Niagara Falls, visitor questions

[SeaSpray]

I know this is the DIS boards, but I am hoping someone can help me with questions about NF. Just got back from WDW, and now we're planning our first trip ever to NF, Ontario for July 2nd till July 6th. It's a Monday through Friday. I can't believe how much the planning tips I learned here on the DIS boards are helping me in planning our NF trip. So far, I have us booked at the new Hilton-Niagara Falls hotel, with dinner at 9:30pm at the rooftop restaurant (view of the Falls), on the 4th of July, because at 10pm there will be fireworks going off, over the falls. I learned that tip from reading all of the threads about viewing Illuminations while dining! LOL
Anyway, my reason for posting this is, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me of other good hotels right there at NF, other than the Hilton. So far, we've got the Hilton for 4 nights, with a total of $711. US dollars, including tax. This includes breakfast at the rooftop restaurant for all 4 of us (DH, DS13, DS10, and myself) all 4 mornings, free valet parking, free shuttle busses, and tickets to the Butterfly Conservatory. I'm wondering if there are any other really nice hotels, maybe a little bit less $$. Also, any "must see" attractions there besides the Falls themselves? I have the AAA TourBook for Ontario, and it has a lot of great info, but if I could get info from people who live near there, I think it'd be great! Thanks in advance!!!!!

 

[maryann4086]

I'm not sure about the hotels, since I live in Niagara, I've never stayed at one. However, you're doing the falls, try the Maid of the Mist, you're doing the Butterfly Conservatory, try Queenston Heights and the Historic trails. Venture out to Niagara on the Lake, the prettiest little town in North America, while there see a play at Shaw festival, the performance of Peter Pan was amazing. Take a wine tour, kids are allowed. Visit the Welland canal area.Try www.niagaraparks.com or www.niagaraafalls.org Vist any CAA for info and free coupons. If the kids have a place to go, try the casino. For a taste of Disney try, the Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood or the Hard Rock Cafe. Hope some of this helps.

 

[SeaSpray]

thanks maryann!! I will check out those web sites. I knew there was a Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood there, but I didn't know there was a Rainforest Cafe there. We'll have to go there and feel a bit "Disney" because the only other RFC we've been to has been the one at AK. Thanks for the tip on Niagara on the Lake, we'll have to get out there, too.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

I agree with maryann4086 about going to Niagara-On-The-Lake. It is such a beautiful, quaint little town! Definitely worth the short trip there (the drive is very pretty too). The main "focus" in Niagara-On-The-Lake (NOTL) is walking along Queen Street, where lots of little shops, ice cream parlors, and the Shaw festival is located.

My favorite stop along Queen Street is definitely the Maple Leaf Fudge shop.... mmmmmmm!!!

The candle shop (I think it's called Creative Candles) is also pretty neat since they're usually hand-carving candles while you're there and you can watch them.

Oh, and I forgot, but I just looked up this NOTL website and remembered about the Silly Old Bear Shop... which is a very small shop entirely devoted to... Winnie the Pooh!!!

If you're looking for more info on NOTL, here's another website (there's a map of NOTL here): Niagara-On-The-Lake Homepage

I hope that this helps, and that you have a great trip!!! Be sure to come back to the Canadian board after you get back and tell us all about it!

 

[Canadave]

Although I don't live there, I've been to the Niagara area many times. The Maid of the Mist is a must do. Also the road to the butterfly conservatory is a beautiful drive. After the conservatory (which is an amazing place), you can keep on driving down that road to Niagara on the Lake. I have to agree that it is a gorgeous town. I really enjoy going there. The Rainforest Cafe in Niagara just opened up this past month. Marineland in Niagara Falls is a neat place to go. The kids love the killer whales. Make sure you look for discount coupons for Niagara attractions and restaurants everywhere (CAA and in the hotel lobby). Enjoy your trip to Canada!
Canadave

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks, #1 DisneyFan and Canadave!! We will definitely go to NOTL, it sounds gorgeous

My current question is where to stay. The new Hilton is gorgeous, I've seen their website, with the indoor waterpark, the rooftop restaurant, etc. Can anyone recommend another hotel? How is the Brock Plaza? It's supposedly an historic building which was renovated, and it's located adjacent to the Casino. It looks like it might be a nice place to stay. Or should we just keep our reservation with the Hilton? Any info on hotels close to the Falls would be greatly appreciated. We'd like to stay right in the vicinity of the Falls themselves. Thanks!

 

[Niagara2]

You are going at a very busy time as the Canadian Victoria Day crowds will just be leaving as the USA Independance Day crowds will be arriving. The Hilton is a pretty and new hotel. The Watermark Restaurant is good and the view is faboulous. If you ate dinner in a tower you would pay for escalation and dinner would run around $60 each! and you get the same view! I think for a holiday weekend you got a good price. You can try to play the exchange a bit and call for same package in Canadian funds, We have seen 48 - 50 percent exchange at the banks and evenat the casino. Sometimes if you exchange your money yourself or use your credit card to pay you get a better rate.
The other hotels with a view include the Oaks Inn, the Brand New Clarion hotel in the Minolta tower, the Sheraton Foxhead is nicer than the Sheraton Brock and they are right next door to each other and the rainforest is part of the complex.
You are 90 minutes from Toronto. You can drive for the day or take a tour that includes transportation. Have fun!

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for that info, Niagara2! You mentioned the Sheraton Brock. Is that the same as the Brock Plaza? That's the other hotel I've been looking in to. I will have to check out the Sheraton Foxhead. Any other hotel info would be great...thanks already for replying!

