Please tell me about Niagara Falls

[sherry7]

Can you all give me some advice/info please? We are thinking about taking a last minute trip to Niagara Falls this weekend (Friday - Sunday). This was totally not planned, but we are both off work for the next 3 days and it seems like good timing.

Any suggestions on hotels please? Not too expensive, but not dumpy either. Should we stay on the American side or the Canadian side? (We all have passports, if needed.) Any suggestions of must-dos?

I'm trying to plan this weekend getaway, so we can leave early tomorrow morning, so any and all advice is appreciated.


Edited to add: we will be traveling with our 2 year old DD, so suggestions for her age are appreciated.

 

[Tower]

I don't know if you're in Canada or not, but it's our Victoria Day holiday weekend this weekend, so it will be busier in Niagara Falls.

I took DW there last Thursday night for a Mother's Day getaway and it was a nice time away from the kids. Look at the discount sites out there for good deals, but you'll be lacking as most of those only are for Sun-Thurs nights.

Perhaps stay in Buffalo, NY and drive over to the Falls during the day. Priceline.com has good name your price deals at around $60 for the Marriott (3.5*).

Have a great time if you decide to come over!

 

[pigletto]

There are two other threads with some great advice in here somewhere. I think one is on this page and there's one on the Disney for Families forum? Not sure.

I always recommend Canadian side. Not because I am Canadian but simply because it really has much much more to offer. If you don't want too expensive avoid the hotels "overlooking the Falls".
This is a long weekend for us so prices are going to be higher though. I'm going to poke around and see what's in my email. I know I've gotten some emails with last minute specials over the last few days

 

[kbmt143]

We went last summer but stayed at a KOA kampground. Had a great time at the Falls but would not camp again. Wish we had gotten passports for the kids to go to the Canadian side. There is a park there called Marineland, I think, that would have been great to go to.

Plus I think the US side close to the Falls is pretty run down. So although I have not been there, I would suggest the Canadian side.

 

[crc76]

When we went to Niagara 5 yrs ago, we stayed at the Comfort Inn The Pointe. It is right on the state park on the US side. PP is correct, there is more to do on the Canadian side, it is a nice short walk on the rainbow bridge from this hotel. Have a great time.

 

[pigletto]

I am seeing good rates for Hotels on Priceline (not name your own price, just regular search). I am very very familiar with the area and the hotels so if you take a look and narrow it down to your price range I'd be happy to tell you where the hotel is location wise and what's around it and my general impressions.
Though we don't anymore my dh and I lived and worked there for years and he worked at several of the hotels.

Go to the Niagara Parks website (Niagaraparks.com) and check out their deals on combined attraction passes. It's called the Adventure Pass.Usually the best price and again, we've been to all of them so I can give you general impressions. The four attractions in the Adventure Pass are must dos.
Ask away and I'll help where I can!

 

[clori]

We are going to Niagara Falls in June. I've been told by tons of people plus my research has agreed that the Canadian side is nicer over all. For hotels there are several. We are going with Country Inn and Suites which wasn't the cheapest but on the low side compared to the Falls View hotels. I think tripadvisor rated it #2 for Niagara Falls Canada or maybe #2 in family hotels.

I do want to see some sites on the American side such as the discovery center and cave of the winds but overall there is more that we plan to try and see on the Canadian side. I have kids who will be 8 and 12 when we go so I'm sure we will spend one night at Clifton Hill.

Currently I believe kids under 16 only need a birth certificate though otherwise passports are required.

 

[zoemurr]

where you're coming from.. but also remember that it will be colder/windier there than surrounding areas. Bring sweatshirts and jackets just in case.

 

[pigletto]

where you're coming from.. but also remember that it will be colder/windier there than surrounding areas. Bring sweatshirts and jackets just in case.

Agreed. Sitting on my back deck right now and I'm about to go in for a sweater
I'd say it will get up to 60 degrees today but it's windy and walking down by the Falls it would be cold.
I *think* it's supposed to get warmer this weekend though.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

There are two other threads with some great advice in here somewhere. I think one is on this page and there's one on the Disney for Families forum? Not sure

Here's one of the threads that pigletto was talking about:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2927226

 

[cyndik1111]

check out the hilton falls view. The best hotel on canadian side (IMO) Search the web for deals, you can always find it for cheaper, if you do a little digging. Also call them directly and see what specials they have.

Stay on Canadian side, but check out both sides. They each have their own special attributes. You can do both sides in 2-3 days without rushing.

Even when the Falls are busy, it's nothing like disney during peak. So don't let crowds scare you.

The maid of the mist is a must do. Also cave of the winds, and/or the journey behind the falls are fun.

I think the Dare Devil (Nick Wellenda) that is walking across the falls soon (June 15th) will be out practicing near one of the casinos. So that would be neat to see. The aquarium is small but nice. There are bundled packages for multiple sites to see for both sides of the Falls. They are a good bargain.

A lot of a falls trip is just walking around both sides and marveling at natures wonder. Enjoy, you won't be sorry you went. I have lived here all my life and I go at least once per year- and I'm still amazed by it.

 

[marmalade]

where you're coming from.. but also remember that it will be colder/windier there than surrounding areas. Bring sweatshirts and jackets just in case.

