niagra falls - help me plan if you've been there

[anaj06]

DH and I are getting vacation without the kids in April and we both really want to see Niagra Falls. We are not sure whether to go to the US side or Canada side (we'd have to update passports). Is the Canada side more expensive because of exchange rates, etc? Where did you stay? What should be definately do while we are there? Can you get back and forth from the Canada side to the US side or is it once you are there you are on one side or the other?

Any advice/thoughts would me most appreciated and repped!

[mkmattingly]

We stayed on the Canadian side, but that was before you had to have passports to go back and forth. If you have passports, it's easy to go back and forth (or at least it was when we went), just a few minutes while they ask questions in your car. We just found a bed and breakfast within walking distance of the falls.

Since we stayed on the Canadian side, I can't say for sure about the American side, but my impression is that most of the tourist stuff is on the Canadian side. That side has the Maid in the Mist, which I'd definitely recommend, where you take a boat up near the falls. And I'm pretty certain the view of the falls is better on the Canadian side because of the angle of the falls.

Also while there, we bought the round trip ticket that allows you to take a bus circuit at your own speed from the falls to other sites, like a butterfly building with a gazillion butterflies. The only catch with that is it ended around 5 or so and we nearly got stuck on the opposite side of the circuit because we didn't realize it ended so early. We didn't go, but there's also a casino on the Canadian side.

[anaj06]

Thank you for your information! We have passports...just have to get my name changed on mine b/c I got it before marriage.

You mention a car...do you need to rent a car to get around or is everything centrally located in walking distance?

Maid in Mist sounds neat! We'll have to check that out!

[mkmattingly]

Well, we drove up to it from KY, but that'd be a bit from NC. You could probably walk to most of it, it's a relatively compact area.

[willow78]

Go to the Canadian side. There is not much to do on the US side, and the view of the falls is not nearly as nice.

There is so much to do there. Here are some of the things that I enjoy:
Maid of the Mist (this is a must)
Niagara Parks' Botanical Gardens and the Butterfly Conservatory
Fallsview Casino
Walking around Clifton Hill
Niagara-on-the-Lake (there are a lot of cute little shops; there are many wineries nearby, but I haven't stopped at any of those)


ETA: There are a ton of things to do right near the falls, but there is also a trolley, which stops at major attractions.

[anaj06]

Thank you!

If you stay on one side or the other, can you walk or take a bus back and forth or are you stuck on the side you are on?

I think we have decided to drive the 12 hours....does anyone remember if parking your car was ridiculous?

[willow78]

I've never gone back and forth between sides, so I don't want to give misinformation; I don't see why you would be stuck, though, as long as you have your passport. Hopefully someone else will know the easiest way to cross (I 'think' that I remember seeing a bridge that you can cross on foot.) But, honestly, do some research on your own on the American side - I don't think that there's anything worth going to on that side (or at least, I don't think that there's anything over there that you can't do on the Canadian side). I wouldn't want you to go all that way and be disappointed.

I would suggest staying on the Canadian side at a hotel that has free parking and is within walking distance of the falls. Not all hotels have free parking, so make sure that you enquire about this before you book. Parking close to the falls and on Clifton Hill can be a challenge. But, it's not a problem, if you just park at your hotel and walk down. Parking is not a problem at attractions that are a little further away from the falls.

HTHs. It's just my opinion, though. You'll have a lot of fun, no matter what you do. I have loved every trip that I've taken there, and even though I have been a bunch of times, I still find new things to do every time I go.

Originally Posted by anaj06 Thank you! If you stay on one side or the other, can you walk or take a bus back and forth or are you stuck on the side you are on? I think we have decided to drive the 12 hours....does anyone remember if parking your car was ridiculous?

[lostinthemission]

I went last year, with my brother, and boyfriend. I don't think the U.S. side even compares to the Canadian. We stayed at the Skyline Inn, it's next to casino Niagara. We booked it on hotels.com. You can walk pretty much everywhere near the Falls. We only drove for breakfast everyday. There is this funny diner that has breakfast for $1.99, it wasn't bad and it was cheap. If you wanted bacon it was only $2.99. It's called the flying saucer, and you can't miss it because it's shaped like one. Everyday we walked to see the falls. We played penny slots for fun. The casino had free soda, and coffee too.

My favorite place to eat is Kelsey's, it's like TGIF for Canadians, but it tastes better. It's not too expensive, has good service, and I love the atmosphere. There are package deals for Ripley's Believe it or not, The moving movie theater, and one of the wax museums, just ask about them if you plan on going. Don't eat fast food while you are there, it's costs almost as much as the restaurants. Oh, and maid of the mist is amazing to do. I would suggest packing/buying snacks, drinks, and breakfast foods to save money. If you can't tell I've been to Canada a lot, lol.

[anaj06]

Originally Posted by willow78 Go to the Canadian side. There is not much to do on the US side, and the view of the falls is not nearly as nice. There is so much to do there. Here are some of the things that I enjoy: Maid of the Mist (this is a must) Niagara Parks' Botanical Gardens and the Butterfly Conservatory Fallsview Casino Walking around Clifton Hill Niagara-on-the-Lake (there are a lot of cute little shops; there are many wineries nearby, but I haven't stopped at any of those) ETA: There are a ton of things to do right near the falls, but there is also a trolley, which stops at major attractions.

Where did you stay?

[anaj06]

Originally Posted by lostinthemission I went last year, with my brother, and boyfriend. I don't think the U.S. side even compares to the Canadian. We stayed at the Skyline Inn, it's next to casino Niagara. We booked it on hotels.com. You can walk pretty much everywhere near the Falls. We only drove for breakfast everyday. There is this funny diner that has breakfast for $1.99, it wasn't bad and it was cheap. If you wanted bacon it was only $2.99. It's called the flying saucer, and you can't miss it because it's shaped like one. Everyday we walked to see the falls. We played penny slots for fun. The casino had free soda, and coffee too. My favorite place to eat is Kelsey's, it's like TGIF for Canadians, but it tastes better. It's not too expensive, has good service, and I love the atmosphere. There are package deals for Ripley's Believe it or not, The moving movie theater, and one of the wax museums, just ask about them if you plan on going. Don't eat fast food while you are there, it's costs almost as much as the restaurants. Oh, and maid of the mist is amazing to do. I would suggest packing/buying snacks, drinks, and breakfast foods to save money. If you can't tell I've been to Canada a lot, lol.

Thank you for all the great ideas....that breakfast place sounds like a must! I am going to look up the Skyline...do you remember if they had free parking?