Niagra Falls - 3 day itinerary help

[lisaross]

hi, i know tons of threads on NF but i'm trying to figure out what attractions are best to do each day - which are near each other etc.

this is what i'm thinking -

Staying in Clifton Hill

Day 1 - arriving around 1p

White water walk, whirlpool aero car and butterfly conservatory - evening clifton hill area (can i watch fireworks from here?)

Day 2

Journey behind the falls, Niagra Fury, Maid of the Mist - evening Oh Canada Eh dinner show

Day 3

JetBoats - Niagra on the Lake (walk around perhaps?) in the evening Clifton Hill Attractions

Day 4 - leaving - will stop on the NY side and do Cave of Winds


Anything i'm missing that is a must see? any changes u think?

 

[kristie1128]

We just went to Niagara Falls Apr 27-29. I don't know if you have ever been there before but all of that stuff is going to cost you A LOT of money!! We purchased an adventure pass (or whatever it is called) and did the White Water Walk, Journey behind the falls, Niagara Fury and Maid of the Mist. Those 4 things for me and my husband were over $100. And that was a discounted price because I purchase it ahead of time on line. The only thing out of those 4 that seemed worth the cost was Maid of the Mist.

What hotel are you staying at? We stayed at the Embassy on the Falls and it was a perfect view and close to everything. We went in Spring so there were no fireworks yet. We ate at Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock.

I don't know what parking costs at your hotel but ours was $20 a night. I got a tip before we went to park in the Casino lot for $5.00 a night. That is what we ended up doing (although we had to walk 2 blocks to our hotel) but it saved us $30! I suggest trying that.

Have fun!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I think you've got time (check times the WWW, aerocar and butterfly conservatory close, though. We didn't do butterflies, but WWW and aerocar are a little out of town. 10-15 min, but factor in.)

Definately get the parks pass (ahead of time) at AAA as many of those things on the Canadian side are included or 1/2 off with it. (And you also get the shuttle bus and can make reservations for NF, WWW and JbtF. Get to Maid of the Mist as soon as it opens or you will be standing in line a while.)

I agree Niagara's Fury is not overly thrilling (if you have younger kids, they will like it though.) I don't ever need to do Journey behind the falls again, but was neat to say we had done. Cave of the Winds definately much better.

Oh Canada Eh was goofy, but we really liked it. Check their website- when we went, our kids ate free.

Clifton Hill attractions can eat up alot of money, quickly. There are some passes for groups of some of them. We let the kids each pick on thing then we were done.

The bottom of Clifton Hill is the river (actually right where MotM is), so yes, you can see fireworks.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Marineland is close by. Also check out Fallsview Waterpark if you like waterslides.

I do believe there is an online pass for Clifton Hills that saves money if you buy it ahead of time.

 

[lisaross]

For Day 1 - can i take the people mover to the Whie water walk, whirlpool aero and butterfly cons? Am i correct to think they are all near each other?

hi, i know tons of threads on NF but i'm trying to figure out what attractions are best to do each day - which are near each other etc.

this is what i'm thinking -

Staying in Clifton Hill

Day 1 - arriving around 1p

White water walk, whirlpool aero car and butterfly conservatory - evening clifton hill area (can i watch fireworks from here?)

Day 2

Journey behind the falls, Niagra Fury, Maid of the Mist - evening Oh Canada Eh dinner show

Day 3

JetBoats - Niagra on the Lake (walk around perhaps?) in the evening Clifton Hill Attractions

Day 4 - leaving - will stop on the NY side and do Cave of Winds


Anything i'm missing that is a must see? any changes u think?

 

[tazdeb]

If you buy the adventure pass that includes all of your atractions then the free shuttle will take you to everywhere for free. I believe its rout starts at horseshoe falls and goes all the way to the butterfly conservetory. I dont know if you like wine but thre are alot of wineries between the falls and Niagra on the lake that have free tours and tastings. Do you have a passport? You'll need it. Have fun.

 

[lisaross]

Yep we all have passports!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

When we went 3 years ago, I thought (?) the shuttle only went as far as the White water walk. We drove to the aerocar though now I can't say for sure why. It is out of town 15 minutes or so, there is a parking lot there.

 

[Bearvet]

It looks like you have DSs - not sure how old they are...
I think on Day 3 Niagara on the Lake might be boring for them. I suggest going to Lewiston NY to Old Fort Niagara and I believe you can get the jet boat from there too. I have 3 boys and they loved being able to help fire the cannons and a few other activities. It's a neat piece of history.

Jet boat tour - Lewiston departure:
http://www.niagarafallslive.com/niagara_falls_whirlpool_jetboat_.htm

Old Fort Niagara:
http://oldfortniagara.org/

Another thing my kids always loved was having lunch in the Skylon tower. It's a revolving restaurant with great views of the Falls. It's expensive, but lunch is cheaper than dinner and it's a unique experience.

