Are we crazy to want to go to Niagara Falls in July?
Apr 4th, 2009, 08:34 AM
#1
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Are we crazy to want to go to Niagara Falls in July?
We want to meet my inlaws in Niagara Falls for a couple of days in July. We can go midweek. Will there be crazy crowds even midweek in July? Would we be better off waiting till September? We're already traveling in May and June and we're trying to space out our travel.
Apr 5th, 2009, 01:15 AM
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We are also going to the falls in July and will be there on a Monday, so good to hear that it's a good plan. We know we want to go on the Maid of the Mist, the Behind the Falls Tour, the jet boat ride, Cave of the Winds and probably the White Water Walk. We will only have one full day at the falls and the evening before. I'd love any suggestions on a good plan for this and what if any passes would work for the admissions. There doesn't seem to be one that covers all these, but two different ones that cover two each (and a lot of stuff we won't have time to see). Thanks, Lissa
Apr 5th, 2009, 06:19 AM
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You can skip Journey behind the Falls in favor of Cave... Journey just lets you look out of a tunnel at the water... Cave takes you down to the base of the American Falls and on to the Hurricane Deck to see and feel the water from below...
My suggested plan would be to start on the American Side at Goat Island where you can buy the passes at the Cave of the Winds... do Cave, the proceed to the Maid on the American Side and check for any thing else you may want to do in the attractions book... then go to Canada and do the Jet Boats and finish with White Water... anything else you do is a bonus... keep in mind that all of this is very wet, so dress appropriately... ideally a quick drying outfit with comfortable shoes... a change of clothes for Jet boats is also good as there are changing rooms... Have Fun and Stay Dry!
My suggested plan would be to start on the American Side at Goat Island where you can buy the passes at the Cave of the Winds... do Cave, the proceed to the Maid on the American Side and check for any thing else you may want to do in the attractions book... then go to Canada and do the Jet Boats and finish with White Water... anything else you do is a bonus... keep in mind that all of this is very wet, so dress appropriately... ideally a quick drying outfit with comfortable shoes... a change of clothes for Jet boats is also good as there are changing rooms... Have Fun and Stay Dry!
Apr 5th, 2009, 11:51 AM
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Lissa - This is what I'd do:
Buy an Adventure Pass on the Canadian side - includes MotM, JbtF, WWW, and pay for the Cave of the Winds separate (but double check to make sure the pass gives you a discount on the three versus buying the tickets separately - the price will be available in April at www.niagaraparks.com (watch this website for a discount http://www.usatourist.com/english/pl...o/niagara.html).
Also, the pass lets you get "timed tickets" for JbtF and WWW, so you don't have to worry about waiting in line for them. That means the only two attractions you have to wait in line for are MotM and CotW, so those should be done when you have the most time to spare (Monday evening for CotW) or first thing in the morning when the crowds haven't arrived (Tuesday morning for MotM).
The best planning options I see are:
1. Monday evening - CotW and US side
Tuesday - 9 a.m. MotM, 11 a.m. JbtF, 3 p.m. Jet Boats, 5 p.m. WWW, back to the falls for dinner
2. Monday evening - CotW and US side
Tuesday - 9 a.m. MotM, 11 a.m. JbtF, 3 p.m. WWW, 5 p.m. Jet Boats, dinner in NOTL, back to the falls
3. Monday evening - CotW and US side
Tuesday - 9 a.m. MotM, play, 1 p.m. Jet Boats, 4 p.m. WWW, 7 p.m. JbtF
Those both give you time to have lunch in the falls before heading down the parkway to WWW and the Jet Boats. You can get to WWW on the People Mover (free for one day with the adventure pass), but you'll have to drive to the Jet Boats which is further along the parkway. Since you'll be passing WWW to get to the Jet Boats, it's most efficient to do them together.
Option 3 spreads them out a bit more so you have time during the day near the falls to just enjoy them (stand on Table Rock and watch the water flow over the edge - it's mesmerizing). Option 2 lets you do out of the Falls area for dinner without too much problem. Option 1 gives you a "rush" of activities during the day so you can have a relaxing evening at the falls.
