StephDRebel
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Posts: 6,718 
Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 17, 2017 23:27:03 GMT
Last month my company sent me a raincoat and I joked that felt like we were going on the maid of the mist.
Since then I've been wanting to go to Niagara falls. Dh has never been and neither have I and we realized this afternoon that we don't have anywhere to be until Wednesday so we packed a bag and are on our way.
Recommendations for where to stay? I'm not opposed to planning ahead but right now that means we've got about 3.5 hours before we pull into buffalo. Ha.
We were thinking about staying on the American side tonight, doing maid of the mist in the morning and them crossing the border and staying in Canada tomorrow night.
We have to be in Dayton by 3pm on the 20th.
What should we do and see? We don't do casinos but could get down with wineries.
Should we just cross the border tonight and catch the boat ride on the way out of town?
Any suggestions? This was a great idea until we stopped for dinner and I realized we don't have a plan and I've never been spontaneous without planning ahead for it.
We won't end up sleeping in the car...right? I've got a pillow and blanket just in case!
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Post by scrappychick on Jun 17, 2017 23:44:40 GMT
You could spend some time in downtown buffalo at Canalside, though not today. Kefuffle is going on right now. Parking would be a nightmare, though the music kicks ass! Clifton Hill has a ton of touristy things to do on the Canadian side of the falls, and there are plenty of hotels to choose from! Niagara-on-the-Lake has a lot of wineries and B&B's you could try. I'd probably find a brewery in downtown Buffalo, park myself at the bar, and just start googling!
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Post by Windy on Jun 18, 2017 0:11:09 GMT
Did you bring your passports? You'll need them to cross into Canada. Definitely do the touristy things like Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 18, 2017 0:19:54 GMT
We were thinking about staying on the American side tonight, doing maid of the mist in the morning and them crossing the border and staying in Canada tomorrow night. Make sure you have a passport. No ideas on where to stay because for me it's a day trip. Maid of the Mist ROCKS...If you have time, do the Cave of the Winds. |
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rickmer
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Post by rickmer on Jun 18, 2017 0:22:18 GMT
we enjoy staying at the embassy suites. you can usually get a good deal on groupon and from the canadian side, its the best view of the falls, in my opinion. full disclosure: have never been to the us side.
we always get the fun pass and do the ferris wheel/eye thing, a wax museum, mini putt (glow in the dark!) and those kinda of kitschy things since that is why niagara falls is to us. DH and i went to the casino last time. people dig it. it make me kinda sad... but i tried!!
there is a historic building right at the horseshoe falls we had never been to. we went on our most recent trip this spring. it's really just a glorified walkway with a gift shop but they do have some visual displays on the wall that are very cool about erosion and a child that went over the falls in the 60's when their boat capsized upriver that i had never heard of.
i love niagara falls!!!
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StephDRebel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,718
Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 18, 2017 0:23:48 GMT
I found a cute b&b not far from the falls that will have us tonight. On the Canadian side. Reviews say she makes the best breakfast ever so I think we're going to go ahead and book it for 2 nights
Is maid of the mist better than the boat ride from the other side?
Any recommendations for food that can't be missed?
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StephDRebel
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Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 18, 2017 0:24:57 GMT
I do have our passports. Thankfully I thought to grab them just in case!
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Post by christine58 on Jun 18, 2017 0:32:11 GMT
Is maid of the mist better than the boat ride from the other side? It's the same...just called something different. The roar of the falls is something I cannot describe. If you get time, Niagara-on-the-lake has wineries, a butterfly conservatory and a cute downtown area. Enjoy!! |
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Post by teddyw on Jun 18, 2017 0:33:08 GMT
Have fun!
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Post by librarylady on Jun 18, 2017 0:37:17 GMT
There is a comfort suite or comfort inn within walking distance of the falls on the US side.
Look at choice hotels.com for exact nsme location.
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happymomma
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Post by happymomma on Jun 18, 2017 0:41:13 GMT
Never been there, but every single time I hear "Niagra Falls" I hear this in my head: "Niagara Falls! Slowly I turned ... step by step ... inch by inch" from the Three Stooges. www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYP1OBZfFK0 |
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Post by mom23sweetpeas on Jun 18, 2017 0:41:30 GMT
The maid of the mist on the canadian side used to be better than the american version - something to do with the angle that it went out on they could get closer to the falls before turning around- but it is now owned by a different company so not sure if that has changed! Have fun - lots of touristy type things to do on the canadian side- haunted houses and wax museums. There are casinos on both sides now. Have fun!
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Post by scrappychick on Jun 18, 2017 0:58:34 GMT
The view from the boat is the same from either company. I went on the Maid of the Mist last June, and we were super close to the falls! You could try Cave if the Winds, or the zip line they have now too.
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StephDRebel
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Location: Ohio
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 18, 2017 1:58:03 GMT
Has anyone done this adventure pass? Worth it?  |
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 18, 2017 2:10:27 GMT
I found some sketchy b&b reviews so we booked a hotel overlooking the falls on the Canadian side.
Now, all the decisions!