I grew up in the area and love returning there as a tourist with my kids!

If you need a less expensive day, go to the NY side (Goat Island) and explore Three Sisters Islands - you get up close to the rapids and the boys love to explore there. You can also do Cave of the Winds from the NY side, which I think is better than Journey Behind the Falls in Canada. http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/Ni...nterest/ThreeSistersIslandsNiagaraFallsON.cfm

Have a great trip!

 

[lizabu]

I've done NF so many times. Here's what I would do, get the adventure pass for sure. It will save you money on things you want to do anyways plus give you people mover passes. I think you have a good idea wanting to do the river walk, butterflies and aero car in the afternoon. They aren't as popular attractions as some of the others and won't be as crowded. The people mover goes all the way down to the flower clock and then comes back. On the way to the flower clock you pass the white water walk (check out the buddist temple across the street too) then the aero car and then the butterfly conservatory. I would go to the end and work my way back. They do the fireworks near the water so Clifton hill is not a very good place to see them, down by the Falls is. Clifton hill is a bit of a rip off. I would still walk around, see the gold Elvis, ride the ferris wheel, buy an ice cream and play some arcade games but all these museums are pretty much a waste of money IMHO. Minature golf is fun though. Clifton Hill is the most fun at night with all those flashing lights. The 2nd day I would get up bright and early and try to be one of the first families on Maid of the Mist and then go to Journey next. You will thank me. The lines will be a nightmare by afternoon (in the summer). You're going to pretty much have a free afternoon since you got so much done yesterday afternoon. Take the kids and play in the pool or do that minature golfing or use this as your time on Clifton Hill (most recommended). Cave of the winds and journey behind the falls are so simular I'm not sure I would do both. I haven't been but I have friends who say Safari Niagara is really good. I would skip Marineland, I hate that place.

 

[lisaross]

thanks for all the info.

maybe i will move the butterflies to the same days as maid of mist - so we have more to fill up the afternoon!

i will try and do clifton hill on our last night --

any good restaurnat u recommend?

I've done NF so many times. Here's what I would do, get the adventure pass for sure. It will save you money on things you want to do anyways plus give you people mover passes. I think you have a good idea wanting to do the river walk, butterflies and aero car in the afternoon. They aren't as popular attractions as some of the others and won't be as crowded. The people mover goes all the way down to the flower clock and then comes back. On the way to the flower clock you pass the white water walk (check out the buddist temple across the street too) then the aero car and then the butterfly conservatory. I would go to the end and work my way back. They do the fireworks near the water so Clifton hill is not a very good place to see them, down by the Falls is. Clifton hill is a bit of a rip off. I would still walk around, see the gold Elvis, ride the ferris wheel, buy an ice cream and play some arcade games but all these museums are pretty much a waste of money IMHO. Minature golf is fun though. Clifton Hill is the most fun at night with all those flashing lights. The 2nd day I would get up bright and early and try to be one of the first families on Maid of the Mist and then go to Journey next. You will thank me. The lines will be a nightmare by afternoon (in the summer). You're going to pretty much have a free afternoon since you got so much done yesterday afternoon. Take the kids and play in the pool or do that minature golfing or use this as your time on Clifton Hill (most recommended). Cave of the winds and journey behind the falls are so simular I'm not sure I would do both. I haven't been but I have friends who say Safari Niagara is really good. I would skip Marineland, I hate that place.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

With Adventure pass- you can make reservations for Whitewater, Journey Behind the Falls and Niagara's Fury. (We got to MotM as soon as it opened, and then the Parks booth is in the park right across the street- they made the reservations for us. They you don't have to rush up to Journey BTF.)

Journey behind the Falls and Cave of the Winds are similar concept- but CotW is so much more. I'd do Journey to say you did, but Cave (well there is no "Cave") is a much more exciting experience. I wanted to go through again!

 

[lisaross]

YES Journey is on the Adventure pass so we will probably do that -- Cave of The Winds i remember doing and loving so we will pay for that separately on our last day as we leave!

Do u think the lines will be that long the last week of August??

With Adventure pass- you can make reservations for Whitewater, Journey Behind the Falls and Niagara's Fury. (We got to MotM as soon as it opened, and then the Parks booth is in the park right across the street- they made the reservations for us. They you don't have to rush up to Journey BTF.)

Journey behind the Falls and Cave of the Winds are similar concept- but CotW is so much more. I'd do Journey to say you did, but Cave (well there is no "Cave") is a much more exciting experience. I wanted to go through again!

 

[nikkistevej]

We just got back this past Friday from there, I could have done without Journey Behind The Falls, for us Cave of the Winds was much better. We also loved Niagara's Fury!! Crowds were light, we never waited in line for any of the attractions we did, and we did alot!! It was HOT though!!