It's supposed to be 80-85 here this weekend. I hate to say it I live 15 minutes from the falls and haven't been there in years. The US side is pretty run down, and we don't have passports, and never got around to getting the enhanced license to go to over the border.

Since you have passports, I would recommend staying on the Canadian side. If you like wineries, both sides have some good ones.

There is Niagara on the lake in Canada, http://www.niagaraonthelake.com/page/Featured_Events

Or the Niagara wine trail on the American side, http://www.niagarawinetrail.org/

Both trails are a little drive from the falls, approx a 20 minute drive.

 

[pigletto]

check out the hilton falls view. The best hotel on canadian side (IMO) Search the web for deals, you can always find it for cheaper, if you do a little digging. Also call them directly and see what specials they have.

Stay on Canadian side, but check out both sides. They each have their own special attributes. You can do both sides in 2-3 days without rushing.

Even when the Falls are busy, it's nothing like disney during peak. So don't let crowds scare you.

The maid of the mist is a must do. Also cave of the winds, and/or the journey behind the falls are fun.

I think the Dare Devil (Nick Wellenda) that is walking across the falls soon (June 15th) will be out practicing near one of the casinos. So that would be neat to see. The aquarium is small but nice. There are bundled packages for multiple sites to see for both sides of the Falls. They are a good bargain.

A lot of a falls trip is just walking around both sides and marveling at natures wonder. Enjoy, you won't be sorry you went. I have lived here all my life and I go at least once per year- and I'm still amazed by it.

Hilton Fallsview was one of the ones on Priceline that I thought was a great rate for the property. I'd recommend it too.

 

[sherry7]

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. I'm at work today, so I'm trying to search for hotels, etc while I'm on my break/lunch. I'm a normally a huge planner, so taking a trip with only 1 day notice is very untypical for me.

I added this to the first post, but we're taking our 2 year old DD with us. Any suggestions of things to do with that young of a child?

 

[Neelloc]

The Embassy Suites was also running a deal for this weekend. I want to say it was $129 for a Fallsview room and it included the breakfast buffet and also a dining voucher.

http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com/

Stay on the Canadian side if you can!

 

[Jasonp]

I was just in the Falls for a few days last week with my wife and 2 boys, 3yrs and 7yrs. We went mostly to spend the night at Great Wolf Lodge but did a few extra activities as well. Clifton Hill is a lot of fun. Even just walking the hill and looking at stuff will likely thrill your 2 yr old. We did the big Ferris Wheel. It's a great way to get a terrific view of the entire area. We didn't have enough time to use it but there was a pass that we could have purchased to do the Ferris wheel as well as other attractions. It gives you access to about 4 activities I believe and made them quite affordable. You can get the pass right at the ticket outlet for the ferris wheel. The other thing we really like to do is the arcade on Clifton Hill. It's one of those places that spits out he tickets that you can redeem for prizes at the end. My kids love those places and this one is pretty big. Lots of little coin operated rides as well that my 3yr old loved and your 2 yr old mike like. Marine land is a lot of fun as well. Have a great time.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I would def stay on the Canadian side. There is a great indoor waterpark

http://www.fallsviewwaterpark.com/

We were able to get a room for 4, 4 waterpark passes for 2 days for $129.00 with our AAA. The Skyline Inn is the hotel we stayed. The waterpark is beautiful and is very clean. It is very close to all the tourist things (Clifton Springs)....5 min walk to the falls. The hotel is very child friendly. It shows kids Disney movies in the courtyard at 8.Lots of things for young children too. Might be a good choice to stay at...do the waterpark one day and the falls, etc the next. The Rain Forest Cafe is very close (I don't think you even have to walk outside). My kids loved eating there!
This is the link on Trip Advisor

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...w_Indoor_Waterpark-Niagara_Falls_Ontario.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...eviews-Skyline_Inn-Niagara_Falls_Ontario.html

 

[bluvw]

I went a few years ago but only for one night, so can only offer a little bit of advice:

I stayed at the Marriot a few years ago and had an excellent view of the falls and I got a great deal by calling the hotel directly. If you use priceline, you risk not getting a falls-view room which is ok but still...

Try the revolving restaurant just before sunset. It is so neat watching the sunset on the city.

If you like carriage rides, it is really nice at night when the falls are lit up and the music is playing.

Some activities might not work with a 2 year old. For example, the Maid of the Mist might be too dangerous on a windy day, the waves can get really rough. I never did the cave thing. The Ripleys Believe it or not might be too scary.

Enjoy!

 

[Alexander]

A quote from someone who works all around the Buffalo/Niagara area, "The US side is ghetto." I would recommend going across to the Canadian side.

 

[sherry7]

A quote from someone who works all around the Buffalo/Niagara area, "The US side is ghetto." I would recommend going across to the Canadian side.

Yikes! I hope the American side is really not that bad, because I already booked the Comfort Inn - The Point on the American side. Someone on the first page of this thread recommended it, and the reviews on Trip Advisor are great. It's not refundable at this point, so I hope it is okay.

I'm in the midst of getting stuff packed up right now, and doing a little research online to find some good ideas of things to do with our 2 year old DD. I'm excited to go! It's been almost 1 1/2 years since I had a vacation, so even a mini-vacation is great at this point.