Questions about vising Niagara Falls, US side

[lovetoscrap]

We are going to be up near Niagara Falls next week and I have always wanted to go so I think we are going to plan a side trip there--probably will need to stay overnight.

My first question is, if we decide that we want to cross over to the Canada side just to see the falls over there How far is it and what paperwork do we need to have for ourselves and our kids? This is a last minute thing and I don't know that I have birth certificates for everyone. Does this mean we are stuck on the US side only?

On the US side what are the "must do's" and what should we skip? My kids are 11 and 7 and are excited to be going. But our time (and money) may be limited so I may need to pick the top few things to enjoy. It looks like there is quite a bit there to do.


Finally any recommendations for a nice, safe, clean, maybe cheap, place to stay? Don't need anything fancy. Just a clean bathroom and beds. I usually have good luck with the Best Western Chain and was going to look on their website, but thought I would ask here also.

 

[singingpixie]

I actually prefer the NY side to the CA side. The Canadian side is much more commercial, and the NY side is mostly state park. If you go to the visitor center (where you can park), they sell a package ticket that includes everything- off the top of my head, you get the Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds (totally not to be missed!), White Water Walk, Observation Tower, Aquarium, a nice documentary about the history of the falls, and the tram tour that connects everything. It may also include the butterfly conservatory, but I'm not sure.

I'm not sure about the border requirements because I haven't done it in a while and things have changed, but if you do have to stay in the US, I think you'll find plenty to do if you like the natural beauty of the falls!

 

[MelanieC]

I personally like the Canadian side the best. We have stayed there twice including this past June.

You need your original state issued birth certificates with raised state seal (or in my case my naturalization papers- I was born in Germany on a Military base). Or you need passports.

On the American side - I would drive out to Goat Island and walk from the end parking lot (was free when we were there in June, not sure about now) and walk to where the Rainbow bridge is. You have to walk back or take the trolly. The walk is nice though.

I also would go over to the Canadian side and see the vantage point from that side. Totally different.

I would DEFINATELY do the Maid of the mist. Totally worth the money! Not as necessary to do the Journey behind the falls on the canadian side, but ok the first time - you go behind the falls and get to see it from underground. I have never been to the tour that takes you down to the rocks on the American side.

We do like the Spanish Aero car that is down the road on the canadian side. You can take a trolly or it is a little hike, but doable. This goes over the whirlpool. Again - may not be worth it if you don't have much time.

Everything else is mostly just a waste of money. Lots of things there to spend your money on -very tourist trap area. The one area has tons of horror houses, Ripley museums, etc.

 

[MelanieC]

For hotels, I can't comment on the American side.....but on the Canadian side we stayed at the Double Tree. Its very new and was in a great spot (still needed to walk, but centrally located). The hotel was beautiful and the rooms were very nice. We got a great deal around $135 canadian $118 American.

 

[Daxx]

From gocanada.about.com:

Necessary ID to Enter Canada by Land or Water before the WHTI Dates:

Until the WHTI land and water dates go into effect, American citizens crossing the border into Canada by land or water need ID that proves two things: 1) Citizenship, and 2) Identity by way of a photo.

A driver's license on its own or a Social Security Card on its own are not valid ID to cross the Canadian border.

The following pieces of identification will serve as satisfactory proof of American citizenship to enter Canada.

Please note, however, that photocopies of ID are not acceptable, only originals:
US passport
OR
Birth certificate
OR
Certificate of citizenship or naturalization,

AND Photo ID, such as current driver's license


We just crossed over this weekend after a visit to the beach. We had to show my passport and DS's birth certificate and school id. We just handed over the passport and DS's school ID. The border patrol asked for his birth certificate and for my driver's license. We're not always asked for birth certificates but carry them b/c I sure as heck don't want any hassles. I was shocked that they asked for my license along w/my passport!!!!

 

[Mugg Mann]

Sorry to be lazy, but it was easier to just cut and paste a response I gave from an earlier Niagara Falls thread. The only thing I'll add to this based on your specific questions was that we must have gone back and forth from the US side to the Canadian side 5 or 6 times in a week, and that there wasn't much at all on the US side compared to the Canadian side (although we all agreed that the buffet inside the US Casino was the best meal we had in the area all week without dining fancy). You'll be better off overall on the Canadian side.

One more thing; we had birth certificates for all of us (including our DD13)...I'm not sure I'd personally try a border cross without them, although I know folks who have done it.

Anyways....

We just got back from a week long trip to Niagara Falls in late June. Allow me to pass on our experiences;

-As far as a hotel goes, we were quite happy with our hotel at the Quality Inn Clifton Hill. A five minute walk to the falls (literally), and we were in the middle of everything. All the hotels in the area significantly raise their rates for the weekend, so the rates I'm about to give you are not a straight rate every night but rather the total of what we paid for the six nights.

I booked the same hotel through three different web sites at three different rates (I kept finding a lower rate by continuing to look). We started with a rate of $560 US, and the winning rate was done through hotelsforeveryone.com where I got the same two queen bed room for $390 US plus tax. Keep in mind that we deliberately went before the Canadian schools got out, so it was not considered Summer yet. I don't think you'll be able to find the same rate, but now you know where to look. There are a couple of swankier hotels nearer to the falls, but the rates were at least double what I paid. We didn't think it was worth it, and more so after having been up there.

The Quality Inn was a decent hotel. Nothing fancy at all, but like a Disney trip, we weren't planning on spending any awake time in the room.

