Help needed to book things up at Niagara Falls

Jennywren8 · 2024-04-27T12:05:26+00:00

Hello, we (a family of 6) are visiting family friends in Canada at end of July. We have 2 days in Niagara Falls. I probably need to book things up now, can anyone recommend what to book (for example, boat trip, viewing the falls etc) as am a bit clueless and family friends don't have any recommendations. Thanks!

Original poster

Jennywren8 · 27/04/2024 13:53

Seems Maid in the Mist is from US side only?

OP posts:

APMom6 · 27/04/2024 14:02

You only need 1 day in Niagara. There’s plenty of time of see the falls, do the boat - there is one on the Canadian side and then have a meal in the restaurants. We stopped at the outlet on the way back to Toronto.

UKsounding · 27/04/2024 19:16

On the Canadian side - Hornblower (replaced Maid of the Mist) trip. The jet boats which are just outside Niagara in the gorge are a lot of fun, especially on a hot day as you get very wet. Finally, I would recommend the attraction called The Tunnel at Niagara Parks Power Station. It is interesting to look around during the day and the view from the platform at the tunnel is spectacular. At night they have a light and sound show inside the generation hall which was great.
There are also amusements/catch pennies type activities in the evening which the teens like and the fireworks each evening are good. There is a water park at the top of Fallsview Casino which is fairly decent, if looking a bit tired - I used to take the kids for the day in the middle of the winter and running around in swimming things was pretty close to a holiday for little ones.
There is a bus service to get you around the park area between attractions which I recommend as the traffic is pretty bad in the summer.
you should be fine without booking attractions unless it is 1st/4th July weekend or something. You may need to book a hotel though as they do fill.

on a different note, you might also look into Niagara-on-the-Lake which is the small and pretty town nearby. Excellent ice cream! It is the home of the Shaw Festival each summer - a number of plays and usually a musical running at any time. Lots of string quartets and buskers. Very different to Niagara Falls. You can also do wine tours as there are lots of vineyards in the area that make ice wine.

Have fun!

biedrona · 27/04/2024 19:23

Look up organised niagra tours from Toronto. I did one that included a lovely stop at niagra-on-the lake.

FeltCarrot · 27/04/2024 19:24

We found a few hours was enough at Niagara. The falls are amazing and the boat tour is fun but the town itself is awful. Worse than Blackpool and cannabis shops everywhere.

MillshakePickle · 27/04/2024 19:43

UKsounding · 27/04/2024 19:16

On the Canadian side - Hornblower (replaced Maid of the Mist) trip. The jet boats which are just outside Niagara in the gorge are a lot of fun, especially on a hot day as you get very wet. Finally, I would recommend the attraction called The Tunnel at Niagara Parks Power Station. It is interesting to look around during the day and the view from the platform at the tunnel is spectacular. At night they have a light and sound show inside the generation hall which was great.
There are also amusements/catch pennies type activities in the evening which the teens like and the fireworks each evening are good. There is a water park at the top of Fallsview Casino which is fairly decent, if looking a bit tired - I used to take the kids for the day in the middle of the winter and running around in swimming things was pretty close to a holiday for little ones.
There is a bus service to get you around the park area between attractions which I recommend as the traffic is pretty bad in the summer.
you should be fine without booking attractions unless it is 1st/4th July weekend or something. You may need to book a hotel though as they do fill.

on a different note, you might also look into Niagara-on-the-Lake which is the small and pretty town nearby. Excellent ice cream! It is the home of the Shaw Festival each summer - a number of plays and usually a musical running at any time. Lots of string quartets and buskers. Very different to Niagara Falls. You can also do wine tours as there are lots of vineyards in the area that make ice wine.

Have fun!

Go karts and the strip are fun but expensive. There's a Ripley's believe it or not museum which is a but of random fun. There's zip wires over the falls which is worth a go but expensive. Casino's if you have over 19s. The tour behind the falls is a fantastic opportunity to see and hear the falls up close. It can be really slippery and there's a fair few stairs to navigate.

Falls get lit up at night and it can beautiful depending on how the mist is coming in, for a sunset or sunrise walk.

Definitely check out Niagra on the lake. Its stunning, very sweet town left over from colonial days. It's famous as being part of one of the battles of the War of 1812. Lots to do and see.

If you do a bit of research you can do part of the walk that Laura Secord did to warn the British the Americans were coming. It's called the Laura Secord Legacy trail. It a 20 mile (32km) trail.

Taste some ice wine. Some of the best ice wines in the world come from the Niagra escarpment.

It can be very hot at that time of year. Make sure to have plenty of sun cream. The most can make feel cooler or more humid depending on the day. Don't get caught out.

Happy to give more info...lived about an hour from there and spent too many weekends clubbing in Niagra.

Original poster

Jennywren8 · 27/04/2024 21:55

@MillshakePickle great advice, thank you! Can I book the Hornblower in advance or is of o the day? Can't find a website for it, so you possibly know where to find it? Ditto the walk behind the falls.

OP posts:

chipsandpeas · 27/04/2024 21:58

Jennywren8 · 27/04/2024 21:55

@MillshakePickle great advice, thank you! Can I book the Hornblower in advance or is of o the day? Can't find a website for it, so you possibly know where to find it? Ditto the walk behind the falls.

https://www.cityexperiences.com/niagara-ca/city-cruises/niagara/

Niagara Falls Tours & Boat Rides | City Experiences

Experience the beauty of Niagara Falls when you book a tour on one of our boat rides. Explore the seas and book your tickets today.

https://www.cityexperiences.com/niagara-ca/city-cruises/niagara

LostMySocks · 27/04/2024 22:06

We walked over the bridge from Canada to the US. You need an esta and I think we had to pay a small amount each.
You can get a lot closer to the falls on the American side as there is a park.
Both sides are heavily 'touristy' these days.

Original poster

Jennywren8 · 27/04/2024 22:17

Great input, thank you. Does anyone have any good recommendations for restaurants on Niagara and Niagara on the Lake? Thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

Jennywren8 · 27/04/2024 22:18

LostMySocks · 27/04/2024 22:06

We walked over the bridge from Canada to the US. You need an esta and I think we had to pay a small amount each.
You can get a lot closer to the falls on the American side as there is a park.
Both sides are heavily 'touristy' these days.

Thanks, I think my kids would love this. How did you get the esta?

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medianewbie · 27/04/2024 22:21

Also following for tips

takeitorleave · 27/04/2024 22:35

I think when we walked over the bridge, you just had to take your passports and pay a small amount to get in to the US. It's def not as tacky the US side, and a nice walk round the park and you can see up the river rapids. We did maid of the mist from that side. Didn't do much the Canadian side as very commercial.

takeitorleave · 27/04/2024 22:37

We did two days in Toronto as well - one day in the city, CN tower, boat trip round the bay and then a day at Canada's wonderland theme park - make sure you ride the Yukon striker 🎢

AlicetheCat · 27/04/2024 22:49

Journey Behind the Falls is a tunnel behind the waterfall with open viewing points along the way. You get really close. The Daredevil museum does a good job of explaining various attempts at going over the falls. Some of the contraptions used are on display.