 

[Niagara2]

Brock Plaza is the Sheraton Broclk. Location of these two Sheraton's are better than the Hilton but the Hilton is a nicer hotel. They are about two miles apart. You will be fine at any of these hotels. There are dozens of other hotel for alot less but you do not get the view or the full service of these hotels. All the major names are there.

 

[Toni]

Hi Sea Spray - just thought I'd let you know that there be lots of Mass residents in the area for that week (including me!!). I thought we had picked a "different" vacation destination but since making my plans I can't believe the number of people headed for Niagara/Toronto. Maybe we all have gotten sick of the traffic on the Cape finally!! LOL!!! Or maybe its because the Red Sox are playing the Blue Jays. Have a great vacation and enjoy the exchange rate.

I'm glad I read this thread as I now know about the Rainforest Cafe in Niagara. I may take your tip and plan a dinner for the time of the fireworks too. Thanks!!

 

[SeaSpray]

What a coincidence, toni!! What hotel are you staying at? We've decided to stick with the Hilton. They have a great indoor pool with a 3-story high slide. The rooftop restaurant, The Watermark, looks great too. How long are you thinking it will take to get there? From what we've seen, we're thinking it'll be over 8 hours, with no stops.

 

[Toni]

Hi SeaSpray - we won't be staying in NF - we are stopping on the way to Toronto. But I think you are right about the 8hrs. I'm counting on 10 to TO (more with stops). We are going to leave around 4am, hit the Mass Pike and keep on going. Hopefully the kids will sleep part of the way. When I read your post about the Hilton I checked out the website. It looks great! Made me wish we would stay longer. The Watermark looks beautiful also. You'll have a great view. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Towncrier]

You may be able to get a refund of GST (PST???) when you return to the US. The tax on your rooms is definitely eligible as well as some purchases. Make sure that you check into this when you return to the US. It's always nice to have some extra cash to shop at the duty free shop.

 

[SandraC]

Hi, we live in Mississauga, about one and a quarter hour drive to NF. We love going there for a weekend away.

We stay at the AMERICANA RESORT tele: (905) 356-8444, address 8444 Lundy's Lane.

The cost is pretty low, around $99.00 for a standard and $119.00 for a deluxe, however we have always gotten the deluxe for $99.00. We went a few months back and got a two night special including breakfasts and a dinner for about $200.00 for my WHOLE family! Nice price at a nice place.

It has a tennis court, fitness centre, squash courts (we are athletic) TWO swimming pools! One pool in outdoors and the other indoors.

FOR THE KIDS! Two playgrounds, one outdoor, one indoor ~ pool table for the kids near the pool too!

There is a nice restaurant attached to the resort, JACK TANNERS. One of those loud (but in a good way) places with friendly servers, and TV's at the tables so the kids can eat QUIETLY while the adults enjoy the food. The food and the prices are very good too! They have room service and the cost isn't anymore than the food.


TIP: ASK FOR THE NEW ROOMS!

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for the info on that hotel, Sandra. It sounds like a nice place, I'll check it out!

Thanks for the reminder on the receipts, towncrier.... I have seen the tax-refund mentioned on a few websites, and my TourBook from AAA even has a form for it inside the book. I'll save all of our receipts then sort through them when we get back home. It sure will be nice to get a few $$ back afterwards! We'll be there for 5 days, doing a lot of sightseeing and souvenier-buying, so maybe the refund will add up! From what I've read, I know that the hotel tax is eligible....Not sure what else, but I'll read up on it before we mail back the receipts.

 

[SandraC]

The little things.....

ºoº there is a "theatre in the round" stage at the bottom of Clifton Hill. I have mentioned it to a few people who frequent NF and they have never seen it. It has lovely gardens and paths. Nice and quiet, great place for a picnic. You can see the American Falls clearly!

ºoº there is a nice little cafeteria near the Canadian Falls, I think it's called Queen Victoria Cafeteria (or Victoria Cafeteria). The upper level is a nice restaurant. The main level has a simple cafeteria and gift shop. We like it when it rains (or snows) and we need a place to rest before walking on.

ºoº there is a FREE greenhouse (I think you pay for parking) out past the Canadian Falls. We go there if it rains.

ºoº Take a drive along River Road from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The drive is gorgeous and only about 15 - 20 minutes, because you'll want to drive slow. Stop off at a fruit stand!

ºoº Also on River Road is an amazing trail called the BRUCE TRAIL. I think it starts in a park called the Niagara Glen (? need help on the name). You can get an ice cream ot bbq then walk down a bunch of stairs to the trail. It's a fabulous trail that takes you all over. It's marked so you can pick a couple different trails. You can walk right up to the Niagara River and stick your feet in the water. CAREFUL, BIG RAPIDS!

ºoº Neat IMAX theatre near the Skylon Tower!

ºoº I recommend lunch at the Skylon Tower. (not dinner, too $$$$$). Lunch will run you about $30.00 per person Canadian but it's worth it! It a revolving restaurant and you can go to the observation level too! The food is AMAZING! It take about one hour for a complete circle. They time it beautifully with your seating and meal!

ºoº MINOLTA TOWER also has meals. It's not as high as Skylon (BTW, you can see Toronto and Buffalo from the Skylon on a clear day). And the restaurant doesn't turn, but the food is great. Just about the same price as Skylon. So if you pick one, pick Skylon.

ºoº Marilyn Monroe stayed at the BROCK during filming of NIAGARA!

 

[SandraC]

OH YEAH, I forgot...
...BUY LOTS OF FUDGE

the Candy Factory on Clifton Hill has great FUDGE