Niagara Falls....

[sixkristy6]

I don;t know if it is still like this in Canada, but I would not leave CC or Debit card receipts on the table (hand them to your server). Around 5 years ago, I noticed our receipt had our full CC number printed on it, so I always check it carefully.

When I am in Toronto, the servers generally bring the thing they scan your CC on directly to the table. You take care of it right at your table. I don't know if this is the case in NF.

 

[davmill]

Excellent tread. We have often thought of going but always chose something closer to home. It is on our list, and all this advice is great and appreciated. Will be printing many of the posts.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I should have started with, I have made this a not so budget friendly trip! We will be staying two nights at the Embassy Suites with a falls view two room suite!
We will get the adventure pass and do all of those things on the Canada side as well as the Clifton Hill fun pass. On the American side we will do the Cave of the winds tour. Not sure what else we should do there.
We arrive June 25th and check out on the 27th and head to Toronto for two nights at the Delta Chelsea, I got a great deal on Groupon a couple of weeks ago!
We will get the Toronto City Pass and do those things. Any other must do things there?

We will be traveling with a 10 year old boy, 7 year old girl and a 1 year old girl!

Deja vu! How bizzare! We went to NF in 2006, stayed at Embassy Suites in a Fallsview Room and IIRC, our dates were 6/25-27! You will love it there! I will try to dig up some pics! We were on something like the 36th floor with great views of fireworks too.
Back then they offered a package of touristy things: Journey Behind the Falls, Maid of the Mist, Butterfly Conservatory, an IMAX movie and the big tower thing. (sorry I forget what it's called but I was terrefied of the elevator ride!) It was good but expensive and worth having someone else drive us around. The "magic show" they say was included with the family fun package was actually next door just off the Marriott's lobby and would have been free anyway since they weren't checking for room keys or anything. Oh well....
Also, the steakhouse that overlooks the falls at ES was good but not worth their regular prices. Our hotel package included a $50 credit there otherwise it would have been outrageous!
Enjoy! You will love the view!!


eta: Ok I'm looking at some pics now. Would it ruin it for you to see them? Would you rather be surprised?

 

[christygobar]

I posted a Niagara Falls thread a few weeks ago in the Family forum and got some great tips. We just went last week and really enjoyed ourselves

We traveled with a toddler, so doing things like Maid of the Mist and Journey Behind the Falls was discouraged by many as not being toddler friendly. We would have enjoyed them, but didn't feel like not going ruined our trip. There are so many angles to see the Falls from just by walking.

We stayed in the Doubletree in a Fallsview room and it was beautiful. The American Falls were right in front of us and as a result, we had the best view of the fireworks on Sun and Mon night (Memorial Day,extra fireworks show). We parked the car in the Fallsview Casino parking lot and just walked the entire street to see both the American and Horseshoe falls. Loved it! Crossed to the American side the next day to go to Goat Island as well. Very cool areas where you are right next to the rapids.

We loved the Butterfly conservatory!

We spent a good portion of our time in Niagara on the Lake. We visited the Jackson Triggs winery and ate at a place called Zee's Grill (delicious, beautiful wraparound porch). This is very much the country and you can drive the streets and see winery after winery. Very pretty

Anyways, we had a great time

 

[paysensmom]

Deja vu! How bizzare! We went to NF in 2006, stayed at Embassy Suites in a Fallsview Room and IIRC, our dates were 6/25-27! You will love it there! I will try to dig up some pics! We were on something like the 36th floor with great views of fireworks too.
Back then they offered a package of touristy things: Journey Behind the Falls, Maid of the Mist, Butterfly Conservatory, an IMAX movie and the big tower thing. (sorry I forget what it's called but I was terrefied of the elevator ride!) It was good but expensive and worth having someone else drive us around. The "magic show" they say was included with the family fun package was actually next door just off the Marriott's lobby and would have been free anyway since they weren't checking for room keys or anything. Oh well....
Also, the steakhouse that overlooks the falls at ES was good but not worth their regular prices. Our hotel package included a $50 credit there otherwise it would have been outrageous!
Enjoy! You will love the view!!


eta: Ok I'm looking at some pics now. Would it ruin it for you to see them? Would you rather be surprised?

I like to be surprised!! Thank you, we can compare photos after though! We got in on the free magic show and a few other things for the family fun package, they have changed it since. Any new ressies will only get $15 off the tickets. June 25-27 must be good dates

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

For anyone looking for a really good Niagara deal.......

I just booked a two-night waterpark package at the Skyline Inn (walking distance to the Falls) for four people at the end of June (27-28-29). Total rate (for both nights) including waterpark passes for four from check in to check-out was just $269 ($134.50 per night).

Rates go up substantially thereafter, as that is the last week of classes before the Ontario elementary school kids are let out for the summer. So if anyone is planning a last-week-of-June getaway to the Niagara area, I thought this might help .

 

[maggs1035]

Rainbow bridge is as good a spot as any to enter Canada, that's where you will see the falls!

If you have time and money you might want to look into Marineland amusement park. Really cool place to visit. It's like Sea world

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

If you have time and money you might want to look into Marineland amusement park. Really cool place to visit. It's like Sea world

On this, I must respectfully disagree (sorry!).

We have been to Marineland multiple times (several trips over several years), and twice to SeaWorld (two visits on the same trip). If you have every been to SeaWorld, Marineland will leave you sorely disappointed. It lacks the polish of SeaWorld, the shows are no where close to the quality of SeaWorld, and the entire park is maintained to a totally different (and much lower) set of standards. There's much more walking between rides and attractions with very little in between.

Not saying its a bad place to visit, but IMHO, some expectation management is necessary. Definitely not on par (or anywhere close) to SeaWorld.

 

[Sabrefan]

Rainbow bridge is as good a spot as any to enter Canada, that's where you will see the falls!

If you have time and money you might want to look into Marineland amusement park. Really cool place to visit. It's like Sea world

Please do not go to Marineland. They have been investigated several times for animal abuse and since Canadian laws are very different than ours, it continues. We took our kids there and we saw a whale in the smallest tank, it made me want to cry. The poor thing couldn't even turn around if he wanted to, he just laid there.

We never took our kids back after that, I refuse to support a business that treats animals like this, it was really disturbing.

 

[Fire14]

Can someone tell me more about Enhanced DL and where/how you can travel with it, or point me to website with info. The info is for me but involves other people who do have EDL but couldn't tell me much about it. I personally have a passport so I don't need the advice to get a passport.