Niagara Falls or Cape Cod?

[Angel717]

We are trying to decide where to vacation this year, and we've narrowed it down to either Niagara Falls or Cape Cod. The kids want the Falls, DH is leaning towards Mass. and I'd be happy just to get away for awhile! Actually, I'd be the one to plan the trip, so I get a say, too.

We are about the same driving distance to both and it would only be a short vacation (3 days). Any comments about either place?

 

[Bob Slydell]

Cape Cod would be my choice, but Niagara would probably have more "kids oriented" stuff, IMO.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Depends on when you are planning on going.
I live on Cape Cod and during the summer the place will be packed! We are a tourist trap.

However there are a lot of things for kids to do.

We have the beach. We have whale watching. We have shopping. You can daytrip to Plimouth Plantation if you are interested in history.

There are always a bunch of events planned for kids throughout the summer.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Hmmmmm. Two totally different places.

If you want a beach vacation, I'd say Cape Cod. I love Cape Cod. Great restaurants. P-town is fun. You can go whale-seeing.

DH and I try to do a getaway overnighter to NF every year. But we go to the casino. We've never gone with kids. I guess you can do Maid of the Mist and visit all the Ripley's-type museums. And it is one of the wonders of the world!

Either way, have fun.

 

[CEDmom]

I would go with Cape Cod. The falls are neat but I don't think there's as much to do as on the Cape. You can go whale watching, fishing, biking, hiking, the beaches are spectacular.

 

[Towncrier]

Last time I visited Cape Cod, I stopped off at Niagara Falls on the way home. I got the best of both worlds.

To be honest (and with apologies to my friends on the Cape), I prefer Niagara Falls. But that's just me. I'm sure that there are plenty of things to see and do at both places. It also helps that Niagara Falls is less than 4 hours away and the Cape is 12 hours away. I am more familiar with the Falls.

 

[stamper]

I think it depends what you are looking for. The Falls are nice in themselves and quite awesome. But other than that, the area is very commercial and touristy. NOt my thing personally. Nice to see once, but we only spent one day there.

Cape Cod is more "natural" and there are beaches and nature trails. Also, it's close to Plymouth Plantation, which my kids loved.

 

[Angel717]

I hope to plan it for the last week in June.

I have heard good things about both places and I know I'd enjoy myself no matter where we went. One of my sons watched a program about Niagara Falls on the Travel Channel and now has a list of everything he'd like to do there. My oldest has always wanted to visit Canada, so he's all for it. My Dh has old friends of the family in Massachusetts that he hasn't seen for a while, so that's another plus for Cape Cod.

This is a tough decision!

 

[aprincessmom]

As everyone has said it is hard to compare because the locations are so different.

I grew up on the Cape and am a serious beach person and I'd still pick the Falls over the Cape. Even with family still there I don't go back much, especially in the summer. It's too crowded and stressful. I go for the Rhode Island beaches...just as nice and a lot less crowded.

The last week in June is not always beach weather on the Cape. The water will be fairly cold still -- only in the low 60s for water temperature even on the sound side so you won't get too much swimming in.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

When I lived in Toronto, we would just visit the Falls for the day. But we spent our annual vacation at Cape Cod, camping. We found a lot to do at Cape Cod.

 

[C.Ann]

I would definitely pick Cape Cod - but only if I were able to go off-season.. The summer traffic is a nightmare..

But - then again - with the Falls being such a huge tourist area wouldn't the crowds be equally bad there? I don't know - maybe someone else has the answer to that..

I LOOOOOVE the ocean and every so often make a trip to the Cape..

 

[JetMom]

We had one of our best family vacations ever at Niagara Falls. There is so much to do there! We did the Maid of the Mist, the Cave of the Winds (behind the falls), the Butterfly Conservatory, the Spanish Aerocar, the Daredevil Museum, the IMAX theatre, and Marine Land Canada. We also saw fireworks over the falls, played mini-golf, and just had a blast! I recommend Niagara Falls to people all the time.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

NIAGRA FALLS slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch

(its probably only the guys who are going to laugh at that)

My vote would be the Cape by the way.

 

[Pam]

NIAGRA FALLS slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch

(its probably only the guys who are going to laugh at that)

Yep - I'm a lady - I just groaned......
Way too many years of being forced to watch the Stooges with my two guys....

Can you take a family vote - list all the pros and cons and show what each place has to offer?