OT Niagra Falls vacation

[flagdaytwins]

Some more thoughts:

We paid $169 CAN for our hotel.....add all the taxes and it came to over $200 USD per night. But the view was incredible.

The breakfast buffet at the Sheraton was barely edible. I recommend not getting a food package if that's what you meant by packages....

If budget is a concern, I would only stay in NF one night at a nice hotel with a view (Marriott, Sheraton, Doubletree etc.). Then I would look at St. Catharine's and up that way for a cheaper place.

FYI, many of the colleges around there offer their dorms for rent in the summer. I think Brock was one of them.

And yes, the food is awful at the chain restaurants!!! We had to ask for a credit on our bill at the Outback and TGIF it was so bad!

 

[FayeW]

We went for broke and stayed a 3rd night at the Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park in Niagara Falls (all but a mile from the falls I'd say EASY to get to).

How did you like Great Wolf Lodge? We are thinking about going up for a couple of nights. We'd take that opportunity to go to African Lion Safari at the same time.

 

[cabmom]

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Fallsview when they had a deal on. We stayed on the 42nd floor overlooking the falls. The view was awesome! We had the breakfast buffet and it was great.
If you want a nice meal and a great view of the falls, dine at the Keg on the 9th floor of the Embassy Suites. The parking there is $20, however if you are just going for dinner they will credit your parking.

I agree on getting the pass for all the attractions. My kids loved the Butterfly Conservatory.

Marilynn

 

[flagdaytwins]

faye, i pm'd you

 

[kmccain]

A not so great memory for my DS who is now 14 when he was 4 he was visiting withthe Walrus when the extra person with him said last kid--Waldorf quick posed with him and then pushed him out of the way so he could get out of there--it was July so I'm sure the costume was very hot, but my DS still sings their theme song with "Waldorf will push you out of his way...everyone loves Marineland"

This is too funny! The things that we remember on these trips!

 

[Bearvet]

amp078- I grew up on Grand Island!! My Mom passed away in 1995, so I don't go back too often anymore I used to live in the Sandy Beach area. My kids love going to Kelly's Country Store for penny candy (oh and I might get a piece of sponge candy or two . When we do go, I love to be the tour guide for my kids!! I have a few suggestions that I haven't seen mentioned yet:
Three Sisters Islands - on the American side on Goat Island - walk across bridges to 3 islands and get right up close to the rapids - thrilling!
Old Fort Niagara - American side, about 1/2 hour north of the Falls. Amazing piece of history, beautiful setting on Lake Ontario and kids can participate in activities like firing the cannon. I haven't done it yet, but there are now jetboats that leave from this area and go to the whirlpool - I think my boys would love this.
Fireworks over the Falls - you'll need to check specific nights and times but we went a few years ago and it was a great (and free) show.

I love this area and always feel so bad when people say how rundown the American side is. I have to agree and wish that the city would realize that it has this amazing natural attraction here and capitalize on it!

 

[mrs. magoo]

We live in Rochester and I just took the kids to Niagara Falls for the day. I have 4 under 8 and we went with a friend and her 2 kids. I have a very active 3 year old and would not let him out of the stroller. Even in today's sue happy world they really only have a small fence separating you from the Niagara River. We did not go on the Maid of the Mist even though my older 2 wanted to badly. No way that I could do it by myself. We did do the observation deck on the American side. The kids loved it. We also walked over to Goat Island and had a great view of the Canadian Falls from the American Side. MY DH has done the cave of the winds and says it was better than the Maid of the Mist. We spent about 5 hours there doing all this. We began the day at the Buffalo Zoo which is about 20 minutes away.

We are returning in June to stay a night at the Great Wolf Lodge. Doing it as a surprise to the kids. Make sure you have birth certificates. I did not and we thought about walking over the bridge, but immigration basically said that the Canada would not let us in and the Americans would make our lives miserable trying to get back in. They asked me if I brought a tent to live on the bridge. MY 8 year old did not like this comment and immediately said forget it Mom let's go.

