2

Thank you.

 

[Ngwira]

I took my girls last summer. We got Adventure Pass. I recommend getting it before you go (if you can). We ended up waiting in line to get ours, but they helped get our times set for the day. We did the Hornblower cruise, Behind the Falls and Niagara's Fury. My girls LOVED Niagara's Fury. I didn't know what to expect, but my 8 year old still talks about it.

We did a lot of walking and waiting in line. I remember thinking, it is hot and we are waiting in line after line, we should have gone to Disney.

I am looking at the Clifton hill pass since we are staying in Clifton hill. I am also definitely going to do the hornblower cruise. I heard that's a must do.

 

[smi727]

Is Marineland like Seaworld? After watching the blackfish documentary, I can't do Seaworld

I've never seen Blackfish & I haven't been to SeaWorld since Cleveland's closed but we took are then 2.5 year old to Marineland 2013. It's similar to SeaWorld in that it has dolphins, whales, etc in enclosures & shows. There are also some rides but we didn't do any of those. They have some unique experiences like feeding bears & deer. It has a mildly German vibe & decor but everything could have used a fresh coat of paint. Animal enclosures are questionable & seem a bit overcrowded. Food was horrendous & way over priced. My husband described it as a "factory of sadness." (Google the phrase if you're interested in the Cleveland reference.) They had a really good polka band who were impressed with my polka skills. All that being said my daughter loved it! She was amazed at the larger make animals & could have spent the whole day watching the whale. We're planning on going back with our now 4 year old & 18 month old this summer. Marineland just had experiences that you're not going to find just anywhere.

 

[clori]

I recommend getting both passes since they are different but both fun for the kids. I'm not sure how long your staying. We arrived on a Sunday night around 7:30pm ate a quick dinner and short swim then walked to see the falls and fireworks. Monday and Tuesday we did all the attractions on both passes except minigolf and a few xtras. Wednesday morning we played minigolf then left and stopped on the US side. We drove from Boston to Niagara Falls in one day but split the ride coming home not knowing how long we would need/want on the US side. We went the last week of June. It was nice - the weather was really nice but not too hot and we left before the July 1st Canadian holiday and July 4th American holiday so prices were much cheaper. We never waited long for anything.

I think we stayed in Syracuse though we didn't make it in time to go to the museum we were going to visit (free with our local museum membership). I really liked that one night stay - it was a fluke thing I'm guessing but we were able to get a two bedroom suite for less than a traditional 2 bed room so of course we took the suite. The hotel had an evening reception which ended up being a bbq the night we were there so free dinner and free laundry room so we went home all rested with clean laundry.

 

[Ngwira]

I've never seen Blackfish & I haven't been to SeaWorld since Cleveland's closed but we took are then 2.5 year old to Marineland 2013. It's similar to SeaWorld in that it has dolphins, whales, etc in enclosures & shows. There are also some rides but we didn't do any of those. They have some unique experiences like feeding bears & deer. It has a mildly German vibe & decor but everything could have used a fresh coat of paint. Animal enclosures are questionable & seem a bit overcrowded. Food was horrendous & way over priced. My husband described it as a "factory of sadness." (Google the phrase if you're interested in the Cleveland reference.) They had a really good polka band who were impressed with my polka skills. All that being said my daughter loved it! She was amazed at the larger make animals & could have spent the whole day watching the whale. We're planning on going back with our now 4 year old & 18 month old this summer. Marineland just had experiences that you're not going to find just anywhere.

Thank for the info. If it's like Seaworld, I'll pass

 

[Ngwira]

I recommend getting both passes since they are different but both fun for the kids. I'm not sure how long your staying. We arrived on a Sunday night around 7:30pm ate a quick dinner and short swim then walked to see the falls and fireworks. Monday and Tuesday we did all the attractions on both passes except minigolf and a few xtras. Wednesday morning we played minigolf then left and stopped on the US side. We drove from Boston to Niagara Falls in one day but split the ride coming home not knowing how long we would need/want on the US side. We went the last week of June. It was nice - the weather was really nice but not too hot and we left before the July 1st Canadian holiday and July 4th American holiday so prices were much cheaper. We never waited long for anything.

I think we stayed in Syracuse though we didn't make it in time to go to the museum we were going to visit (free with our local museum membership). I really liked that one night stay - it was a fluke thing I'm guessing but we were able to get a two bedroom suite for less than a traditional 2 bed room so of course we took the suite. The hotel had an evening reception which ended up being a bbq the night we were there so free dinner and free laundry room so we went home all rested with clean laundry.

We only have 1 and a half days there. We arrive on Sunday afternoon and have Sunday night and Monday in Niagara Falls. Tuesday is Toronto, and Wednesday drive home but a stop at Great Wold Lodge in the Poconos. So not a long stay. Given that, I think one pass is enough no?

 

[Ngwira]

I was able to get the clifton hills fun pass at costco canada for $60.00 for a family of 4 (2a, 2c). I think that is a GREAT deal!

 

[Ngwira]

Anybody been to the Royal ONtario Museum in Toronto. Costco canada has a great deal on the pass. Thinking of doing that and the harbour cruise for our one day in Toronto.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Make sure you plan to be on one side and stay, you don't want to bounce back and forth because sometimes crossing the border can take a while.

There is an upside down house around Clifton hill. It's pretty neat because we had read Mrs. piggle wiggle before we went. Maybe not budget friendly but my son enjoyed it.

 

[Ngwira]

Make sure you plan to be on one side and stay, you don't want to bounce back and forth because sometimes crossing the border can take a while.

There is an upside down house around Clifton hill. It's pretty neat because we had read Mrs. piggle wiggle before we went. Maybe not budget friendly but my son enjoyed it.

Thanks for the tip. I think for such a short trip we will focus on Ontario.

 

[clori]

Most likely if your just doing the adventure pass and Clifton Hill pass you could do everything in 1.5 days but it wasn't busy when we went. You can always hold off on the Adventure Pass unless its cheaper in advance then Sunday afternoon or early Monday morning check on timing since I think most things give you a preset time and you can decide that way. if at all possible I would do Cave of the Winds on the US side right after departing Canada if you don't think you'll go back soon - everyone I know finds it to be the absolute best attraction on either side.

As part of our two days in Canada we went to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. We didn't spent the night so no waterpark but your allowed to play Magic Quest as non hotel guests which my girls loved in the Poconos. Now we have a Great Wolf Lodge an hour or so away but didn't then.

 

[Ngwira]

Most likely if your just doing the adventure pass and Clifton Hill pass you could do everything in 1.5 days but it wasn't busy when we went. You can always hold off on the Adventure Pass unless its cheaper in advance then Sunday afternoon or early Monday morning check on timing since I think most things give you a preset time and you can decide that way. if at all possible I would do Cave of the Winds on the US side right after departing Canada if you don't think you'll go back soon - everyone I know finds it to be the absolute best attraction on either side.

As part of our two days in Canada we went to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls. We didn't spent the night so no waterpark but your allowed to play Magic Quest as non hotel guests which my girls loved in the Poconos. Now we have a Great Wolf Lodge an hour or so away but didn't then.

I will check out cave of the winds. We could do that on Wednesday on the way back. I think we are going to skip the adventure pass and just do the hornblower cruise.

 

[garrsmom]

This is great information. We are planning to go in July, just my husband and I so I will be taking notes here.

 

[dclpluto]

One day walk across to the USA side. They have a couple different attractions.

 

[Ngwira]

One day walk across to the USA side. They have a couple different attractions.

Lots of people have suggested it.