You're definitely doing a lot, but it's not so much that you can't enjoy yourselves. Just don't expect to be sitting in a cafe watching the world go by while you're there, and instead embrace the activity around you. Do an early breakfast on Tuesday, and head to MotM as early as possible. I've always been able to get on the 9 a.m. boat when I've gone in August (even on the weekends).
To help figure out your perfect plans, here are the hours of operation for each:
Journey Behind the Falls*# = 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
White Water Walk*# = 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Maid of the Mist* (CA side) = 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Cave of the Winds** = 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Maid of the Mist** (US side) = 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Ride# = 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
*admission through Adventure Pass (CA side attractions)
**admission through US Pass
#timed tickets - no worrying about crowds as you're guaranteed the time of entry
Enjoy!
Buy an Adventure Pass on the Canadian side - includes MotM, JbtF, WWW, and pay for the Cave of the Winds separate (but double check to make sure the pass gives you a discount on the three versus buying the tickets separately - the price will be available in April at www.niagaraparks.com (watch this website for a discount http://www.usatourist.com/english/pl...o/niagara.html).
Also, the pass lets you get "timed tickets" for JbtF and WWW, so you don't have to worry about waiting in line for them. That means the only two attractions you have to wait in line for are MotM and CotW, so those should be done when you have the most time to spare (Monday evening for CotW) or first thing in the morning when the crowds haven't arrived (Tuesday morning for MotM).
The best planning options I see are:
1. Monday evening - CotW and US side
Tuesday - 9 a.m. MotM, 11 a.m. JbtF, 3 p.m. Jet Boats, 5 p.m. WWW, back to the falls for dinner
2. Monday evening - CotW and US side
Tuesday - 9 a.m. MotM, 11 a.m. JbtF, 3 p.m. WWW, 5 p.m. Jet Boats, dinner in NOTL, back to the falls
3. Monday evening - CotW and US side
Tuesday - 9 a.m. MotM, play, 1 p.m. Jet Boats, 4 p.m. WWW, 7 p.m. JbtF
Those both give you time to have lunch in the falls before heading down the parkway to WWW and the Jet Boats. You can get to WWW on the People Mover (free for one day with the adventure pass), but you'll have to drive to the Jet Boats which is further along the parkway. Since you'll be passing WWW to get to the Jet Boats, it's most efficient to do them together.
Option 3 spreads them out a bit more so you have time during the day near the falls to just enjoy them (stand on Table Rock and watch the water flow over the edge - it's mesmerizing). Option 2 lets you do out of the Falls area for dinner without too much problem. Option 1 gives you a "rush" of activities during the day so you can have a relaxing evening at the falls.
You're definitely doing a lot, but it's not so much that you can't enjoy yourselves. Just don't expect to be sitting in a cafe watching the world go by while you're there, and instead embrace the activity around you. Do an early breakfast on Tuesday, and head to MotM as early as possible. I've always been able to get on the 9 a.m. boat when I've gone in August (even on the weekends).
To help figure out your perfect plans, here are the hours of operation for each:
Journey Behind the Falls*# = 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
White Water Walk*# = 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Maid of the Mist* (CA side) = 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Cave of the Winds** = 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Maid of the Mist** (US side) = 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Ride# = 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
*admission through Adventure Pass (CA side attractions)
**admission through US Pass
#timed tickets - no worrying about crowds as you're guaranteed the time of entry
Enjoy!
Apr 6th, 2009, 06:56 PM
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Glad it helped. Enjoy yourselves. Niagara Falls is at the top of my favorite places to go list. My first visit, I listened to a bunch of folks who said "it's tacky, go for a day", and stayed the same length of time as you have. As I was driving away, I started planning my next visit. The second trip, I stayed for 4 full days and spent one in NOTL. As I drove away, I said "I have to go back for a week minimum". I can't wait to go back again.