Have fun.
kathe

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Oh let me add the cost of food is VERY VERY HIGH! in Canada...Dennys for 3
which was 2 adults and a child was over 60.00 for breakfast!!!!!!!
be ready for that nothing is cheap in that area!

In part -- you are very correct. However, there are 2 Denny's restaurants in Niagara Falls, Ontario -- probably about 2km apart with very different pricing. One is in the tourist area -- one isn't. Guess which gets away with charging the higher prices.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the Swiss Chalet restaurant on Lundy's Lane . In fact, all restaurants on Lundy's Lane, once you are outside of the tourist quarter, have standard pricing.

 

[patsal]

I live on Grand Island- approximately 15 minutes from the Falls. Fantasy Island is a really nice amusement park and has much more than 15-20 rides that was posted earlier on this thread. You can definitely spend the day there. It has a great kiddie land and the water park has 2 tall water slides, toddler water slides, a wave pool, and a kiddie pool. We have season's passes and use this weekly. It has a really great roller coaster- the Silver Comet- for older children and adults. The park also has many rides geared for the older kids and adults. They have shows, a western shoot-out, a petting zoo, and a train that goes around the park. There are also many places to have a picnic if you bring a lunch. There is also free parking.

It is a great park, I have had seasons passes for the entire family for 8 years--while it is a full day park for little ones, for the over 12 crowd there are about 10-15 things to do (wild mouse, giant wheel, log flume, old fasioned cars, tilt o whirl, scrambler, free fall drop, silver comet wooden coaster, choas, pirate ship, new thing that looks like a claw and spins, giant slide, that upside down rocket thing and bumper cars). As for the kiddies, they have the boats, a magic bus, little train, little planes, hot air balloons, tea cups, bugs, little cars/morocycles, mini-free fall, and semi trucks. It is very clean and the staff is always very friendly. Depending on kids ages and heights there are 10-15 rides for each age group.

 

[littleEinsteins4]

just reading..... thanks we were thinking of going for a long weekend this will be helpful

 

[keishashadow]

We had a nice family pkg for the Quality Inn/Comfort Inn on Clifton Hill, sits off of the main street...rooms are very quiet. (Could hear the falls, & could peek @ them thru the wooded area behind our room). Older casino a block away & all the honkytonk for the kids right on Clifton Hill. Went in late June & 2 night pkg was very reasonable, included attraction tix, dinner, breakfast & game tokens.

Able to walk to falls in a few minutes. Bought Niagara Parks' multi-attraction pkg which included shuttle bus to butterfly exhibit. Added on the aero-tram over the river - fun.

Saved the cave tour for the next day, nice walk from Clifton Hill area. Suggest you do it early, gets awfuly crowded later in the day.

 

[nicoleakr]

I have gone to Niagara Falls probably 10 or more times. I agree that the Marriott Fallsview is absoultly wonderful. It's worth the money. Also if you call when you make your reservations ask about packages that will included some meals. Their breakfast is to die for. I would also suggest going on the american side and doing the cave of the winds ( if you like something that is exciting) There is also a movie at the i max that you can see. It 's very intersting all about the falls. I would stay away from some of the muesums.Not worth the money. Denny is a huge waste of money. I agree. Anyway have fun. It is beauitful and worth going . We love it.

 

[Twende]

If you don't mind the drive on the American side, on the northern tip is Fort Niagara Park. It is rather interesting and full of history. There is a charge to enter if you are not staying in the state campgrounds. I think the parking fee there is also good for parking on Goat Island if you do it on the same day. We love the view of the area as you drive North through the town of Lewiston on the highway. It is breath-taking.

As you head back south on I think the Robert Moses Parkway, there is the Devils Hole park (a nice place to let the kids run free and maybe have a picnic lunch) and the Power Plant Tours. The power plant can be a fun and educational way to spend a few hours. Our kids always love it. Make sure you go out on the outside overlook balcony area. The power plant tours are free. Before 911 you could take the long elevator ride down inside the plant but they no longer allow this.