-There's an adventure pass that is sold for the major tourist sites. Here's the link;

https://order.affinity-tickets.com/e....php?e_tv=MTEy

It'll save you some cash on things that are definitely worth checking out. In addition, make sure you go over the Rainbow Bridge to the American side to go to Goat Island. It was our favorite view, and on the American side as well was an attraction called Cave of the Winds. You get to literally walk into the spray of one of the weaker falls, and we enjoyed it so much, we paid to go twice. We were wetter than any raft ride in any Amusement park I've been to, but we dressed for it ahead of time and they provide sandals to wear. (By the way; DO NOT wear anything other than sandals on the Maid of the Mist. Just trust me on this one!)

-Food is ridiculously expensive in the immediate Falls area (and we live in Boston!)

Be prepared to pay far more than you expect if you don't take advantage of the heavily advertised buffet specials. In our trip preparations, one poster on a bulletin board complained of having spent $40 at a Denny's in the area. We thought he was either making it up or didn't mention that the $40 covered several people.

Starving one night, we went into a Perkins, and two omelette meals and a Soup and Salad with non-alcoholic drinks (and no appetizers!) ran us $75 including tip. I've been to Disney many many times, and while I may have thought a couple of meals there were a bit overpriced, this was a blantant rip-off. You've been warned.....

-Like Disney, this will be a walking trip. We estimate we walked 5-7 miles every day around the area.

Hope this helps. Feel free to fire away with any other questions!

 

[nkjzmom]

We did the same thing last summer. We were in NY for a different reason and decided to drive the 45 minutes over to Niagara Falls. We knew we would only have a day there so we didn't bother trying to get over to the Canadian side and we found plenty of things to do.

singingpixie summed it up pretty well...do not miss a trip on the Maid of the Mist, a visit to Goat Island, and the view from the Observation Tower. We decided against the Cave tour...I thought our kids were a little too young. I have a fear of water so just the walk up to the falls and seeing the water pouring over scared the you know what out of me...I was able to go on the MotM ride though.

What we didn't know before going was that there is a laser show at night. Does someone have information about that? We were sad we had to miss that.

 

[snowy76]

The US side definitely has its good points - the state park is beautiful and easy to get around. Thought I'd share a few pictures from about three years ago - I think they give a good sense of what things are like there. I took the kids on a day trip to the US side, rode the Maid of the Mist and we had lunch at the Hard Rock right across the street.

The kids on the US side right next to the Niagara River - so basically behind the falls. The foam is the water dropping off. The skyline in the background is the Canadian side.

From the Maid of the Mist. These are the same falls that the kids were in front of in the first picture.

Also from the boat - the observation deck on the American side.

Us, after the boat ride, on the same observation deck. The American falls are right next to us!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Thanks so much. Looks like I need to start digging and see if I can find our Birth certificates. Mine is the only one I am not sure I have. I guess we will be stuck on this side if I can't find it.

I was hoping we could skip the boat ride because I don't like boats, but it sounds like I will have to suck it up and deal. I am also a bit afraid of heights but figured I will have to suck that up also.

Why exactly did I really want to go there again?

Thanks for c/ping your prior report MuggMann. Much appreciated. I really am excited about this. Love the photos snowy76!

 

[Pembo]

Just back from NF on Saturday. Going to Canada, the border girl asked us where we were going, why, and for how long, if we had any firearms or alcohol...and where dh was born. No id necessary. Coming back, border guy took our driver licenses, asked us where we were born, who was in the car, if they were our kids, and if we were bringing anything back from Canada. That was it.

Bring $ for the American side too. To park at Goat Island costs, $8 or $10. THe park is nice to walk around and there's a tram that costs $2/person. We used that since it was raining. Maid of the Mist runs from the AM side and there is the Cave of the Winds.

Enjoy.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

Maid of the Mist was my girls' favorite thing about Niagara Falls. It operates on both the American and Canadian side. It is a "must do".

We spent the day on the Canadian side, there is a combo pass available, prices are in CDN$

http://www.niagaraparks.com/nfgg/discountpass.php

 

[Nancy]

Hey LTS...I'm about 15-20 minutes from the Falls....











YOO HOOO!!!!! I'm sending you a PM later on.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Hey LTS...I'm about 15-20 minutes from the Falls....











YOO HOOO!!!!! I'm sending you a PM later on.

NO WAY!!! You better!

 

[MelanieC]

I forgot about the photo ID, lol! They definately asked us how long we were staying, where we were going etc.

For the parking on Goat Island on the US side. When we asked if there was any place on the island to park without paying she said if we went to the very last parking lot it was free. It was and it wasn't too far from everything (in fact there was a bridge to go over before the falls- I think 3 sisters island or something like that). It was only a half mile I think from the first parking lot.

It was worth it for us to park there, because we walked the entire length of the island - plus it was free!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Unfortunately I am severely limited in walking, in fact if there is much walking involved I will have to be in a wheelchair so we will pay what we need to in order to park as close as we can --I don't have a handicapped permit.

 

[mickeysgal]

How many days is enough to see the falls from both sides?

 

[Nancy]

If wanting to do both sides I would do 2 days. 1 for the US side and 1 for the Canadian side.

 

[refrig]

There is also a power plant on the NY side (about 5 miles east) that has a free tour about how they get hydro power from the niagara river- very good. Link: nypa .gov. There is also Fort Niagara - OK if you have the time. Link: oldfortniagara .org

 

[Pembo]

If you do go to Canada, we drove about 15 mins north of NF to the Welland Canal. We were able to watch 2 ships go through the locks. Very cool and very free.

 

[Daxx]

Another thing ... I know some people travel w/fire arms. If you're travelling w/a fire arm, you will have to leave it at home b/c they're not allowed into Canada!