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quiltz
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Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Jun 18, 2017 2:20:15 GMT
Has anyone done this adventure pass? Worth it? I am local and buy these passes. Use the WEGO transit system as this is the quickest way to get around in the "Falls" area. Do take a drive down the Niagara Parkway. Strawberries are in season and are so delicious. A good local treat (other than wine) is jam or jelly from Greaves Jams & Jellies. They have a storefront in NOTL and are also found at 'Harvest Barn' (a local place that has the BEST salad bar). They are on Niagara Stone Road. PM me if you need any info. I am 10 minutes from Niagara Falls. |
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StephDRebel
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Post by StephDRebel on Jun 18, 2017 2:25:39 GMT
Has anyone done this adventure pass? Worth it? I am local and buy these passes. Use the WEGO transit system as this is the quickest way to get around in the "Falls" area. Do take a drive down the Niagara Parkway. Strawberries are in season and are so delicious. A good local treat (other than wine) is jam or jelly from Greaves Jams & Jellies. They have a storefront in NOTL and are also found at 'Harvest Barn' (a local place that has the BEST salad bar). They are on Niagara Stone Road. PM me if you need any info. I am 10 minutes from Niagara Falls. Thank you!! Do you think we will be able to squeeze enough in in 2 stays to make it worth it? Is it is required or can we give the unused admissions to someone if we don't have time for all of it? Strawberries! This makes me happy! |
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quiltz
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Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Jun 18, 2017 2:38:21 GMT
@stephdrebel I would purchase the Classic package rather than the $90.00 pass. You also want to go to Niagara on the Lake, truly you really want to go there, just a drive down the Niagara Parkway.
The Butterfly Conservatory takes at least 2 hours, if not more to fully enjoy. The Floral Showcase is on the other end of the Falls, and also takes at least an hour or more to fully experience.
Please PM me as I can give you some local information. Enjoy!
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Post by CarolinaGirl71 on Jun 18, 2017 3:46:08 GMT
The Butterfly Conservatory is wonderful, and we also loved the botanical gardens just outside of it! Have fun!
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Post by flanz on Jun 18, 2017 5:08:34 GMT
I found a cute b&b not far from the falls that will have us tonight. On the Canadian side. Reviews say she makes the best breakfast ever so I think we're going to go ahead and book it for 2 nights Is maid of the mist better than the boat ride from the other side? Any recommendations for food that can't be missed? Guessing the B&B is in Niagara-on-the-lake. I was going to suggest you try to stay there. If you get to some wineries, check out the ice wine. It is a dessert wine, best served out of the freezer. Very sweet, it is meant to be sipped as a dessert. I love it! Maid of the Mist is fun. My favorite thing about Niagara Falls (and I'm talking Canadian side, the U.S. side doesn't compare!) is standing at the railing, listening to the roar of the water and feeling the mist on my face! It's been 17 years since I've been to "the falls" but if they still have an Imax show about the history of the falls, I highly recommend that. Have fun! |
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Post by betty on Jun 18, 2017 5:50:15 GMT
We drove to Niagara Falls last year as a bucket list item near 4th of July - we spent some time camping farther north in Canada and then stopped at Niagara Falls on the way home. I'm ready to go back! TWe stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton (nice and reasonable price) and LOVED the location. We could walk to the falls and anything else we wanted to see. Nighttime was our favorite. There were lights and fireworks (not sure if fireworks are only on specific dates or occasions} but go see the falls at night! There were LOTS of people. Crazy crowded at the Falls and all attractions so we passed on some of the things like the cave and the Behind the Falls tour that we had planned on before going (we did not have the passes so we didn't feel like we had to do them). Of course it was a holiday week so it may vary. My adult step kids did the Skylon Tower and really liked it. The kids and I rode the Maid of the Mist on the American side as dh had to fly home early for work while kids and I drove back to Florida so we were at the Buffalo airport to drop him off that day. It was great! Beautiful and exhilarating AND less crowded than the Canadian side. They have a nice little gift shop and park. Each side has its own charm.  Have fun! |
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peaname
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Post by peaname on Jun 18, 2017 16:56:20 GMT
We did a bicycling winery tour in Niagara on the Lake through Grape Escape it was so much tasting the wine especially the ice wine and riding tipsy.
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milocat
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Post by milocat on Jun 18, 2017 17:05:28 GMT
Have a Beavertail in Canada! I know they are in the Niagara location. I've heard of people doing the tour behind the falls. Going at night and seeing it lit up. All on the Canadian side.
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imsirius
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Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
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Post by imsirius on Jun 18, 2017 17:57:52 GMT
Beaver tails are more Ottawa area.
If you can swing it money wise, you might want to consider staying at the hotels at Fallsview. There's the Hilton and the Four Points by Sheridan. Great views and a whole whack of amazing restaurants. Try the Famous in the lobby of the casino. Friends of ours own it and it's really great food. We stay at the four points when we go down. It's nice.
There's also a great Brazilian steakhouse called Brava in the Hilton or Canyon Creek in the casino upstairs. Both are fantastic but a bit more upscale and pricey.
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imsirius
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Call it as I see it.
Posts: 7,661
Location: Floating in the black veil.
Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
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Post by imsirius on Jun 18, 2017 17:59:28 GMT
Oh, today there is a severe thunderstorm warning in the area. Might want to get to the Falls and touristy stuff before it hits.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Jun 18, 2017 19:59:13 GMT
The view from our room is pretty great!   Wow!! That's wonderful 😍😍 |
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Post by anniefb on Jun 18, 2017 22:09:06 GMT
Looks fabulous! Have a great time.
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Post by kluski on Jun 18, 2017 22:17:48 GMT
Been on my bucket list for a few years now. Hoping again for a fall trip.
what hotel did you go with?
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Post by brookeq on Jun 18, 2017 23:19:26 GMT
We are going the third weekend in july. We are coming from Pittsburgh. Just a quick stop with family members from out west.
We were just going to stay on the american side. But We just read that kids under 16 don't need a passport just their birth certificate. All of the adults have passports. So now we are rethinking our trip. We are still only driving up on Friday morning and leaving on Saturday sometime. So a short trip. We are deciding if we should keep our hotel on the American side and just walk over to the Canadian side. The in laws are scared that the traffic will be too bad since its a summer weekend and our trip is so short. And we will have lots of young kids
Anyone have any advice?
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