janeq

Just returned from 3.5 day trip to the Niagara Falls --- really enjoyed the area.

General Impressions:
1. Found the people we encountered (motel, attractions, restaurants) to be quite nice/friendly (or maybe I've been living in NYC area too long).
2. In the tourist area food is more expensive than what you would pay for similar at home (even Wendy's does not have a 99c menu
3.I don't think I have seen so many fun house/wax museum/ripley type attractions per square foot as I saw on Clifton Hill.
4. I thought this time of year was great for a visit (though to be fair, this was our first time, so nothing to compare to)-- weather not hot or cold, no long lines.

Lodging: Travelodge(Clifton Hill)-- no problems- free parking + cont. breakfast, great heart shape jacuzzi tub in room, the room was clean/updated. Complaints- mattresses need updating, our room faced Clifton Hill street and we could hear sounds from the nearby museum-fun house things, my husband said they stopped around midnite, it did not keep me from falling asleep, but a light sleeper would want a different area of the motel.

Sun pm: rode Maid of Mist-- of course a must do attraction, for good reason. Started to rain more, so went to IMAX movie next-- beginning history heavy, 2nd half better. When you exit the movie there is an exhibit of contraptions people have used to go over the falls.

Mon: Beautiful day. Decided to walk (about 1mile) to White Water Walk attraction (would have been about 5 min drive). I would recommend this as it gets you up close to the rapids. On way back stopped at Bird Kingdom-- at about $15 after coupon, I was worried it might be a total tourist trap, but actually enjoyed it--- the landscaping inside is nicely done (not just a big cage), and they had some very colorful and interesting birds free flying around, and the path winds about so you can view at different levels. In the pm, walked up to Journey Behind the Falls-- if you are only going to be on the Canada side, I recommend it, but if you also go to US side, I thought Cave of the Winds was better experience. Then spent time just meandering along the pathway and park back to the motel. Visited Casino Niagara in evening-- not enough video poker machines for my liking, very slot heavy.

Tues: Drove up Niagara Parkway to Niagara Glen for some hiking for couple of hours-- forest was beautiful, and able to hike down and then up, alongside river. Rapids also visible in this area. Steep. Next stopped at botanical gardens for a short walk to check out the flowers. Finished afternoon in Niagara on the Lake-- nice, quaint town. Many wineries along the way if you are into that.

Wed: Drove back to US to see attractions on that side. First drove up to Whirlpool state park for another steep hike, ended up being on opposite side of river as where we had hiked the previous day! We then drove and parked at American side of falls and walked about the different view points, where the Maid of Mist leaves on the US side, there is an observation tower and for just $1 can walk out on platform and then take elevator down and there is a boardwalk path that goes up along side falls--- quite the bargain. Said good-bye to falls by doing the Cave of the Winds---- very impressive to be so close to the falls and, WET if you go up to the hurricane deck, great fun. We spent this night in Buffalo as we had a morning flite--- had wings at the Anchor Bar near downtown (where the wings were invented)-- good wings!

Hope this may help others in their future plans--- we really enjoyed the area!

cd

Thanks for the report janeq. Can someone with bad knees do Cave of the Winds? Is there an elevator down to the decks?

toedtoes

CD - I did CotW recently also. There is an elevator down to the decks. The hardest part I had was standing in line to GET to the elevator - a good 1/2 hour wait.

Once on the deck, there's a short stairway to the main platform, and then a longer one to the Hurricane Deck. I think I have a photo of the whole decking (from the MotM). I'll check tonight and if so post it for you.

lvk

Thanks for the detailed report. Bookmarking for my trip next month.

janeq

As previous poster stated, an elevator takes you down to the boardwalk and once down there you will have some steps to manage, but nothing too steep. There is a bypass of the Hurricane Deck if you don't want to go up there. On the American side, on Goat Island at the observation area, you can look down on the Cave Of Winds boardwalk-- so you can look before you go. We were there on a weekday afternoon in September, I think after we got "dressed" (they provided poncho and sandals and plastic bag for belongings) we waited about 15min for elevator. It was the only place we waited in line the whole trip.

I hope you all enjoy your trips--- I was surprised by how much we enjoyed the area and how much there was to do.