Niagara Falls!

[crazyme5kids]

Got back from Niagara Falls last night, it is absolutly beautiful! It was so nice to wake up every morning and just sit and look at them, it was hard to leave. If you haven't been there, try to go someday, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Kitty 34]

Glad you had a nice time. It's been years since I've been there!!

Where did you stay?

 

[stamper]

We are planning on going this summer on the way to pick up our new puppy in Wisconsin. I've never been. Did you have to go into Canada to see it all or did you stay in the US? We will only have a day, so what is a must?

 

[Pembo]

I haven't been in a few years but I recommend going to the Canadian side, you can see better.

 

[mouseclick1]

We were there just last weekend and had a great time! We did the Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, and the walk along the gorge. Everything was so beautiful! We hope to go back again sometime, maybe in the winter.

I just remembered something funny that my son said during the trip. We watched the fireworks over the falls from our hotel on Sunday night. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the show, then my DS (13) turns around and says to us, "Once you've seen Illuminations, it's hard to be impressed by anything else." That's my boy!!

 

[helenk]

My husband I were there last year and it is beautiful. We stayed on the Canadian side. We had a room on the 15th floor of the hotel with a huge window so we had a great view of the falls.
Everyone was so friendly and helpful.
I think that it would be nice if the US would allow the Canadian tourists to use the Canadian dollar in the NY tourist area.
Every place we went to in Niagara Falls, took the US dollar and had the cash registers set up for the exchange rate. It would be nice if we would do the same for them.
I would love to go again

 

[crazyme5kids]

We stayed on the Canadian side at the Marriott Fallsview. You can do quite a bit in one day. We went to The Butterfly Conservatory, on the Maid of the Mist, the Journey Behind the Falls and a tour of the power plant all on day one.
I personally would say the main things to do are The Maid of the Mist, and The Butterfly Conservatory (my favorites!). There is a casino, we went twice at night and had fun. Where the casino is is also the area of town that has fun houses, wax museums, arcades etc... There is a Ripley's Believe It Or Not and a Guiness Book of World Records. This area also has: The Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood and Rain Forrest Cafe. Some wrestling place opened, I think it was a restaurant too.
We went to Marineland, which was ok, or as my husband put it "alot of nothing.". They had a tank with beluga (sp?) whales and one with killer whales. They also have a touching session time with both which was nice. There are rides and animals that you can pet. Again, it was ok but don't expect Sea World. They are building on the grounds an aquarium, so when it is completed I think it will be very nice.
There is alot to do up there, we didn't see everything I would have liked to, but I had promised my husband that this would be an easy relaxed trip, not my usual get out the door but 8:00 and go go go vacation. I guess we'll have to go back LOL!

 

[mtemm]

We just moved to Central NY and would like to visit Niagra. We have a 15 month old son...would we be able to do much? See much?

How was the Marriott? Any suite hotels that anyone knows about? We'd probably stay one night, even though its pretty close, but my son doesn't sleep well with others in his room. Makes it a little tougher for travel.

Glad you had a great trip!

 

[zakatak]

Ok, ok... First off it is NIAG-A-RA Falls, not Niagra Falls... no viagra given out there! So... whew... sorry, I take it personally. As you would if I said, "Disnie".

So... Everything above is FUN! Maid of the Mist, Butterfly Conservatory, Journey behind the Falls, etc... The US now has a Casino on our side p ) also which is very new and nice. The Canadian side has CLIFTON HILL, which has the museums, haunted house, and other touristy stuff, including The Rainforst Cafe and the Hershey Store!

Between the two sides, the Canadian side has more touristy things as well as a better view and gardens. The American Side has... ummm... hold on, let me think... ummm... I think the Hard Rock Cafe still MIGHT be open??? (go to the Canadian side... lol).

When you live 45 minutes away from something like Niagara Falls, you forget how cool it actually is! Thanks for the reminder! I should take my kids on the Maid of the Mist this year!

Karen

 

[crazyme5kids]

Niagara, Niagara, Niagara!!!!! I don't know why I have a mental block on the spelling, but I do know I kept looking at it wondering why it looked funny. Must be my L.I. accent LOL! There are many things in life I couldn't do, spelling bee's would be near the top of the list.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thank goodness for edit, spelling is corrected.

mtemm, you could do plenty with a 15 month old. My 2 year old loved looking at everything. Go to the butterfly conservatory, he would love that. You could even go on Maid of the mist, they will give you a small rain poncho. Clifton Hill I would skip, but that type of stuff isn't what I like anyway. We only went because of the kids. You can go to Marineland, he will enjoy the whales and other animals. He could even go on the kiddie rides with you.
The Marriott was fantastic. Everyone that worked there were so pleasant, and the view was incredible.
On a side note, I am very impressed with the pricing of attractions there. I really felt like everything was very affordable. Another thing is that it seems to be standard is for children 5 and under to be free. I am so use to the age being 2 or 3 and under free so I really felt like I hit the jackpot.

 

[Redmic]

Slowly I turn
Step by step
inch by inch....

 

[mtemm]

thanks for the tips. I checked out the Marriott and they do have suites...yay! Now I just have to do the SARS debate.

 

[stamper]

Ok....thanks for all the info!! What was the price range at the Marriot(you don't have to be specific if ya don't want). I'm on a VERY tight budget....so we are trying to decide how close to the falls we can afford to stay.

 

[crazyme5kids]

stamper, the rates vary depending when you go. You can get a better idea by going to the Marriott hotel site. We had a suite, so I can't tell you what the other rooms go for. The one thing I will caution you on though is to be careful what hotel you book. There are a ton of hotels there, and a bunch that looked very run down. I would stick with the more recognizable names. There is also a Marriott Courtyard. Another thing you should know about is eating out can be a fortune, just like any touristy area. Bring milk if you have kids!!!!! We brought some with us, but not enough. There wasn't any place that we could find nearby to get it. There are grocery stores, but not right around the hotel we were at.

 

[Meriweather]

Glad you had a good time Margie!
Sounds wonderful!!

Guess I need to add that to my LONG list of places to visit

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Originally posted by Redmic
Slowly I turn
Step by step
inch by inch....

LOL!!! I actually get it this time!

 

[damo]

Yay you fixed the spelling. That was one of the spelling errors pointed out in the bad spelling thread! You're not the only one who has trouble getting it right but let's hope that's the end of that

Sars debate? There's no Sars in Niagara Falls!

 

[Nancy]

I live 15-20 minutes from the Falls and I only go there to go to the casinos. Can you believe I have never done any of the tourists stuff. I keep saying one of these years, but never do!

As far as SARS goes...none has been reported in this immediate area. Toronto has some cases, but that is over an hour away form the Falls.

If I was coming for a weekend or a few days I would definately stay on the Canadian side...with the exchange rate you can't beat it. Also make sure you stop at the Duty Free stores before coming over the border and fill out the forms to get your GST refunded. (GST is the goods and service tax)

 

[Fire14]

My Dh and I are planning a first wedding annv. to falls. I personally enjoy the wax museums, The view of the falls at night, the maid of the mist, and the fattening Hershey store. We stay at Skyline Inn and have always enjoyed our stays here and just FYI far as I know they don't have Suites.