welland to niagara falls

Old Jul 25th, 2006, 06:15 AM
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welland to niagara falls

well i have booked a hotel in welland for our trip and now found out the only way to niagara is through the ship locke and that could add up to 45 minutes of wait time. ugh. is there no way around that to make our drive to niagara and back more direct and less time consuming? i am a little frustrated because everything about welland was anywhere from 10-25 minute drive to falls. nothing about this locke business from the canal. oh well. at some point you just go with the flow. thanks for any advice!! we live in a tourist center and of course the locals all know the back roads and we drive around all the tourists who are waiting in long road lines.
any tips?
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Old Jul 25th, 2006, 07:13 AM
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You can drive back to the Queen Elizabeth Way, staying on "your" side of the canal, and then take the bridge over the canal.

I have not been delayed by ships for years, but generally take the bridge, so can't advise on other options. But remember, the bridges are open more than they are closed, so you end up gambling on your trip. And if yu go to Port Colborne and then down to Fort Erie and take the Niagara Parkway back to Niagara Falls, you get to see interesting things and nice scenery.

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Old Jul 25th, 2006, 07:44 AM
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hey thanx! i'll make a note of it!
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Old Jul 25th, 2006, 05:53 PM
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Hello again;

I responded to your post yesterday and mentioned there were other alternatives to the lift bridge.
The Days Inn is on Niagara St in Welland, turn left out of the driveway, stay in the left lane. At the lights at Woodlawn turn left. Follow this out past Wal mart, just past Walmart go right at highway 406. Follow 406 to the end at East Main St. Turn left. go through the tunnel. follow this road to its natural end at a Stop sign., turn left. This is Montrose. Follow this, travelling parallel with the QEW to just past the Niagara Square Mall to McLeod St turn right and follow this to Stanley Ave. Left onto Stanley and you will be soon after at the area of Fallsview where the new casino is.
I do have to ask why you booked Welland when I did mention all this in my post last night. The locks really aren't a big deal, the ships aren't constant, some days you just hit the timing and the ships are going through the canal and other times you can sail right across the lift bridge. This area around Niagara Falls and St Catharines is the route of the Welland Canal, part of the St Lawrence Seaway and it is just part and parcel of life here.
I am still not sure why you felt the need to book that hotel when there are hundreds in Niagara Falls at cheap rates and on the local shuttle route. But I respect your decision and now offer you my advice with regards to travel. The Allanburg bridge is still your best bet and just hope the bridge doesn't delay you too much. I mentioned yesterday in my post that sometimes I wait just a few minutes and only once have waited the 45 minutes.
To get to Niagara via the Allanburg Bridge turn right out of the Days Inn parking lot. Follow this (Niagara St) to the stop lights (there's a Tim Horton's on your right), turn right, go past all the construction ,pass the drive in on your right and over the bridge, This road turns into Lundy's Lane follow this into Niagara Falls, you will be in the heart of the city in about 10 - 15 minutes past the bridge depending on traffic.
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Old Jul 25th, 2006, 08:19 PM
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Did you look into hotels in the west end of Lundy's lane? They have shuttles down to the falls and I'm not sure they'd be that much more money, or would they?
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Old Jul 25th, 2006, 08:30 PM
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thanks for the detailed directions. i am going to take them with us. i believe i read your warning of the trouble with welland delays about an hour after i booked it. i had called welland to ask a question and she said they had one room left that we would have wanted so i felt i had to reserve it immediately. we got such a discounted deal (it is almost like getting a whole night free) that at the time we felt a mere 15 minute ride was not an inconvenience. (little did i know). the deal we got does not allow for cancellations or modifications so we are stuck. I had spent hours weighing options all along niagara and welland had the cheapest rates with the best consistent reviews and referral scores for cleanliness (i'm a germ nut) and overall service. they also had the magic combo we were looking for... good price, free breakfast, indoor pool, and free parking, and great reviews. Again..everywhere i read it was 15-20 minute drive to niagara so we didn't think that was bad. HA! i was surprised to hear of all the delays so i appreciate your honesty so very much so that we won't be surprised and can plan accordingly. i wish other reviews had been so honest because that would have definitely been a factor. thanks a million!
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