On the Canadian side if you go to the northern tip there is also a historical park and tours. There is also a delightful little town, I think called Niagara on the Lake. It resembles an English town and is fun to walk and shop and eat there. They have some great jewerly, candy, ice cream and specailty gift shops. The hotel there is very old and looks like ti wold be a fun and very delux place to stay or just have a meal. The little park in town has a wading fountain for children and okay adults too! The entire are is full of Bed and Breakfasts that look very nice. This is also where the power boat tours of the Devil's hole originate. In the summer there are fruit stands all along the road that sell the best cherries. You need cash for them and preferable Canadian to avoid being ripped off by using American money and getting change back in Canadian. There is also a bike trail that runs along the road all the way from the falls. It would be fun to rent a bike, pack a lunch and head out that way.

We were once told that you could tour the power plant on the Canadian side but we have never done that.

On the Canadian side, south of the falls on the right hand side of the road is a park area that has scenic water ways and a small river swimming area. It looks more like something the locals use but is it beautiful and a nice place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the area tourists.

If you are a cemetary buff then you will love this entire area. It is full of very old interesting cemetaries.

We have always said that we wanted to take the helicoper rides that are offered on the Canadian side but we have never done it.

Also somewhere in Buffalo, I think, was a church that is full of angels. It was really something to see. Maybe some locals know more about it and where it was. DH found it and he is at work right now.

 

[ElizaB39]

Also somewhere in Buffalo, I think, was a church that is full of angels. It was really something to see. Maybe some locals know more about it and where it was. DH found it and he is at work right now.

Was this a church that had angels stenciled in the domed part of the front of hte church or are there actual statues of angels?

 

[Twende]

This church had angel statues and pictures all over it. On the ceilings and the walls and in every alcove everywhere. It was really beautiful.

I will try to figure out what it was called. I really enjoyed our tour of it.

I think it was called Holy Angel Church. I have tried searching for a site for it but I have not found much. Maybe someone local to it has better information on it.

 

[runwad]

I've not been to NF since 92 and when we went we got a people mover ticket and rode that tram all over the place. Do they still have that and all those stops? Seems like we did a lot of gardens and I think we rode a cable car over some kind of body of water? Geez can't remember, but I don't think we paid for anything but the couple bucks for the people mover pass, we thought that was so cool. We want to take our kids here too in the next year or so, thinking over our Columbus Day break in October, hoping for cooler weather and less crowds.

 

[SnowWhite]

http://infoniagara.com/
http://cliftonhill.ca/
http://tourismniagara.com


A couple good ones to check out.....

Niagara Falls is our second home (closer than Disney!!) and we love it there...but as a previous poster said, the tourist district is expensive but further up Lundys Lane everything is quite reasonable. Lots to see and do and I would recommend for a first timer a good week. Have fun!!!!

 

[pixiechick]

We stayed at Sheraton Fallsview (NOT Sheraton on the Falls). Paid $169 CAN per night. Would stay more on the Clifton Hill end (there is a Sheraotn there: Sheraton on the Falls) in middle of action (Maid of Mist is a short walk from there).

We looked at the Sheraton Fallsview. If possible we'd like to use Starwood points to pay for our room. Did you like the hotel? Any other thoughts you'd like to share about it? Thanks!

Thanks too, to everyone offering such great ideas!

 

[shelly3girls]

Thanks for all of the great info. We have rented an RV at the end of July and will be making a 6 day trip from NJ to Cooperstown then to Niagara. From the sounds of it, it will be very hot. One question I have is whether or not these attractions have age restrictions. We will be traveling with an infant (around 6 weeks old) and have no idea what we will be able to do with him. I know it sounds crazy but I never can take a vacation during the summer so this is the only summer we will be able to take the older kids on this type of trip. We can't postpone the trip b/c we are already going to the Outerbanks in Aug. and WDW in Sept then it will be back to work for me. TIA

 

[sweetheart2576]

Being from Niagara Falls, NY, I would definitely stay on the Canadian Side. Much nicer andmore things to do. I know it sounds horrible, but it is the truth. Our downtown tourist area is a dump. There is ton of things to do on the Canadian side. Check out http://www.cliftonhill.com/ there is some information on the different things to do on clifton hill which is fun.